1. The Rhetorical Analysis Essay
Peluso AP Lang

2. Review of Rhetorical Analysis
The R.A. prompt is 1 of 3 essays you’ll write on the AP Exam. The other two are open ended argument and the synthesis essay.
The R.A prompt requires you to analyze a passage’s
structure (arrangement and organization),
Purpose (intent, tone/attitude, appeal),
and style (techniques/devices).

3. Elements of R.A. Diction Syntax Figurative Lang. Structure
Organization
Arrangement
POV
Attitude and Tone
Treatment of Subject Matter
Rhetorical Appeals: ethos, logos, pathos
Diction
Syntax
Figurative Lang.
Imagery
Sel. of Details

4. Characteristics Prose Analysis/ Rhetorical Analysis:
Self contained passage
Do not need to be familiar with piece or do not need background knowledge
Every prompt boils down to this:
what does the author do and how does he do it (strategy)
why does he do it? (intent/purpose)

5. The Language of Prompts
Rhetorical Strategies
Stylistic elements
Devices
Craft
Technique
They all refer to the same thing – elements of style.

6. Deconstructing Prompts
Every R.A. prompt is comprised of two distinct tasks:
a concrete one
and [an abstract one.]
In the example below, the concrete task is underlined, and the abstract task is bracketed.
The passage below is an excerpt from a letter written by 18th century author Lord Chesterfield to his young son, who was traveling far from home. Read the passage carefully. Then, in a well written essay, analyze the rhetorical strategies that Chesterfield uses [to reveal his own values.]
You must successfully complete both tasks in an the R.A. prompt to earn a passing essay score.

7. You Try
Copy and label the concrete and abstract tasks in the prompt below.
The following is a mock press release from The Onion, a publication devoted to humor and satire. Write an essay in which you analyze the strategies used in the article to satirize how products are marketed to consumers.

8. Consider the following:
What are some mistakes or errors students might make with this prompt?
Only identify the rhetorical devices used
Summarize the argument or article itself
Fail to provide textual support
Misunderstand the message/purpose

9. What graders want to see…
AP graders specifically redact quotations from the text and look past them to see what student writers are doing with it.
Are they only summarizing and paraphrasing OR
Are they showing insightful analysis and thinking
Term hunters, listers, summarizers don’t ever get off the diving board.

10. Approach to the essay
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 saying 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.

11. Grading Scale
AP Essays are graded on a 1-9 scale Scores 1 – 3 show a lack of understanding and/or are incomplete. A score of 4 might be slightly more developed, but lacks analysis and mostly summarizes. Spirals out. A score of 5 – Thin, inconsistent, but adequate. These kids drive their way into a ditch, but find a way out. Surface level thinking. About a “C-”

12. A score of 6: A solid paper, minimum goal. Does what the prompt asks.
7 – Adequate: Wider variety of sentence length and types, a more mature voice than a 6. “B”
8 – Effective: impressive control; above average analysis.
9 – Full, complete; nuanced and complex. Sophisticated and controlled.

13. PRINT “LIFESAVER PACKET” ON WEEBLY SOON.
PLEASE 