Analysis Assignment

The assignment consists of four sections. Each section will be graded separately, and may be resubmitted as many times as the student wishes. The final analysis will be graded as a whole.

Section I: Elements of Critical Thinking

Discuss each element of critical thinking (clarity, precision, accuracy, relevance, consistency, logical correctness, completeness, and fairness) as it applies to the speech. Use specific examples.

Discuss any barriers to critical thinking present in the speech (egocentrism, sociocentrism, stereotypes, relativistic thinking, and wishful thinking) as it applies to the speech. Use specific examples.

Length: 2-3 pages

Section II: Argument

Explain the premise(s) and the conclusion(s) by summarizing each, in list form. If you can clearly identify certain sentences within the speech as premise and conclusion, you may include that as well.

Diagram at least 2 of the paragraphs.

Is the general argument inductive or deductive in its design?

If deductive:

     Identify as many deductive reasoning patterns as you can (all types of hypothetical syllogisms, categorical syllogisms, argument by elimination, argument by mathematics, argument from definition) and describe their use in the speech. Use specific examples.

     What is your conclusion about the deductive validity and soundness of the argument? Why?

If inductive:

     Identify the type of reasoning patterns used (inductive generalization, predictive argument, argument from authority, causal argument, statistical argument, argument from analogy) and describe their use in the speech. Use specific examples.

     What is your conclusion about the inductive strength of the argument? Why?

Length: 3-5 pages

 Section III: Fallacies

Identify any and all fallacies that appear in the speech.

Length: 1-2 pages.

Section IV: Effectiveness of the speech

Given all of the above information, how effective is the speech in achieving its ends? Explain your answer in detail, paying special attention to the use of emotion and language.

Length: 2-3 pages

You may choose the speech you wish to analyze, subject to the approval of instructor. Please include a copy of the speech with your first submission. Here are some internet sites that house many speeches, although there are many others as well: 

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/top100speechesall.html

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speechbank.htm

http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/series/greatspeeches

http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/previous.htm

http://www.wfu.edu/~zulick/alphprimary.html

http://www.history.com/speeches