1. Let’s Discuss Rhetoric
(Or how an author conveys a message)

2. Aristotle defined rhetoric as…
“The faculty of observing in any given case the available means of persuasion”

3. In other words, rhetoric is…
The specific features of texts, written or spoken, that cause them to be meaningful, purposeful, and effective for readers or listeners in a given situation
The art of analyzing all the language choices that writer, speaker, reader, or listener might make in a given situation so that the text becomes meaningful, purposeful, and effective

4. ~ Language is used as a symbolic means of inducing cooperation in literature, advertising, broadcast journalism, politics, religion, art, films, and conversation
~ Not all communication has a rhetorical purpose, but much of what we say, hear, read and do involves somebody’s influencing somebody else to make choices
~ Rhetoric enables writers and speakers to design messages for particular audiences and purposes
~ Language that affects an audience, which informs, moves, delights, and teaches has a rhetorical aim

5. Speakers can use inflection, gestures and facial expressions to help convey meaning…

6. Rhetorical Strategies!
Writers use…
Rhetorical Strategies!

7. When constructing an effective essay, speech, letter, etc
When constructing an effective essay, speech, letter, etc., the writer must consider a few key elements (as readers we must be sure to understand these elements and their effect on the argument):

8. The Rhetorical Triangle:
Describes the interaction among subject, speaker and audience (or subject, writer and reader), as well as how this interaction determines the structure and language of the argument
Subject
Speaker
Audience

9. Speaker – the person narrating text
Subject – writers must first choose a subject and then evaluate what they already know about it, what others have said about it, and what kind of evidence or proof will sufficiently develop their position
Speaker – the person narrating text
Persona: the character the speaker creates when he or she writes or speaks

10. Outside of these key elements, the writer must also consider…
Context – the occasion or time and place in which the text is composed
Purpose – the goal that the writer wants to achieve
Thesis/Claim/Assertion – clear and focused statement regarding writer’s argument

11. Putting It all together:
Subject
Purpose
Speaker
Audience
Context

12. Once a writer has decided what, why and whom he or she will be arguing, it is then important to decide HOW! The “HOW” is the rhetoric!

13. First, the writer must consider what form of persuasion he or she believes would be the most effective means of appealing to the audience.
There are three basic types of appeals…

14. Appeals:
Ethos – writers appeal to ethos, or character, to demonstrate that they are credible and trustworthy. They often emphasize shared values between speaker and audience. Often, a character’s reputation immediately established ethos. The writer’s ethos – expertise and knowledge, experience, training, sincerity or combination of these – gives the audience a reason for listening.
Logos – writers appeal to logos, or reason, by offering clear, rational ideas. It means having a clear, main idea, or thesis, with specific details, examples, facts, statistical data or expert testimony as support. The idea must be logical. When thinking about constructing a logical argument, on must always consider the counterargument and whether or not one will concede or refute that counterargument.
Pathos – writers appeal to pathos, or emotion, through engaging the emotions of the audience. This is the weakest form as it is rarely effective in the long run – it is generally propagandistic in purpose and more polemical than persuasive. These appeals usually include vivid, concrete description, personal anecdotes and figurative language.

15. Pathos – so weak, yet so strong!
Most emotional appeals are just ploys to win over readers with a pretty face, figurative or real (think magazine covers).
Are we generally fooled? No, as long as we stop to think about them. But that’s the strategy: distract the audience from thought long enough to make a bad choice!
In analyzing these appeals, judge whether the emotions raised – anger, sympathy, fear, envy, joy or love – advance the claims offered or are mere distractors.

16. Effective argument or emotional manipulation?

17. Ethos-readers believe writers who seem honest, wise and trustworthy
In considering the role that ethos plays in rhetorical analyses, you need to pay attention to the details, right down to the choice of words or, in a visual argument, the shapes and colors.
Tone is crucial to ethos: does the writer want to seem credible? His tone had better reflect it!

18. Logos – just the facts, sir!
You’ll have to decide whether an argument makes a plausible claim and offers good reasons for you to believe it. Are the reasons good and is the evidence reliable?
Knowing how to judge the quality of sources is now more important than ever before. For logos, there must always be statement (directly stated or inferred) and proof
You could do worse, in examining an argument, than to make sure that every claim a writer makes is backed by sufficient evident.
It’s also fair to complain about what may be absent from an argument.

19. After the form(s) of persuasion has been established, the writer must then establish the organizational pattern of the text…

20. Patterns of Expression
Argument and Persuasion
Narration
Description
Example
Comparison and Contrast
Process Analysis
Classification
Cause and Effect
Definition
We will be developing the definition of and analyzing the effects of these various patterns throughout the year…

21. A Bit of Pizzazz!
After a writer has determined means and patterns of persuasion, he then finishes off the work with some style – and you can explore many stylistic choices!

22. Questioning stylistic choices:
Why does a formal style work for discussing one type of subject matter but not for another?
How does a writer use humor or irony to underscore an important point or to manage a difficult concession?
Do stylistic choices, even something as simple as the use of contractions or personal pronouns (clearly revealing an informal tone) bring readers comfortably close to a writer, or do a highly technical vocabulary and an impersonal voice signal that an argument is for experts only?

