Freshmen Composition

Rhetorical Analysis: identify and evaluate rhetroical strategies of the author, evalute author's argument (NOT your own argument), examine author's use of ethos, organization, word choice, tone and style, assess strengths and weaknesses of the author's approach

What is an Editorial?

1. Begin research by (click here)  DEVELOPING A TOPIC.
Develop questions to clarify and focus the topic using keywords, subject terms and synonyms.

2. Next,  (click here)  IDENTIFY POTENTIAL SOURCES of information.

• What are all the sources that might be useful?  

WRHS, TSCPL and State Library of Kansas provide online subscription database resources to WRHS students and staff.

Academic One File  OR  General One File 

Browse Topics 

Document Type to narrow to Editorials (NOT Letter to the Editor)

Publication Date March 17, 2025 - present date

Washburn University Library for concurrent enrollment students (Step by Step instruction for Academic Search Premier (Ultimate))

3. EVALUATE SOURCES & INFORMATION to select the BEST for the research topic!

For free online web sources, practice Click Restraint and Lateral Reading to verify validity, credibility, authority, reliability, trustworthiness.

4. Then, (click here)  Organize Information and Source Citations.

Questions to ask yourself:

• What main ideas have emerged from research?

• Did I find enough evidence to form an opinion or support my thesis?

• What kind of organizational tools or graphic organizers will help me make sense of my information?

Notes: Once you have found the information you need, take notes by paraphrasing in your own words or directly quoting with use of parenthetical citations (also known as:  in-text citation).
Outline: Organize the gathered information in a logical, useful manner. Review information and outline examples from Purdue Owl.

5. USE INFORMATION legally, ethically & responsibly!

• Understand how to cite and list sources using an appropriate style manual.

• ​Recognize how to take notes and paraphrase correctly.​ 

• MyBib.com citation assistance tool for non-database sources (APA, Chicago, MLA and other formats)

Finished with your project?
Explore other library resources!