ENGLISH 101: WRITING ABOUT WRITINGTUESDAY, AUGUST 30TH 2016

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT CHAPTER 4 OF RHETORICAL CHOICES?

THE RHETORICAL APPEALSETHOS

ETHOS

• Through their choices, writers try to create images of themselves in the writing. That image is tailored to the specific audience, the specific purpose, and the specific rhetorical situation in order to optimize effectiveness.

THE RHETORICAL APPEALSLOGOS

LOGOS

• Claims

• Reasons

• Evidence

• Assumptions

THE RHETORICAL APPEALSPATHOS

PATHOS

When writing, the writer uses pathos to try to get readers to identify with:

• the writer

• the topic or issue

• a certain group of people

• particular interests, values, beliefs, and emotions

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WRITING ABOUT WHAT A TEXT SAYS AND WHAT A TEXT DOES?

WRITING A RHETORICAL ANALYSIS

A STUDENT SAMPLE

• Read the student sample

• Identify its thesis and topic sentences

• With your groups from last class, discuss the student sample in relation to the theses and topic sentences you wrote.

EMILY’S AWESOME MINI LESSONCOLONS AND SEMICOLONS

Semicolons & Colons

What is a semicolon?

When do you use it?

When to use a ;

Between two independent clauses that are closely related

Refresher: What is an independent clause?

An independent clause contains both a subject and a verb. It can stand alone as a complete sentence.

EX: Melissa walks. EX: Melissa walks to class.

When to use a ;

Between two independent clauses that are closely related

When you use a semicolon in this way, you DO NOT use a conjunction (and, but, yet, since, etc.)

Examples

1. Franco had always wanted a dog; the tiny collie puppy was perfect.

2. The ice cream man drove by my house today; he had big hairy knuckles.

The Oatmeal: How to Use a Semicolon

(One other time to use a ;)

When separating elements in a series of phrases or clauses that contain commas

Essentially helps avoid confusion

Example

To survive, mountain lions need a large area in which to range; a steady supply of deer, skunks, raccoons, foxes, and opossums; and the opportunity to find a mate, establish a den, and raise a litter.

Glenn, Cheryl and Loretta Gray. The Writer’s Harbrace Handbook 6th Edition. Cengage Learning, 2017.

Turn to page 707 in your Harbrace Handbook. Go down to Exercise 1.

What is a colon?

When do you use it?

When to use a :1. Directing attention to an explanation, summary, or quotation

2. Signaling that a list follows

3. Separating a title and a subtitle

*Not an exhaustive list. Refer to page 711 in Harbrace Handbook for a few more examples.

Examples

Glenn, Cheryl and Loretta Gray. The Writer’s Harbrace Handbook 6th Edition. Cengage Learning, 2017.

1a. No one expected the game to end as it did: after seven extra innings, the favored team collapsed.

1b. The Dalai Lama explained the importance of forgiveness: “When other beings, especially those who hold a grudge against you…”

2. Three students received internships: Asa, Vanna, and Jack.

3. Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed

Turn to page 712 in your Habrace Handbook. Look at Exercise 3.

Subject: Moose

Using the subject below as inspiration, work with a partner to come up with 1 sentence using each type of semicolon and colon. (You will have 5 sentences total: 2 with

semicolons and 3 with colons.)

THE COMPARATIVE RHETORICAL ANALYSISA LOOK AT THE ASSIGNMENT SHEET

CRA: NOT A “TYPICAL” ACADEMIC PAPER

The introduction provides an overview of the ongoing debate, the authors, and the two texts being compared.

The thesis clearly states which text is more effective in accomplishing the rhetorical purpose and why, with attention to rhetorical concepts and choices.

The paper evaluates the authors’ specific rhetorical strategies (logos, ethos, pathos, diction, tone, organization, etc.) in terms of how they help or hinder the authors’ attempt to get readers to accept new information, feel certain emotions, alter their attitudes or beliefs, or take particular action.

The body of the paper provides sufficient and specific evidence from the texts and clearly explains how the rhetorical strategies used affect readers and accomplish (or not) the rhetorical purpose.

THE CRA THESIS AND BODY OF PAPER: EMPHASIZE PURPOSE & EFFECT ON AUDIENCE

1. Though both speakers are great at appealing to rhetorical devices, DeParle is able to establish a stronger connection with the audience. DeParle makes the better connection by more effectively appealing to ethos in conjunction with pathos. From this, we can conclude that appealing to ethos and pathos, more than logos, will make for a more effective speech.

2. While both have similar messages and purposes—to change the minds of people who think that education gives poor people a chance to succeed economically, DeParle is likely to be more effective in changing his readers’ minds than Marsh because he makes better appeals to his audience to get them to care about the people affected, balances his appeals more fluidly, and makes more convincing use of evidence and in-depth examples.

HOMEWORK

Reading: Susan D. Blum, “Academic Integrity and Student Plagiarism: a Question of Education, Not Ethics”; Vincent Moore, “Playing Dirty in the War on Plagiarism”

Homework: Identify the audience, purpose, and authorial assumptions of the assigned readings. (You may want to use this opportunity to get started on your Rhetorical Situation Analysis Report Worksheet.) Do not submit this on Bb. Bring this writing to class on Tuesday.