23. Ultimately, To be skilled at Rhetoric, one must…
Develop a very full menu of reading and writing techniques, strategies and skills
Be able to recognize these elements in both fiction and non-fiction texts
Become judicious in how one employs these elements

24. you Perform a Rhetorical Analysis by analyzing how well the components of an argument work together to persuade or move an audience…

25. But you can’t just describe techniques and strategies in your rhetorical analysis. Instead, a strong writer shows HOW the devices in an argument actually make it succeed or fail. Ultimately, what are their effect?
This is the rhetorical analysis essay

26. Basic Essay Format

27. Introduction
This takes the reader (audience) out of the world (hook) and into your essay. This should introduce the reader to the work being discussed (complete title), the general ideas (bridge) behind your essay, and then ultimately the introduction should end (usually) with your thesis statement -- the main claim of your essay -- as the final sentence.
An essay without a thesis statement is like a boat without a rudder -- it can go nowhere. Your thesis statement is your main claim that will govern the entire essay.

28. Introduction Global (the world outside of the essay)
Essay Specific (via thesis statement)

29. Body Paragraphs
You will usually have two (2) to four (4) body paragraphs in most of the essays that you write over the next few years. Only write five (5) paragraphs total if that is what you need to write. The body paragraphs provide the crux (main or central feature) of your essay. Body paragraphs require a mini claim (topic sentence), which is usually the first sentence.

30. Body Paragraphs
Mini Claim (topic sentence): While the thesis statement maps out the entire essay for the reader, the topic sentence merely maps out the paragraph. Nothing should be discussed in the paragraph that is not implied by the topic sentence.

31. Body Paragraphs
Evidence (concrete detail): This is evidence from the text that supports your topic sentence (and ultimately thesis statement). The best type of evidence is direct quotes (embedded), then paraphrase, and lastly summary.

32. Body Paragraphs
Warrants (commentary): It is important to connect for your reader how your evidence is significant to the discussion. You cannot just leave a reader alone with a quote to decide for herself what it demonstrates. You must provide the connection between the evidence and the claims.

33. Body Paragraphs
Stylistically, it is a good idea to have the last sentence of your body paragraph smoothly transition into the next paragraph. This of course means that your last body paragraph should transition into your conclusion.

34. Conclusion
Do not write "In conclusion." Of course it is your conclusion; it is your last paragraph; anyone can see that. Also, unless you are really good at writing conclusions, please only write two-three sentence conclusions.
Many people use the conclusion to simply retell. This is a waste of writing, time, and energy. Odds are your essay wasn't so long that the reader can't remember your main points.

35. Specific (restatement of thesis)
Conclusion
Specific (restatement of thesis)
Global Statement

36. Deconstruction for Sound Construction -
Handling the In-Class Essay Process

37. Part II – The Essay Portion
Total Time: 2 hours, 15 min.
3 Essays
Percent of Total Grade: 55
You will have 2 hours to write all 3.
Each essay is weighted equally, so you want to make sure you dedicate equal time to all! Before you begin writing, you want to skim all 3 prompts

38. 3 Essays for AP Language 1. Rhetorical Analysis Essay
2. Argumentative Essay (Persuasive)
3. Synthesis Essay (DBQ)

39. 1. Budget your time For each essay, plan…
1-3 minutes reading and interpreting the prompt
3 minutes deciding on a position
10-12 minutes planning the support of your position
20 minutes writing the essay
3 minutes proofreading

40. 2. Deconstruct the Prompt
Read each prompt carefully a couple of times.
Your strategy is the same for each prompt, but it is important to know that each asks you to complete a different task.

41. Prompt breakdown process
Circle directional verbs
Draw an arrow to what it is directing you to do
Re-write prompt
Practice with this sample prompt

42. Rhetorical Strategies!!
Analysis Prompt
WHAT is the author doing ?
HOW does he accomplish it?
And what do we analyze for the HOW?...
What they’ll probably ask –
Author’s view on a specific subject
Rhetorical devices to achieve his or her purpose
Stylistic elements and their effects
Author’s tone and how tone is conveyed
Compare/contrast two passages in style, purpose or tone
Some of the ways an author recreates a real or imagined experience
How an author presents him or herself in a passage (think persona!)
Intended and/or probable effect of a passage
Rhetorical Strategies!!

43. 3. Brainstorm
It is especially important that you take a few moments to decide how you are going to organize it and what you are going to write (DWW chart)

44. Your thesis statement must always answer HOW the author accomplishes his task and TO WHAT EFFECT

45. 4. Write the Essay adhere to the prompt
Once you’ve brainstormed, you may begin writing your essay.
adhere to the prompt
use specific references and details from the passage (don’t always paraphrase – refer directly to it!)
use transitions between your ideas

46. 5. Revise, Revise, Revise
The best writers know that they have to go back and REREAD their essay. Be sure to look for:
misspellings
missing words
awkward sentences
poor penmanship
specific examples to defend your thesis

47. Essential Elements for a 6 (FOSIL):
Focused thesis Organization around thesis Strong evidence Insightful analysis Language

48. How are the essays scored?

49. Create this Rubric Chart
Evidence
Analysis
Prose (writing) 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

50. Rhetorical analysis rubric
Look at sample rubric and chart the descriptors
Look at score breakdown within AP Handbook