Rhetorical Analysis of a Scientific Article

Rhetorical Analysis of a Scientific Article 

This assignment asks you to begin looking at scientific writing not only as a scientist, but also as as a writer. The skills of close reading and analyzing are integral to research and communication, and you will likely engage them in virtually any career you eventually pursue. For this analysis, you are observing how the genre of the scientific (IMRAD) format fits with the way of thinking in the scientific community. As we have been discussing in class, it is just as important to think about how a writer is conveys information as it is to understand what they are trying to convey. The rhetorical analysis you write for this assignment should focus on the former, rather than the latter. In particular, you should consider the extent to which “T cell–mediated regulation of the microbiota protects against obesity” is rhetorically effective – often thought of as how comprehensible and/or persuasive it is. In particular, use the information from our class discussions and activities about rhetoric and rhetorical analysis to write a concise rhetorical analysis of the article. Some questions you may consider to help organize your analysis: ● What are the IMRAD sections and what kind of information would you expect to find in each? ● Do you see examples of ethos, pathos, logos, exigence, or other rhetorical “moves” in the article? ● How does the diction impact the article? ● How does this paper fit with the overall values and ways of thinking in the scientific community? ● How does the way the paper is written make it effective or less-than-effective? Think about moving from the general (the definition of “logos,” for example) to the specific (an examples of it in “T cell–mediated regulation of the microbiota protects against obesity”). You may also want to make general conclusions about how this form – the IMRAD research article – serves the needs of scientists. Learning Outcomes: 1. To practice critical reading skills 2. To identify the rhetorical principles underlying effective scientific style 3. To practice rhetorical analysis of professional science writing 4. To strengthen students’ ability to organize, draft, and revise their own work