Rhetorical Analysis of Satire-Evaluating a Satirical Argument Watch this video and note the main issue being mocked and whether or not it is effective? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8WIBv3erj8

Answer the following: What issue is being mocked? What Satire concepts are used? Provide Specific Examples Is it effective? Why or why not?

What is rhetorical analysis of satire? Lists and describes persuasive techniques, including satirical ones Assesses author’s and/or performance’s effectiveness in making its point Stopping to think critically about how you are being persuaded by something

Rhetorical Analysis To Do List:. 1st task: Select a piece to critique Rhetorical Analysis To Do List: 1st task: Select a piece to critique Either an article or video plenty to analyze 2nd task: Read or watch several times Annotate for satirical elements 3rd task: Make Strong Claims Analyze main arguments ; search for evidence Praise effective techniques Critique ineffective techniques

When Choosing a Piece Consider… Your Interest/comfort level regarding topics A satirical piece including the concepts we have been studying If you are able to research information on your subject matter

Is this satirical skit about millennials convincing Is this satirical skit about millennials convincing? The millennial generation is the generation of children born between 1982 and 2002, some 81 million children who have taken over K-12, have already entered college and the workforce. This generation will replace the Baby-boomers as they retire. http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/millennials/2916016

Discuss why you think it is convincing Discuss why you think it is convincing. Provide specific examples and try using satirical concepts in your explanations.

Other info you need to know about rhetoric… What is a claim? An argument/hypothesis Ex: Millennials are preoccupied with electronics and as a result are poor communicators.

What is an assumption or premise? Values upon which writers base their work. Ex: We should discourage behaviors that contribute to isolation and self absorption.

What is a logical fallacy? A flaw in an argument! Many people make false or unsupported arguments.

Satire is improved by committing fallacies! Although one does not want to commit fallacies when the tone of an argument is serious, in satire, fallacies are common and useful in developing humor and provoking change.

False Analogy When reasoning by comparison the fallacy occurs when the comparison is irrelevant or very weak.

False Analogy Examples Students should always be allowed to take open- book tests; after all, carpenters have blue-prints to guide them while they are building a house. Taking away my cell phone is like taking away my life.

Ad Hominem Attacks the source, or author, of the argument not anything within the argument itself.

Ad Hominem Ex: This person is a cheater; how can he know anything about policy. Ex: Don’t listen to what she says, she’s a Democrat.

Poisoning the Well This sort of "reasoning" involves trying to discredit what a person might later claim by presenting unfavorable information (be it true or false) about the person. 

Poisoning the Well Examples "Before turning the floor over to my opponent, I ask you to remember that those who oppose my plans do not have the best wishes of the university at heart.” You are told a particular teacher is a real jerk, then when you meet him, everything you hear him say is tainted. He has no chance.

Hasty Generalization Jumping to conclusions; leaping to a conclusion on the basis of insufficient or unrepresentative evidence.

Hasty Generalizations Examples: This woman is a doctor; all doctors are good; therefore, she must be a good person. Mrs. C is a Michigan fan; all Michigan fans are arrogant; therefore, she must be arrogant.

Slippery Slope Also known as the “Domino fallacy”-When a relatively insignificant first event is suggested to lead to a more significant event, which in turn leads to a more significant event, and so on, until some ultimate, significant event is reached, where the connection of each event is not only unwarranted, but with each step, it becomes more and more improbable.  

Example of Slippery Slope

Slippery Slope Example I don't think it's a good idea to lower the drinking age. Next thing we know kids will get to drive at age ten, and vote at fifteen. Let kids be kids and adults be adults.

Post Hoc An argument in which one event is asserted to be  the cause of a later event simply by virtue of having happened earlier, that because A occurs before B, then A is the cause of B. Causation cannot be proven without significant data and/or other forms of evidence.

Examples of Post Hoc I had been doing pretty poorly this season. Then my girlfriend gave me this neon laces for my spikes and I won my next three races. Those laces must be good luck...if I keep on wearing them I can't help but win! Most divorced couples go to see a therapist before they separate. Therefore going to see a therapist will increase the chances that you will get a divorce.

Now you have some tools to help you analyze the effectiveness of a Satirical piece.