• Learn the basic elements of scientific communication in a scholarly setting.
  • Become familiar with publishing guidelines of a scholarly journal.
  • Practice critical reading and writing skills.

Discussion of assignment:

This assignment asks you to read rhetorically and develop a strong analysis of ideas you identify in a scholarly journal. Based on that analysis, you will draft a thesis-based essay.  You will support that thesis with points that develop your analysis so readers understand how you arrived at your thesis.  You will explain those points by drawing details from the scholarly journal, as well as your own observations, experiences, values, and readings.

Readings:

Various handouts posted in Canvas

Scholarly journal of your choice based upon your field of study

Textbook chapters as assigned in Syllabus/Schedule

Writing Task:

1)   Select a research journal in your field, either print or electronic, for closer study.  Examine several issues of the journal, and read the instructions for authors and other editorial information posted on the journal’s website.

2)  Write a 4-6 page (1,000-1,500 words) rhetorical analysis in which you discuss the following elements of communication:

a.  Author.  Who publishes this journal?  Whose research is reported here?

  1. Audience. Who are the intended readers?  What types or levels of expertise do they have?         Are they primarily researchers, policy makers, resource managers, educators, or other             experts?
  2. Subject. What topics or kinds of topics does the journal cover?  How general or            specialized are these topics?
  3. Text. Describe the distinctive features of the text that helped you make inferences about author and audience.  Do the articles have a formal or informal tone?  Does the journal            include more than one type of article (e.g., reports, letters, technical notes, reviews)?  If            so, how do these texts differ in style, tone, format, and purpose? (Hint:  don’t overlook        obvious features of the journal that might provide important information about its            primary purpose and audience:  the journal’s title, institutions represented on the editorial      board, announcements and advertisements, types of books reviewed, and so forth.  If it is         an online journal, who has access?)

Citation of sources:

Apart from your personal experience and observations, the primary source for the paper will be the scholarly journal (print or online).  When you use something from the journal, whether you quote directly, paraphrase, or summarize, you must attribute it to the journal and cite according to APA style.

Instructor Response:

When I read this draft, I will look for the following:

  • evidence that you have used critical reading strategies
  • interesting thesis that presents a road map to your paper
  • thesis supported by points; points supported by specific evidence drawn from the journal, and, if appropriate, your personal observations and experiences
  • effective quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing of the journal integrated with your own ideas
  • evidence of revision
  • careful editing and proofreading

See the Framework on the following page to see how to put this essay together.

Framework for Rhetorical Analysis of a Scholarly Journal

  1. Interesting Title
  2. Introduction of the Scholarly Journal
    Thesis Statement                                                                                   1 paragraph
  3. Target Audience Analysis 1-2 paragraphs
  4. Rhetorical Analysis
    Author
    2.  Subject
    3.  Text                                                                                                            4-6 paragraphs
  5. Conclusion 1 paragraph