Final Critical Analysis Exam (Timed, Short-Answer)

For the final exam,  I will select a short argumentative text (probably an editorial), and you will to read it and complete an analysis of it by responding to the three questions below.  

We will practice this and prepare in the final weeks of the course.  This final essay cannot be revised.

Final Exam

Please read the article carefully. Answer the following questions.  Be sure to offer evidence and reasoning to support your answers.

1. What is the main conclusion or main point of the argument, and who is the audience for this argument?
2. How does the author support this argument?  What rhetorical strategies do they use?  What is their main reasoning?
3. Thoroughly evaluate and/or critique the argument. To get started on your evaluation, you might want to ask yourself the following questions. You do not need to answer all of these questions; they are just a beginning point for your own thinking:

• What aspects of the argument are persuasive, and why?
• What aspects of the argument are not persuasive, and why not?
• Do you see any flaws in the argument?
• Is the argument limited? For example, does it ignore an important point of view or fail to present relevant facts?

You'll have 4 hours to complete this exam.  Read the article and the prompt questions.  Use a word processor to write your answers to the questions. Once you are finished, upload your saved file as your answer to the quiz.

Materials:

• Pen and paper for brainstorming or outlining
• You might want to look at the materials I've posted about the Rhetorical Appeals and Argumentative Modes—you can open them in a separate window.