1. “Meena Alexander” Objective: To practice annotating a text with a focus for rhetorical analysis and write a thesis using PASTA, cite relevant textual evidence for support, and develop explanations that connect to author’s: purpose, tone, and audience Get your assigned clicker

2. Quickwrite How do you approach a complex text? What reading strategies do you use? How do you know what to look for in the text for meaning? What do you take notice of? Why? What thoughts do you have? How does that change if you are reading for a specific purpose? To answer questions for homework? To answer a prompt? To have a class discussion/Socratic Seminar?

3. Rhetorical Analysis Prompt Meena Alexander is an internationally acclaimed poet, scholar, and writer who was born in Allahabad, India and raised in Sudan. The excerpt is from her critically acclaimed autobiography, Fault Lines, published in 1995. After reading the passage carefully, write an analysis of her use of rhetorical techniques and strategies to define the meaning of her life.

4. Model Thinking I want you to go beyond just understanding the text I want you to analyze how the text creates meaning I want you to record your thinking in the margins I want you to record your noticings in the margins I want you to record your questions in the margins

5. Independently Read and annotate by recording your thinking This is a GRADED assignment! I need to see your thinking process Use PASTA to connect ideas and go deeper with the effects on purpose, speaker, tone, and audience

6. Group Discussions In your small groups, take turns leading the group discussion by discussing a paragraph and your thinking When it is your turn, try connecting your thoughts to the previous person with phrases such as: – While you noticed… I found she had shifted to… – Moreover, your idea of… is supported when in this paragraph when the author…. – Your thoughts about…, changed the way I looked at … At first I thought…, but now I see it could also mean…

7. Thesis Statement As a group create a thesis statement that includes SOAPSTone/PASTA Remember, without the author’s purpose stated clearly you have no analysis CHEAT: use the words “in order to” – In order to (persuade, enlighten, motivate, mock) the audience (be specific) the (introduce speaker) Explain what the speaker does

8. Rhetorical Analysis Prompt Meena Alexander is an internationally acclaimed poet, scholar, and writer who was born in Allahabad, India and raised in Sudan. The excerpt is from her critically acclaimed autobiography, Fault Lines, published in 1995. After reading the passage carefully, write an analysis of her use of rhetorical techniques and strategies to define the meaning of her life.