1. Rhetorical Analysis Review
Word of the Day: Diffident
“Underneath his diffident exterior was a passionate temperament.”

2. What are Rhetorical Techniques?
• The effective use of words to persuade or influence. • Includes ethos, logos and pathos. • Includes tone, diction, details, imagery, figurative language, humor, syntax, etc, etc, etc. • Anything used to deliberately create effect.
What are Rhetorical Techniques?

3. What is a Rhetorical Analysis?
• Writing that separates the content (what the passage is about- saying) from the methods (rhetorical strategies- doing) used to successfully convey that content. • Prompt offers an effect; answer should identify and discuss rhetorical techniques used to create the effect.
What is a Rhetorical Analysis?

4. Rhetorical Analysis = Why, How, So What
• WHY = Are the choices effective and appropriate for the intended audience? • HOW = What techniques does the writer choose to present the material? • SO WHAT = What is accomplished or created? • If you don’t do this, you don’t have analysis!!
Rhetorical Analysis = Why, How, So What

5. Read through your resource for your Rhetorical Analysis and annotate for rhetorical devices.
Highlight, underline, makes notes in margins, chunk and chart, etc.
Annotate: 10 mins

6. How do I Write a Rhetorical Analysis?
• Analyze the prompt to determine what kind of analysis and what effect to address. • Understand the passage! • Deal with “hidden” questions, such as: What IS the effect? Answer these in the first body paragraph. • Given the time, select three techniques to discuss. Keep in mind the type of essay presented by the passage and look for typical techniques for that rhetorical mode.
How do I Write a Rhetorical Analysis?

7. Precis (Intro Paragraph)
The Structure of a Rhetorical Précis
Sentence One: Name of author, genre, and title of work, date in parentheses; a rhetorically active verb; and a THAT clause containing the major assertion or thesis in the text.
Sentence Two: An explanation of how the author develops and supports the thesis.
Sentence Three: A statement of the author’s apparent purpose, followed by an “in order to” phrase.
Sentence Four: A description of the intended audience and/or the relationship the author establishes with the audience.
Precis (Intro Paragraph)

8. Compose a thesis that states BOTH the effect AND the techniques.
• Be sure to avoid the trap of explaining meaning; no AP essay question will ask you what a passage means.
• Focus on HOW a technique creates the given
effect.
• Rule of thumb: more than HALF your essay should be commentary.
KEEP IN MIND!

9. book review, essay, column, editorial
article,
book review, essay, column, editorial
argues, argument,
asserts, assertion,
suggests, suggestion,
claims, questions,
explains, explanation
comparing, contrasting, telling, explaining, illustrating, demonstrating, defining, describing, listing
show
point out
suggest
inform
persuade
convince
Formal
informal
sarcastic
humorous
contemptuous
Rhetorical Précis Sentence Starters 
Sentence One (Who/What?) 
__________________________ in the ________________ , ________________________________ ,
(Author) (A) (Title)
__________________________ that ____________________________________________________
(B)  
__________________________________________________________________________________.
 Sentence Two (How?)
 _________________________ supports his/her ___________________ by ____________________
(Author’s Last Name) (B) (C)
 ___________________________________________________________________________________ 
___________________________________________________________________________________ 
Sentence Three (Why?) 
The author’s purpose is to __________________________________________________________
(D)  
__________________________________ in order to / so that ______________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________.
Sentence Four (To Whom?)
The author writes in ____________________tone for ____________________________________.
(E) (audience)
Write your own Precis

10. Body Paragraph Body this is the analysis part!
This is where you include a detailed explanation of strategies used by the writer. When writing an analysis, it is crucial that you work chronologically through the text.
This means that you start at the beginning of the text and work your way through it by discussing what the writer is doing and the effectiveness of the strategies he/she is using at the beginning, middle, and end of the text.
Sometimes this means that you will discuss each paragraph (one at a time), and sometimes this means that you will divide the text into sections and discuss the beginning, middle, and end of the text.
Whether you discuss each paragraph or each section depends on the length and organization of the text itself.
Body Paragraph

11. Every analysis paragraph MUST: •Identify the part of the text you are analyzing by using transition words and strong verbs to explain what is being said. •Identify the strongest rhetorical strategies used in that particular section. This includes incorporating specific text examples (exact words from the text – see last page of this handout for proper format) into your own words. Do NOT try to discuss every strategy the writer uses; pick the strongest! • Clearly and specifically explain how the rhetorical strategies are used to help the writer achieve his purpose and reach his audience. •The above items must be woven together seamlessly into one sophisticated paragraph of the body of your analysis essay.
Body Paragraph Cont.