English 1301 Week 4 – Wednesday, june 27

Final Summary & Synthesis due tonight, 11:59 p.m. What should I do if I’m worried about my paper? My feedback on your essay is not completely extensive. It is your responsibility to make sure you meet all minimum requirements. Read assignment instructions. Come to my office hours if you have questions. Go to the writing center.

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Free writing Chapter 6 of Everything’s an Argument: In preparation for composing a rhetorical analysis, you will need to ask yourself a few questions about your media and the argument it is making before attempting to write your paper. What are a few questions you should ask about your selected media before attempting to write an analysis on it?

Ethos Ethos is the speaker's authority, character, and credibility. The audience can ask questions like, "How knowledgeable is this author about the topic?" and "Why should I trust author?”

Ethos Situated Ethos: Ethos developed by the context. This usually concerns the speaker’s and/or writer’s reputation within a community. (social status, public image, character, context …) Invented Ethos: Ethos developed by the choices and delivery of the speech/writing by the speaker. (What are the qualities of a speaker’s character as conveyed through his/her writing or speech? How does the writer/speaker project his/her self?)

Voice + Rhetorical Distance “Distance” is a metaphor representing the degree of physical and social distance that exists between people speaking to one another. In written/electronic discourse, rhetors can narrow or widen the distance between themselves and their specific audience by means of stylistic choice. Questions to ask: 1.) How much distance is appropriate given their relationship the audience? 2.) How much distance is appropriate given their relationship to the issue?

Voice + Rhetorical Distance Intimate Distance = Closer Identification, More Persuasive Potential Formal Distance = Less Identification, Less Persuasive Potential More Attitude = Less Distance Less Attitude = More Formal Distance

Voice + Rhetorical Distance Rhetors know who their audience is. Here are some ways a rhetor can open or close the distance between them and the audience: Language: Is the language formal? (Language used in courtrooms, for example. Professional language.) Is the language used casual? (Sometimes large groups are addressed using intimate language: performers at concerts/televangelists … )

Voice + Rhetorical Distance Language: What is the level of language being used in the text? (Does it appeal to a specialized group or is it written in accessible terms? Is there special jargon used?)

Voice + Rhetorical Distance Attitude / Voice: What is the writer’s/speaker’s attitude toward the issue? (Supporting it? Rejecting it?) What point-of-view is the writer/speaker using? (1st, 2nd, 3rd. How does this open or close rhetorical distance?)

Group work “Steps to Writing a Rhetorical Analysis” : Step 1: Select an Argument to Analyze

Group work “Steps to Writing a Rhetorical Analysis” : Step 2: Analyze the Context (Use your phone/laptop/tablet to research.) WHO IS THE AUTHOR? WHAT HAS MOTIVATED THE AUTHOR TO WRITE / SPEAK? WHO IS THE AUDIENCE? WHAT IS A TED TALK? (FIND EVERYTHING YOU CAN ABOUT TED CONFERENCES) WHAT KIND OF AUDIENCE DOES A TED TALK ATTRACT? HOW DOES THE OCCASION AND FORUM (TED CONFERENCE) AFFECT MCGONIGAL’S ARGUMENT? HOW MUCH WOULD THE AUDIENCE KNOW ABOUT THE SUBJECT MATTER? WOULD THEY AGREE OR DISAGREE? LIKE OR DISLIKE IT? WOULD THEY BE NEUTRAL?

Group work WHAT IS THE PURPOSE / MAIN CLAIM? “Steps to Writing a Rhetorical Analysis” : The Argument WHAT IS THE PURPOSE / MAIN CLAIM? WHAT REASONS ARE GIVEN TO SUPPORT THE CLAIM? Given the main claim, what is the author trying to persuade the specific audience to do/believe?

Group work Analyze the ethos (invented / situated): “Steps to Writing a Rhetorical Analysis” : 3. Analyze the text: Analyze the ethos (invented / situated): How does the writer represent himself/herself? Does the writer have any credentials as an authority on the topic? How does the writer establish trust—or fail to do so?

Analyze the voice + rhetorical distance: Group work “Steps to Writing a Rhetorical Analysis” : 3. Analyze the text: Analyze the voice + rhetorical distance: Is the writer’s style/voice formal, informal, satirical, or something else? How is the voice/style suited to the audience and occasion? Is the argument presented in a way that furthers the author’s purpose?

Blackboard discussion Friday by midnight. Looking Forward Blackboard discussion Friday by midnight.