Writing with purposeful sentences

 An opening statement that works to focus the reader on the main claim of the writing.  In rhetorical analysis writing, it serves to establish the writer/speaker’s primary tone(s) and overall purpose.  Offers an idea (more opinion-based than factual) that must be supported.

 T (or TS) can also stand for Topic Sentence when it acts as the thesis for a paragraph.  In rhetorical analysis writing, topic sentences indicate the writer/speaker’s purpose for a particular chunk—how this chunk serves to advance his or her overall purpose.

 a quote or (preferably) a quote fragment that serves to prove or support the claim expressed in our thesis statement and/or topic sentence (T)

 Factual information about the chosen detail.  Will be woven with the detail.  Elaboration largely answers How? the writer/speaker went about developing his or her ideas.

 Elaboration might provide…  The placement of the Detail within the text, physically, and what happened prior to its use.  The context of the Detail being used – in the moment. (How is it used in the text? What’s happening at the time?)  The specific device(s) being used by the writer/speaker in the Detail.  Any additional paraphrasing of the Detail that might be necessary if the D is hard to understand by itself.

 Draws the connection between your claim (Thesis statement or Topic Sentence) and your selected Detail.  Key idea: it is arguable because it is insight and, therefore, opinion.  This largely answers Why? the writer/speaker wrote – getting to ‘deeper’ meaning.