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Workshop Sheet for Rhetorical Analysis for Portfolio 1
Writer's Name ___________________________

Editor's Name and Phone # ___________________________________

Read through the paper completely before answering any of the following questions.

  1. Evaluate the writer's analysis of the target readers of this text. Does it accurately represent the readers as you understand them? How does your understanding differ, if at all?
  2. What features of the text did the writer identify as most important? Do you agree with this assessment? How does the writer explain why these features of the essay are important, convincing, appealing, difficult to read, etc.?
  3. Is the writer's analysis of the author clear and understandable? Can you suggest ways to find out more about the author--either from within or from outside the text? Does the writer explain clearly how the author identifies with the readers?
  4. What elements of the essay itself does the writer choose to analyze? Why are these the most important features to consider? Has the writer included enough textual evidence to support this analysis?
  5. What audience limitations does the writer identify? Do you agree with this analysis? Why or why not?
  6. Should the writer note any other significant limitations on the essay and its author? Which ones?
  7. What does the writer identify as the motivation of the author of this essay? How could the writer improve the analysis of this motivation?
  8. What's the most effective part of this analysis?
  9. Do you have any other questions about the writer's analysis? Can you suggest any other points of analysis the writer may have overlooked?
  10. What concerns does the writer still have about revising this analysis? What can you suggest to help the writer?