ENG 101 - Rhetorical Analysis of a Speech (Garber)

1. Getting Started

First Things First - Assignment Requirements

Before you begin work on any research paper, examine the assignment closely for any requirements. 

Q. How long is the paper? 

The paper needs to be at least 4-5 complete pages.

Q. How many sources?

You will use a primary source and at least 3 secondary sources. (Minimum of 4 sources total)

Q. What kind of sources?

Your secondary sources need to be credible.  Using the Library's databases are a great place to start.  Evaluate your sources and check with a librarian if you have any questions about the credibility of a source.  

Q. How do you cite sources?

You will use MLA format for your citations. You may want to remind yourself what information you need to create the MLA Works Cited page and in-text citations.

Q. What is due?

Is this just a paper? Are there other pieces like a rough draft, outline, summary, reading response, a tutorial, etc.  Make note of all the parts of the assignment and create a checklist to make sure you don't leave anything out.

Q. When is it due?

How long do you have to work on this paper or project? Is there one due date for everything or are there multiple due dates for different parts of the assignment?  Plan out your time, so you don't get stuck doing all the work at the last minute. Plan extra time in case you have problems or get stuck.

Q. What other requirements should you make note of? 

Are there requirements to include a certain number of quotes or paraphrases? Do you need to have a certain number of paragraphs?  Make note of any other requirements on the assignment sheet, and ask your instructor for clarification on any parts you're not sure about.

Selecting a Topic

The first thing you need to do before you begin a research paper is to select a topic that you're going to write about. Consider the following:

Presidential Speeches

• Franklin Delano Roosevelt's Pearl Harbor Address to the Nation (Video of Speech and Transcript) PDF for Printing
• John F. Kennedy's Ich bin ein Berliner (Video and Transcript) Printable Transcript
• Ronald Reagan's Shuttle "Challenger" Disaster Address (Video of Speech and Transcript) Printable Transcript

Advocacy and Human Rights Speeches

• Martin Luther King's I Have a Dream (Video with Introduction and Speech plus Transcript) PDF for Printing
• Elie Wiesel's The Perils of Indifference (Video with Introduction and Speech plus Transcript) PDf for Printing

You can search for other great speeches in this database by searching for "speeches" if permitted to use other speeches by your instructor. Check your assignment.