Problem
WRITING AUDIT AND RHETORICAL ANALYSIS MEMO
You will produce a brief memo. You will first identify one organization or company for which you want to perform a writing audit. For the writing audit, you will gather 3-5 examples of the external communication created and distributed by the organization.
After you've gathered the materials, you'll spend some time reviewing them and then generate a rhetorical analysis of the materials (use either ethos/logos/pathos or context/purpose/audience as rhetorical lenses - or all six).
First, identify the organization or company for which you want to perform a writing audit. Then identify which materials you need to gather and how you will need to go about gathering them.
For example, if you chose Save the Bay, Inc. you would wind up gathering documents like the organization's annual report, copies of their publications, announcements and flyers for recent events, recent environmental "Action Alerts," and recently posted news releases.
Some of this material is available on their website; for other material, you'd have to arrange to get it from their Communications Director.
Writing Up Your Analysis
This report, presented in the form of a memo, should address:
I. The organization. You might want to write about why you chose it, what their mission is, what they do, how they work, who they serve, etc.
II. The analysis. Address your analysis of the audience to which they are writing, the context in which they are writing, and the purpose for which they are writing. You might want to analyze each piece individually, or you may be able to generate some overall comments and point to specific examples when necessary. This is where you use ethos/logos/pathos or context/purpose/audience (or all six).
III. The conclusions. Provide some summary analysis and conclusions. So what did you find? What did you learn? Why should this be interesting to me (imagining I'm your boss and have asked you to do it)? How well do you think this organization has situated itself through and in the materials you've gathered? Do their documents resonate with their mission and goals? Do their documents speak to their audience? Serve the purposes for which they appear to be intended?