Critical Rhetorical Analysis
This Critical Thinking assignment is designed to provide you with experience in identifying and analyzing:
rhetorical devices used for persuasion
ambiguity in arguments
Instructions:
Below is a list of articles or presentations on the topic of overseas outsourcing. Each makes various claims about workers outside of the United
States. Select two to read or view.
Van Heerden, A. (2010, July). Auret van Heerden: Making global labor fair [Video file]. Retrieved from
https://www.ted.com/talks/auret_van_heerden_making_global_labor_fair.html
Ballinger, J. (2001). Nike’s voice looms large. Social Policy, 32(1), 34-37.
Kripalani, M. (2004). Ban outsourcing? Bad idea. Businessweek, (3876), 64.
Kibbe, C. (2004). Outsourcing: The good, the bad and the inevitable. New Hampshire Business Review, 26(14), 1A.
Analyze the effectiveness of the rhetorical devices used in each of the articles or presentations you chose. How do they either challenge or support
the use of overseas outsourcing by corporations? As you conduct your analysis, think about what you have seen, heard, or read previously about the
topic of outsourcing.
For each analysis:
Identify two rhetorical devices.
Explain whether each device is effective in persuasion and how or why it is or is not.
State why or why not each is a valid argument or may be construed as ambiguous.
Analyze the presentation for validity, logic, accuracy, misleading statements, ambiguity, and credibility.
State your position on the topic of outsourcing. Back up your claims using two scholarly sources. You may use required and recommended readings, but
not the textbook. The Global Library is a good place to find these sources.