2. Classical Rhetoric By the time we’re through… It won’t be all Greek to you Maybe more like Latin

3. Exordium The “Hook” or Attention Grabber E.g. A joke, a quote, a question, some striking statistics Employs persuasive appeal of ethos Establishes credibility with the audience

4. Narratio Establishes background and authority Typically 2-4 sentences following the exordium Explains the “nature of the case”

5. Divisio Commonly called the “thesis,” but more powerful than in the familiar Five Paragraph Essay What you are analyzing and seeking to prove This is where you take your stand Typically the last sentence in the first or second paragraph, but can occur anywhere it is most effective

6. Confirmatio Where you begin to build and solidify your case with: Logical appeals to reason, logos Research, specific examples, analysis The main portion of your essay

7. Refutatio Your counterargument Acknowledges and addresses opposing views without resorting to logical fallacies to refute them Can be one paragraph on its own or several interwoven throughout the confirmatio

8. Peroratio Links back to your exordium Pulls your reader along to the conclusion Ties your conclusion back to the flashy comment you started with, your “hook” A summing up with an attention grabbing appeal to pathos, an appeal to the emotions

9. The Final Act