1. Identifying, Responding, Analyzing, & Writing Strategies
Analysis & Rhetoric
Identifying, Responding, Analyzing, & Writing Strategies

2. At the end you should be able to:
Identify and understand a writer’s reason for writing a particular article or book.
Recognize or find manipulation, straightforwardness, or communicating information in a variety of ways.
Understand why writers make the decisions they do—from the largest decisions about what information to present to the smallest details of what words to use.
So how do we figure out what the author’s intentions are?

3. What is Analysis?
It means that you are going to take apart a particular passage and divide it into its basic components for the purpose of examining how the writer develops his or her subject.
Examples of Analysis: structure, purpose, and style.
In the past you’ve done this for literature. Now, you’ll learn how to do it through non-fiction.

4. What is Rhetoric?
Umbrella term for all strategies, modes, and devices a writer can use to allow the reader to easily accept and understand his or her point of view.

5. Theories, Ideas, and Words You SHOULD Already Know!
Invention
Arrangement
Style, voice, & diction
Expository
*Description
Sensory Details
Prose
*Process
*Define
*Summarize
*Compare and Contrast
*Analysis
*Classification
*Narration
Argumentation
*Examples
Non-Fiction
*Cause and Effect
Figurative Language
Modes of discourse
Activity: Look at all the words and write down a number. How many of these do you know or could explain?
Words with * are identified as modes of discourse or rhetorical strategies
Being familiar with the professional terminology of this course is a way of beginning to develop a common vocabulary needed to discuss writing.

6. What is Discourse? “Conversation” Author vs. Reader (aka “the text”)
To communicate with the reader, the writer uses a particular method or combination of methods to make his or her idea(s) clear to the reader.
Tone
In Speech, Discourse = Code Switching
Simply put: Discourse means conversation.
For the writer, this “Conversation” takes place between the text and the reader.
Up to this point, you know this as Tone and/or Main Idea

7. What is Mode of Discourse?
Four Categories:
Exposition: illustrates a point
Narration: tells a story
Description: creates a sensory image
Argumentation: takes a position on an issue and defends it.
You should be able to distinguish between them.

8. What are Rhetorical Strategies?
Basic approaches a writer uses to
tell a story
explain a point
describe a situation
argue a position.
For Example: examples, contrast and comparison, definition, cause and effect, process, analysis/division, and classification
aka Modes of discourse
The idea being that when you read non-fiction text you should be able to clearly find the author’s purpose and choice of tone in writing the piece. This can only be done if you understand what the writers intentions were.
Rhetorical strategies are a two way street: You read to understand and they write to communicate, all of which, is done rhetorically.

9. But HOW Is This Done?

10. 3 Most Popular Rhetoric Devices for Effective Tone and Message Delivery
Ethos: credibility (or character) of the speaker. Does it deserve credit or trust?
Pathos: emotional connection to the audience. Does it move you, captivate you, or inspire you?
Logos: logical argument; defends claims and points. Does it make sense?

11. ETHOS
Trustworthiness
Does your audience believe you are a good person who can be trusted to tell the truth?
Similarity
Does your audience identify with you?
Authority
Do you have formal or informal authority relative to your audience?
Reputation
How much expertise does your audience think you have in this field?

12. Pathos: Delivering Emotion
Themes and Points
Words
Analogies and Metaphors
Stories
Humor
Visuals
Delivery
Techniques

13. Logos
Make it Understandable!
Can your audience understand you? Or have they only absorbed half of your points?
Make it Logical.
Do your arguments make sense? Or do you require your audience to make an extreme leap of faith? How easy is it for your audience to connect the dots?
Make it Real.
Concrete and specific tends to win over abstract and general.

14. Play Commercials and use your notes: Guess is it Ethos, Pathos, or Logos
Pathos: Volkswagon
Ethos: All State
Pathos: Ikea Winter Sale
Pathos: Sarah McLaughlin
Logos: BMW
Ethos: Mac

15. Analysis of Rhetorical Structure?
Step By Step
Step 1:
Read the passage.
Step 2:
Recognize and identify the rhetorical strategies being used. (Use your notes to help you).
Step 3:
Answer WHY? Why has the author written this? Author’s purpose.
Step 4:
Answer HOW? By what methods? Mode of Discourse.
Step 5:
Is it effective? Does the tone and words they’ve chosen make their communication effective and/or successful? Understand why? Ethos, Pathos, Logos
HW: Create a diagram to help you remember the steps of rhetorical structure.
HW: Find examples of published pieces of writing, including books, magazine articles, newspaper articles, and college bulletins or handbooks. Categorize and discuss the purposes of each.
HW: Find a commercial or magazine advertisement that plays to logos, pathos, or ethos.
HW: Video project (PSA). Choose a product, service, or advocate a cause using logos, pathos, and ethos.