Argumentative Analysis Paper
This assignment has three steps.

First, in your groups which we will choose on 2/7, you will select one of the civic advocacy organization proposed during the class presentations to research for the remainder of the semester. You will be paying close attention to the organization's communication practices, so make sure that you will be able to access ample materials you can work with (brochures, web page, newsletters, flyers, posters, videos, radio spots, television commercials, or any other materials).

Second, you will begin to research the organization. You will need to know what their overall purpose is, how they recruit members or donations, and what type of communication practices they use. Split this work up in your group so that you lessen the load, and then share the information that you find. Gather as much material as possible.

Third, you will each write a paper individually. This is an argumentative research and analysis paper in which you will analyze the communication practices of the organization (i.e. you are NOT arguing about the issue the organization advocates, nor are you simply describing and summarizing the materials you examing). Your objective is to investigate how they use textual and visual rhetoric to do their advocacy and to persuade your readers that your analysis has merit. You may want to focus in on one piece of communication you have gathered, or you can do an overview of how several pieces work together. Each group member can choose a separate topic or piece of communication, however if you end up with similar topics this is fine. We will look at a couple of samples in class.

Some guidelines for the paper:

• 4-6 pages long, double-spaced, typed, 12pt font, numbered
  pages, and MLA or APA citations (if you don’t know these citation formats, use your textbook, see me during office hours, or make a visit to the Writing Center).
  
  
• You should have a clear thesis. For example, you may want to argue that based on the organization's purpose, history, or structure their communication is effective, or not effective, is useful for one target audience or another, or has a gap in some way. You can analyze, say, the images used in their website to see how effective they are based on the organization's purpose and their audience.
  
  
• You should argue your thesis throughout the paper. Analyze the information you have in a way that backs up your argument. Each example you provide (and you should definitely use multiple, specific examples) should clearly and directly help build your case. Remember, you are trying to persuade us of something through careful analysis. Provide specific examples that help readers understand why you believe what you do. Don’t just express your opinion. Give readers some kind of evidence, proof, or example.
  
  
• You need to bring in a draft on 3/6 for peer review, a final draft is due on 3/20.

Keep in mind that this is an argumentative/analysis paper. You need to persuade your audience of your point, and you can do this through examples and a close rhetorical analysis of the communication practices.

DISCLAIMER: The following links will take you to sample papers written for a similar assignment. Keep in mind that these are provided NOT as models of the ideal or perfect paper but as POSSIBLE approaches to constructing your argument. I do not necessarily want or expect your paper to look like these. Rather, they are guides to help you understand how to set up an argument about the materials produced by your organization. Please see me during office hours if you have questions.

Sample #1 Wildlife Conservation Society- Weekly Audio Programs

Sample #2 Sierra Club Newsletter

Sample #3- Partial paper on River Alliance of Wisconsin (good opening argument and first example)

Link to page on Ethos, Pathos, and Logos