Essays: Drafting

Before you begin writing the actual essay, prewriting and getting prepared consists of a couple steps. First is Getting Started:

  1. Figuring out what to write about , where you get familiar with the prompt and what form your essay is going to take;
  2. Gathering information, where you research and choose a topic; and
  3. Brainstorming, where you do some exploration, figure out what ideas are in your head, and start to organize them.

Next, you should unite the ideas of your essay by Outlining:

  1. Draft your thesis statement. This will be a summary of the main point of your entire essay, and it will most likely evolve as you continue writing.
  2. Create an outline. The main points of your essay will support your thesis statement, and each body paragraph of the essay will make one main supporting point.

 Now, after all this preparation, you’re ready to begin writing the actual sentences and paragraphs.

 

While prewriting, I chose to write my rhetorical analysis on an image that seemed full of meaning:

Image result for maze magic redefined

Source: https://uwm.edu/welcome/event/illusionist-the-maze/

After brainstorming and deciding to focus on the ethos and pathos of the image, I drew up an outline of the main points I want to cover in my essay:

Introduction:

  • Brief description of the image: the man, the colors, the tape over his mouth.
  • The context of the image:
    • The audience—all college students, NOT limited to Christian students
    • The purpose—getting non-Christian students into the show
  • Thesis statement: This image attempts to persuade non-Christian college students to attend this Christian event using the methods [such] and [such].

Body:

  • The man
    • Confident expression, making us trust that he’ll give a good show
    • Young and attractive, drawing us in
    • Ethos!!!
  • The atmosphere
    • Dramatic coloration, black and white with his stark blue eyes
    • The tape over the man’s mouth, indicating danger, the contrast with his confidence tells us the show will be dramatic, interesting
    • The phrase, “Magic Redefined,” also creates drama and intrigue
    • Pathos!!!

Conclusion:

  • Recap main points
  • Comment on the significance of the rhetorical situation

Now I’m ready to start drafting.