This assignment was a revised/edited version of an original timed write we did in class about Abigail Adams (AA) writing to her son, John Quincy Adams (JQA), how his journey should be a learning experience and a beneficial opportunity for the future. While writing this paper, I learned how to use the AXES format to develop a paragraph that includes a claim and evidence supporting the claim I made. I analyzed and elaborated on specific rhetorical strategies AA used, like how she uses her credibility as John’s mother to share how the voyage with his father should be a learning experience, gaining knowledge and perspectives from life experiences. Furthermore, I wrote a thesis statement that requires proof or defense and that may preview the structure of the argument in my paper. I had to create a defensive claim that set the tone/structure of the rest of my argument in my body paragraph. I followed the precis format and used rhetorically accurate verbs to display a strong thesis stance for my argument. On this assignment, I did worse than the second as I didn't plan out my paper with a specific organizer and didn't identify and describe components of the rhetorical situation from AA's message to JQA. My rhetorical analysis project is beautifully structured and explained how an argument demonstrates an understanding of an audience's beliefs, values, or needs. I improved on my revision from my first attempt at writing this in 40 minutes. I followed the AXES format, created a strong and defensive thesis, and executed using evidence with proper analyses, but didn't tie it back to my thesis. I can still work on being more descriptive and direct with my example of Abigail as an affectionate, but strong-willed mother towards John in his voyage to relate to my thesis as well. Also, I can work on tying my evidence and analyses back to my thesis, alongside giving a proper commentary or explanation of how AA, John’s mother connects to the use of ethos.

This assignment was a rhetorical analysis project we did only in class on a speech where we had to analyze for SPACE CAT, create an outline/organizer, write an introduction with a thesis, and use AXES format in our body paragraph. While writing this paper, I learned how to annotate specifically for SPACE CAT and use my annotations, and the power of organizing thoughts to create an argument demonstrating an understanding of an audience's beliefs, values, or needs. I identified and described the overarching thesis of my argument and indicated it provided Malala's argument structure. She argued that every child deserves a free, quality education by using oxymorons to gain sympathy from the audience and by evoking emotion to unite everyone to join her movement. In this project, I learned how to write an amazing introduction that included a thesis stating Malala's purpose using rhetorically accurate verbs as well. Furthermore, I developed an AXES paragraph that included a claim and evidence to support the claim by annotating Malala Yousfazi's speech for SPACE CAT. I learned how to use this information to develop a thesis and further justify my claim within the paragraph by using evidence from the speech to support my claim by analyzing the text. On this assignment, I did better on this paper than my first intro and AXES paragraph as I annotated my speech greater for SPACE CAT and had a thesis statement that required defense and previewed the structure of my argument. In my first paper, I didn't tie evidence and analysis back to my claim, but in the second paper, I tied my evidence and analyses back to my claim properly. I included all components of exigence, audience, writer, purpose, context, and message rather than including audience, writer, purpose, and the context in my first paper. In this paper, my improvements were arguing what Malala believed in, and further inviting and sharing her beliefs in the speech to show ethos and pathos to expand her argument. I showed how my argument understands the audience's beliefs while tying in examples of why the United Nations Youth Assembly officials should join her movement. I could still work on analyzing my evidence more clearly to the thesis I stated in my introduction. Also, I can improve my introduction paragraph, making it more context based instead of directly stating what Malala is arguing in this paper and then clearly expressing what her purpose is to show why.