Research Journal
Rhetorical Evaluation for Research Essay
- First, evaluate where the author is going with this research essay.
Title: The mystery of death
Topic: People and supernatural events.
Purpose: To explain why people crave the supernatural.
Audience: Academic Audience
Genre: Informational
Thesis or Stand: Teenagers are very interested in horror stories/events.
Tone: Formal
- Write a short paragraph on why you decided to write about this argument.
I am interested in writing about this topic because I’ve liked supernatural stories or events since I was 14 years, and I want to know if many people around that age range are interested in that types of stories/ events.
III. How do you connect with this topic? Tell a personal story.
I had many friends growing up and many of them told me what some members of their families had experienced, also when I was in middle school back in my country (El Salvador) I had an assignment where I had to read some of the stories of supernatural events that people believe are originally from my country, such as La Llorona, El jinete sin Cabeza (The Headless Horseman), The Legend of El Cipitio, The legend of La Siguanaba, etc.
After that assignment, I started to become more interested in supernatural things.
- Next, zero in on the major points
- Thesis / Position: Teenagers are very interested in supernatural stories/events.
- Five Pro Points:
Pro Point 1: Teenagers enjoy finding out scary places near them.
Explanation: A couple of weeks an Instagram account started posting photos and videos of SUNY New Paltz’s places that look scary after hours.
Research: liminal. newpaltz’s Instagram post on February 17, 20223 of the tunnel between CSB and Wooster, resembling the famous backrooms (The post has 90+ likes and 1,673 plays).
Example: liminal. newpaltz’s Instagram account has 700+ followers
Pro Point 2: Teenagers enjoy watching Horror movies
Explanation: Teenagers enjoy watching a movie they can feel as if they were in it but without being in danger
Research: Why teens like Horror Movies Briley Preacher
Example: I enjoy watching horror movies because I can feel the main character’s feelings and think about what he/she can do to escape the scary situation.
Pro Point 3: Teenagers enjoy Horror series/novels more than any other genre.
Explanation: Horror stories look more interesting to teenagers
Research: “Older Teens Are Serious About Their Series: Forensic Mysteries, Graphic
Novels, Horror, Supernatural, and Chick Lit Series” Ruth Cos Clark
Example: When the Jeffrey Dahmer series was released on Netflix it became the #1 watched show on Netflix worldwide.
Pro Point 4: Horror Stories are also popular with children
Explanation: RL Stine is one of the best authors of children’s horror stories, and it shows that even children like horror stories
Research: “Horror! It’s R.L. Stine!” Marc Silver
Example: When my sister was 10 years old she watched the movie Goosebumps which is one of RL Stine’s books, she loved the movie.
Pro Point 5: People like to watch horror movies to show that they are brave
Explanation: Sometimes people like to watch horror movies to show that they can handle strong emotions and that nothing bothers them.
Research: ‘Why we crave horror movies’ Stephen King (P1)
Example: A man can take his girlfriend to watch a horror movie to show the girl that he is brave and can protect her.
Opposing Viewpoint 1: People do not like horror movies because they can suffer from nightmares and hear things that are not there.
Refute: The opposition would state how people suffer from nightmares after watching a horror movie and how avoiding those movies help them to have fewer nightmares.
- Why should you care about this topic? What is the author’s “so what”?
I believe that teenagers are interested in horror stories because are stories that show and talk about a topic we do not know much about how it works and how evil can it be.
Author’s so what- For people to understand why teenagers enjoy horror stories.