Developing an Effective Rhetorical Analysis Claim

Identifying Tone

When you were trying to identify the tone, did that influence how you read the essay?

How did you identify tone?

Evaluating YOUR Claims

Dun dun duuuun….

A good example:

Sherman Alexi uses a straightforward tone in order to convey how simple it was for him to become literate and intelligent, and how simple it would be to educate other Indians.

What makes this an example of an effective claim?

A good example:

Sherman Alexi uses a inspirational tone in order to inspire himself and other Native Americans to read and not become what people expect Native Americans to become.

What makes this an example of an effective claim?

What feedback would you give this writer?

Sherman Alexi uses a self-satisfied tone in order to spell out the outcome of his achievements as an author.

What feedback would you give this writer?

Sherman Alexi employs a detached tone in order to distance himself from his tough childhood, yet is still able to show he is proud of his successes in life.

What advice would you give this writer?

Sherman Alexi uses a passionate tone in order to interest the reader as well as to be more convincing when sharing her believes.

What advice would you give this writer?

Sherman Alexi uses a somber tone in order to convey to the readers that it was not easy to get to where he is now, he wants to be more respected.

What advice would you give this writer?

Sherman Alexi uses a proud and neutral tone in order to connect with the reader and show them how he had progressed mentally as a typical Native American both in and out of the reservation.

What advice would you give this writer?

Sherman Alexi uses a upsetting tone in order to evoke a sympathetic response from the audience through his childhood hardships.

What advice would you give this writer?

Virginia Woolf uses a self-dramatizing tone in order to show how she wanted to kill the "women" within, in order to show how it was being a women writer.

What advice would you give this writer?

Virginia Woolf uses a reflective tone in order to describe the obstacles she has faced as a woman in her profession using her professional experiences so far.

What advice would you give this writer?

Virginia Woolf uses a confident tone in order to show that being a women in the 1920's did hinder her ability to become a writer.

What advice would you give this writer?

Virginia Wolf uses a humorous/passionate, and at the same time a thoughtful and serious tone in order to engage the reader in her essay, while providing information.

What advice would you give this writer?

Virginia Woolf uses a descriptive tone to further explain sights, smells, and tastes, in order for the reader to get a clear picture of the scene that is being described.

Once you have a strong claim, then what?

Structuring Your Paragraph

ClaimContext/EvidenceAnalysisTransitionContext/EvidenceAnalysisConcluding Ideas

Structuring Your Paragraph

Claim: Make it awesome.

Context/Evidence: Include a specific quotation that shows the tone you have identified. Make sure you include the page number!

Analysis: Explain how your evidence helps to create the tone you’ve identified. (*Make sure your writing connects with your claim!)

Writing a Strong Paragraph

Common Issues When Creating Claims

Now… take a look at your claim about David Sedaris’s essay “Me Talk Pretty One Day.”

Rate it 1 – 5.

1 = Not even close.3 = On the right track but needs some tweaking5 = My claim deserves a gold star.

With your partner…

You will begin working on your homework for tonight, which is to type a rhetorical analysis paragraph about either Woolf or Alexi’s piece.

You and your partner should 1) choose a claim, and 2) begin looking for evidence (specific words or sentence structures) that support your claim.