Rhetorical Analysis Peer Review

Rhetorical Analysis Peer Review

Reviewer: Subha Laskar Reviewee: David Agbato

Note: Text = photo

Identify the text (article, essay, photo, advertisement, video, performance) being analyzed: 9/11 photo by Thomas Hoepker

  1. Is there a title?  Y   Does it appropriately reflect the content of the essay? Explain or make a suggestion: The focus of this essay is how the elements of this photo contrast each other, so I think the title “Contrasting Grounds” is fitting. 
  2. Write the thesis statement: Closely analyzing the photo taken by Thomas Hoepker on 9/11 reveals the clear contrast between the front portion of the photo and the background.  
  3. Does this draft effectively satisfy the definition of rhetorical analysis as set out in the assignment? (An essay that breaks a work of non-fiction into parts and then explains how the parts work together to create a certain effect—whether to persuade, entertain or inform.) Explain: Yes, they do analyze the aspects of the photo and address the photographer’s goal to invoke anger and make a statement on ignorance, however they do not address the motivation behind that. They could go further and discuss whether the photographer wanted the audience to take some sort of action or if his only purpose was to inform. 
  4. How does your partner discuss the author’s strategies, purposes, and approaches? Reference at least one example that does so effectively and one that needs work: 
    1. Works well: The juxtaposition of the background and foreground are important, so the analysis on the actions of the people on the foreground in contrast to the smoke from the towers is good. 
    2. Needs work: The explanation of how this image invokes anger could be a little more explicit and organized. 
  5. How does your partner discuss the content (what the text is about)? Is it effective? Reference at least one example that does so effectively and one that needs work: 
    1. Works well: Explaining how the smoke and background invoke memories of the disaster and consequences of 9/11 was effective. 
    2. Needs work: Describing the ignorance of the time could be done better. 
  6. Is the composition (how the text is constructed) effectively reviewed? Reference at least one example that does so effectively and one that needs work: 
    1. Works well: The deliberate contrast of ideas through the composition is addressed many times through juxtaposition and tone. 
    2. Needs work: Describing the expressions of the people could be improved. 
  7. Does the analysis use a chronological or spatial approach to describe the text?

Spatial

  1. Identify examples of the following in the analysis:
    1. Logos (logic): The reasoning behind taking a photo at a specific angle or time. 
    2. Pathos (emotion): The sadness of 9/11 and the anger towards those who are ignorant about it. 
    3. Ethos (character): Addresses the character of those portrayed in the picture. 
  2. Does the conclusion sufficiently wrap up the analysis by reflecting on the main points of the essay? Explain: Yes, they address the goal of the photographer in a more concise way and summarize the tools used to create the desired effect. 
  3. Does the selected text properly adhere to APA style? No
    If not, what needs fixing? 

There should be properly formatted in-text citations and a final works cited page.