ASSIGNMENT: For this essay, you will analyze a famous 20^th century speech: https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/jimmycartercrisisofconfidence.htm. Speech: Jimmy Carter’s “A Crisis of Confidence” .

Your job is to explain the METHODS the speaker uses to effectively communicate a specific MESSAGE to his or her audience. In other words, your essay will explain how the speaker’s choices of language and rhetoric are tailored to the speech’s purpose.

RESEARCH: Because these speeches were delivered decades ago and deal with specific historical circumstances, you’ll need to conduct RESEARCH that will (A) help you better understand their purpose & audience, and (B) provide your reader with necessary context. You’ll need to use at least two outside sources in this essay along with your primary source. We’ll discuss how to identify and integrate such sources in class. Please make sure your outside sources are scholarly, and can include articles, research work and books. Please do not include newspapers, Wikipedia or sources that spread misinformation.

CRITERIA: Your essay should –

• Provide a clear, accurate explanation of the speech’s topic
• Explain who the speaker is and describe the relevant historical circumstances
• Offer a thoughtful argument about the speaker’s message and rhetorical techniques
• Validate that argument with specific, well-integrated quotations and paraphrases
• Include in-text citations and a Works Cited page
• Consist of unified and coherent paragraphs, each with a clear central idea
• Be free of major grammatical and usage errors

LENGTH: 1200 – 1500 words

FORMAT: 12-point font, double-spaced, standard margins

VALUE: 125 points

• Content: 90 points
• Mechanics: 35 points