Essay #1 Analyzing Claims and Proofs Watch and evaluate ONE of the following documentaries (available through AmazonPrime, Netflix, Xfinity OnDemand, and/or youtube): 13thBowling For ColumbineAn Inconvenient TruthAn Inconvenient SequelWhat the Health Identify the typesof claims that are made, and decide which is the dominant claim(s). Fact (something is indeed true/it exists)Definition (this is what _____means/ this is ____________)Cause (_____is the result of_______/_______ will lead to ________)Value (_____is unethical/wrong/positive/good/immoral/the right thing to do, etc.)Policy (____is a necessary change/we must do ______ differently/_________ is recommended, etc. persuading a different course of action, behavior, policy, way of thinking, etc.) Once you’ve determined which is the dominant claim of persuasion in the film, move on to identifying appeals used. Look for closely for the 3 types of appeals (when and how these are made) Ethos (of people in the film as well as the film makers themselves)LogosPathos Write an essay evaluating the degree of persuasiveness based on the appeals. In other words, answer this question: how persuaded are you to accept the (the dominant claim) based on the film’s use of ETHOS, LOGOS, and PATHOS? (Your answer to this will be your thesis statement.) Provide examples of when and how appeals are used by the filmmakers. You must make specific references to examples in the film to support your point. Describe scenes, statements, people, music, etc. as specifically as possible. Devote one paragraph to explaining the claim and one paragraph for each proof. REQUIREMENTS Essay must be 1200-1500 words (MLA format, double spaced)Must have a Works Cited page to cite the filmYou must provide support for your statements (specific descriptions and examples from the film)You may not read or cite from outside sources. There is a lot of information available about these films. Your task is not do research on these documentaries, but rather to evaluate the filmmakers’ use of the tools of persuasion we’ve learned thus far. Your grade will be based on the following Points PossibleComprehension of types of Claims made in argument20Comprehension of types of appeals (LOGOS, ETHOS, PATHOS)20Support (specific examples from film)20Thesis Statement10Paragraph focus and unity10MLA format and citing10Language Mechanics Spelling, grammar, word choice, sentence structure10 Total 100 BONUS POINTS: Want to go above and beyond? At the end of your essay, put the documentary’s argument in Standard Form. List between 3-5 premises that lead to the argument’s conclusion. You must use the format shown in the Chapter 1 reading from Module: Week 3. 10 points possible
