Rhetorical Essay

Provide a detailed and well-researched analysis of the following speech:

Schneider, A. (2024, July). Work is broken. Gen Z can help fix it [Video]. TEDxFargo.

With a critical lens and in-depth reference to the course readings on classical rhetoric from Module 3, conduct a 1,5002,000 word rhetorical analysis of a selected TED talk. Your analysis must be framed using the five canons of rhetoric, with particular emphasis on how these elements interplay to influence the effectiveness of the speech.

Requirements

Thesis Statement: Your introduction must present a clear, well-defined thesis that evaluates the overall rhetorical success or failure of the speech, establishing a specific argument about its impact.

Analytical Focus: While you are not required to analyze all five canons, your selection of the canons should be strategic and thoroughly justified, demonstrating how they contribute to your overarching thesis. Consider both the structural composition of the speech and the speakers memory and delivery, particularly in how they align with or detract from the persuasive goals of the speech. You must include insights on the three proofs, logos, pathos and ethos (as applicable to the speech).

Engagement with Sources:Your analysis must incorporate at least two of the secondary scholarly sources listed below, alongside the course textbook, to substantiate your argument. These sources should be integrated meaningfully, either to contextualize your analysis, draw comparisons with other rhetorical studies, or engage with contemporary debates about the relevance of classical rhetoric in modern public speaking.

APA Citations: All sources, including the textbook, must be cited in proper APA style. Use the textbook specifically for defining and contextualizing key rhetorical terms, ensuring that your analysis is grounded in the classical framework.

Critical Reflection: Beyond mere description, your paper should critically engage with the TED talk, offering a nuanced assessment of its rhetorical strategies. Consider how the interplay of invention, arrangement, style, memory, and delivery either strengthens or weakens the speakers persuasive efforts.

Secondary Sources

Attiya, G. E. B. (2022). A contrastive rhetoric study of persuasion in TED Talks Narratives. Language & Literature, 3, 59.

Garca-Snchez, S. (2021). TED talks: multimodal communicative affordances for EPS/ELF dissemination. Journal of English as a Lingua Franca, 10(2), 261-284.

Jovic, M., Kurtishi, I., & AlAfnan, M. A. (2023). The persuasive power of hedges: Insights from TED Talks. World Journal of English Language, 13(5).

Kryknitska, I. (2022). Ted Talk as an object of rhetoric research. Lviv Philological Journal, (10), 71-76.

Miranda, J.A., Moritz, M.E.W. (2021). Ted Talks: a genre analysis. Revista, 6 (16), 1552-1573.