rhet.ppt
- 1. The Rhetorical Analysis Essay
- 2. Task Unlike argument or synthesis, this is not a debate paper. Task of the essay is to analyze the methods employs in the writing to convey attitude, opinion, and conviction about the topic. You must talk about how the author’s argument is created. What tools do they use to gain their reader’s agreement?
- 3. Some Things NOT to Do Don’t use the author’s first name Discourteous, sloppy, and unscholarly Use the full name the first time you mention them, then the last name after that Avoid fancy language (be direct and clear) Bad: “The aphoristic asyndeton parallelism of the third sentence provided a syncretistic introduction for his thoughts.” Better: “The simple and direct diction of the third sentence provided an effective preface to the complex ideas that were to follow.”
- 4. Some Things NOT to Do Do NOT summarize the author’s essay. You must discuss strategies the author uses!!!
- 5. What You NEED to Do “Discuss the author’s attitude toward the subject and the strategies the author employed to achieve their purpose.” Read to determine the author’s attitude Identify techniques used to develop the argument
- 6. Rhetorical Strategies Figures of speech Look for patterns. Is the passage heavy with metaphors and similes? You can write an entire paragraph of analysis on a particularly powerful metaphor, symbol, or allusion. Are their certain kinds of symbols operating?
- 7. Literary Tools: Evidence, Appeals Types of Evidence ►Examples, anecdotes ►Use of statistics, facts, or figures ►Citing experts, authorities ►Personal Experiences ►Historical facts, stories Appeals ►Pathos—emotional appeals ►Logos—logical appeals ►Ethos—ethical (right/wrong) appeals; author’s credibility
- 8. Organize your paper in the following order: INTRODUCTION Begin with a hook/attention grabber Introduce your text and author, describe briefly the argument you are analyzing, and supply the necessary background State you thesis as the last sentences (sentences) of the introduction paragraph Steps to Writing a rhetorical Analysis
- 9. Intro format Hook introduce author and title mention tone range mention appeal mention 3 techniques to be analyzed end with the compound thesis (purpose)
- 10. Thesis Statements Thesisormula: Example: Child labor laws have been a controversial topic throughout time. Florence Kelley addresses this in her indignantly critical yet informative speech given to the National Association for Women’s Suffrage. She sets out to emotionally persuades her audience in her speech. Through the use of parallelism, rhetorical questioning and imagery, Kelley advocates for changes to child labor laws.
- 11. Topic sentences must link back to the thesis. One technique per paragraph Mix in tone and appeal with a body paragraph of choice BODY PARAGRAPHS FOR ANALYZING THE CONTEXT
- 12. Summarizing the argument Discuss the following ideas in this paragraph(s): --Topic sentence, relate first technique to the thesis -Lead in to the technique with some background detail --cite the technique --Analyze the technique in 2+ sentences -Conclude BODY PARAGRAPHS FOR ANALYZING THE TEXT
- 13. What rhetorical appeals are used? In a separate paragraph, analyze the author’s use of one of these: ethos, pathos, and logos. ANALYZING THE TEXT CONTD.
- 14. How would you characterize the tone? Discuss the following ideas in one paragraph: ANALYZING THE TEXT
- 15. Summarize your main points End with an example that typifies the argument Remind readers what your thesis is CONCLUSION