Writing 39B
Fairy tales
Below are a few excerpts of the rhetorical analyses we have written for the class.
The Sleeper and the Spindle RA
This RA compared the differences of the modern text with the traditional fairy tales. I elaborated on the reason why certain characters were different and how the modern audience may have been the cause for the change. Lastly, I compared the rhetorical situation of the 17th-19th tales with the rhetorical situation of The Sleeper and the Spindle. Below is a snippet of my introduction paragraph for this exploratory writing in preparation for the Rhetorical Analysis Essay.
The Sleeper and the Spindle is a 21st century tale that incorporates elements from both the original Sleeping Beauty and Snow White tales. There are many modern ideas, such as having a strong and independent heroine who does not need a prince to save her….The Sleeper and the Spindle purposefully builds on classic 17th-19th century conventions of the fairy tale such as the functions of departure and punishment and reimagines them so that they will be entertaining and relevant for a 21st century audience.
If you want to read the full version, CLICK HERE!
Cinderella RA
This RA analyzed the rhetorical situation of this 17th-18th century tale and the audience who the tale was directed towards. Reasons, such as pleasing the audience, are given for why certain fairy tale conventions were portrayed the way they were. Below is a snippet of one of my body paragraphs in which I explain who the audience is and how the tale is catered to them.
It is interesting that two of the villains of the story end up living happily ever after too, instead of being punished for mistreating Cinderella. This may be due to the fact that the “audience was the privileged aristocracy." They, who identify with the two stepsisters, in terms of being privileged, would have liked to see that the stepsisters have a happy ending too. The story would not appeal to the aristocracy if one of their own was punished by a peasant girl. In fact, the aristocracy would feel threatened.
If you want to read the full version, CLICK HERE!
Rhetorical Analysis Essay
This RA Essay is one of the three major assignments we had for the class, along with the RIP Video Project and our Portfolio (this website). All the essays we had been writing before this point, such as the works above, have led up to this RA. We utilized the skills we have obtained in analyzing rhetorical situations of tales to produce a scholarly work of several pages that analyzes and explores the difference in how fairy tale conventions are portrayed between 17th-19th century Germany and the present day. In other words, they are the differences that arise as a result of different rhetorical situations.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE RA PROMPT!
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE RA RUBRIC!
The Process
Throughout the RA Essay writing process, we did a lot of peer reviewing. With different comments every time, I tried to make my essay better and thus had many drafts. My first draft is quite different from my final draft, as I made many changes. For example, I was not as informative as I should have been regarding the fairy tale genre. In addition, I was very vague in my thesis and topic sentences. I would often use the phrase "in a way" and not explain what way I was talking about.
Specifically, one thing that I changed from my first draft is that I included more information about what a fairy tale was.
A classmate who peer reviewed my essay felt that I did not explain well enough what a fairy tale was.
I took his advice and added information about fairy tale creatures and magic.
Another revision I made is that I fine-tuned my thesis so that readers would know exactly what my essay would be about once they read the thesis.
He also felt that I was not specific enough in my thesis.
Instead of saying "in a way," I explained exactly what way I was talking about. I also explained how the two functions are portrayed differently.
My topic sentences were also weak, so I edited them to make them stronger.
My peer reviewer noticed that I was very vague in my topic sentences.
Instead of saying "in a way," I explained how the film presents the function differently.
By making changes like these and reading the comments I got from my peers, I was able to create a final product that was made to the best of my abilities.