Although you are still expected to use the “Post Outline” structure to develop the details of each paragraph in your paper, you should note that this outline is fundamentally different than your first. That is, what is expected of a narrative outline is different than what is expected for an analysis (or an argument for that matter).
Whereas a narrative outline simply asks you to map the chronological progression of your story— there is a clear progression from wherever you begin the story to the conclusion— an analysis requires that you accomplish a few things in the beginning: 1. introduce the topic in a general way, 2. present the texts you’ll be analyzing, and 3. explain your method and purpose.
example using songs by Thrice:
“The Melting Point of Wax” and “Daedalus”
Both of these texts were produced in response to the Myth of Icarus. Because I’m familiar with the way each addresses the topic already, I can explain the method of analysis I will follow: I will contrast both texts for rhetorical techniques in order to see why they would write two songs related to the same theme.
- The general conversation – The Myth of Icarus
The Myth of Icarus tells the story of how Daedalus and his son ended up trapped in a high tower in Crete for years and how they attempted to escape. Daedalus is a great engineer and inventor; he fashions two pairs of wings from the feathers of birds and wax. The goal is for both to take to the air and fly to safety. However, despite Daedalus’ warnings, Icarus flies too close to the sun, which melts the wax on his wings and sends him plummeting to his death. Daedalus can do nothing but observe in agony.
- The two texts I will compare/contrast – The Melting Point of Wax & Daedalus
“The Melting Point of Wax” centers on the perspective of Icarus, who speaks with courage and confidence about the possibility of flying. He is in anticipation of it. He doesn’t speak with fear; in fact, when he leaps he hears the voice of reason calling him foolish, but he retorts that limits are meant to be pushed.
“Daedalus” tells the same story from the perspective of Icarus’ father. Daedalus stands with Icarus at the top of the tower as both are ready to leap and he gives his son advice. It is also a warning as he tells Icarus that soaring too high or too low will lead to the same outcome: death.
- Method: Compare & Contrast Rhetorical Techniques
My method will be to contrast the author’s choices in terms of point of view taken in each song, the tone of both texts, and the language used in each. Because both songs address the same subject, it is safe to assume that the author wanted to provide a different message with both songs. My purpose is to show how each song takes on a different philosophy from the other.
My introduction might then become a synthesis of these parts:
Of the stories that have come down to us from the Greeks, the myth of Icarus holds a certain appeal that is evident in the number of ways it is retold in modern culture. The story is itself fairly straightforward: after being trapped for years in a tower in Crete because of Daedalus’ perverse actions, the boy and his father seek to escape by taking to the air on wings of wax, feathers, and string. Once in the air Icarus is overcome by the ecstacy of flight and plummets to his death for flying too close to the sun. Daedalus is unable to help in any way and must simply watch Icarus fall. Two modern interpretations of this myth are “The Melting Point of Wax” (2003) and “Daedalus” (2008), both by the alternative rock group THRICE. In each version of the song the artist takes a different perspective and ideological approach to the events of the story. A closer analysis of both songs will shed light on how each functions rhetorically and the impact of those choices in shaping the lesson to be extracted from the myth.
The next logical move would be to provide summaries for both texts. Simply present what you will be analyzing before you dive into the details
Then, you should organize the remainder of your paper based on what you intend to highlight about the texts you are analyzing rhetorically. For my paper comparing these two songs it would be:
- How the point of view taken in each song shapes the intended message of the song: in “The Melting Point of Wax” it is Icarus that speaks as we follow his heroic journey; in “Daedalus” it is Daedalus that speaks as we listen to his advice to Icarus and as he laments his son’s demise.
- How the tone of the music plays a role in either interpretation: “The Melting Point of Wax” is more of a rock song with distorted guitars; “Daedalus” is more folky and uses acoustic guitars.
- How each song makes use of additional mediums to shape the message: “The Melting Point of Wax” introduces a conversation between Icarus and ‘reason’ (who insults his foolish rise); “Daedalus” employs the singer’s voice as an instrument for emphasizing lament.
You can choose to organize your points in any way I want, but at each point you should consider the rhetorical decisions made by the author (their use of rhetorical appeals, for example) and unpack them for the reader with the goal of helping them see what you see— that is, that your analysis is well-supported by the text and therefore valid.
Professor Gomez 