Rhetorical Analysis

Ice Breaker

Name Major (or idea of Major)

Favorite Novel

Questions

Does anyone have any questions about the syllabus or course policies?

Does anyone have any questions about using blackboard or have trouble posting to the blog?

New Students: find a homework buddy.

Student Guide

Any questions on pages 1-11 of the Student Guide? About policies, the grading ruberic, etc?

Good Questions

Where do good questions come from? How can you become naturally

curious?

Good Questions

Good questions invite multiple points of view and there is typically not a single answer. Sometimes we call this “wallowing in complexity”. It must also add some significance to the field. Try not to answer questions that have already been answered- work in grey areas.

Writing with a Purpose

Pages19-20 of the Student Guide. Inform, Explain, Express, Share, Analyze, Persuade.

Examples of Rhetorical Devices:

Understatement, Analogy, Sentential adverb (indeed, of course), Repetition, A question followed by an answer, Exaggeration (hyperbole). Any other examples you can think of?

What is Analysis?

A separation of the whole into its component parts

In other words…

Thesis Statement:

What is it?

The main point or idea of your essay. “It is something that can be quarreled

with.” – Peter Elbow (page 41 A&B). A strong thesis usually contains an

element of uncertainty, rish or chellege. A strong thesis implies someone could disagree with you.

How do you come up with a thesis?

Clarify a reader’s view that was tentative or uncertain.

Create tension: show that a commonly accepted answer isn’t satisfactory.

Surprise Your Reader! Propose a new solution to a problem, or

an unexpected answer to a question.

Examples

Murray’s Article “Write Before Writing” What is his thesis?

Lamott’s “Shitty First Drafts” What is her thesis?

In Class

Choose the article you want to write your first essay about. Spend 10 minutes thinking about possible thesis questions for your rhetorical analysis essay. Remember that the assignment will require to make an argument of your own, while using the rhetorical analysis critique of the article.

Question to Thesis

Turn your question into a statement.

Volunteers for a few examples?

Now that you have a thesis…

What are your chosen articles:

Audience?Purpose?Genre?

Freewriting/ Idea Mapping

Let’s take about 20 minutes to come up with some ideas about your thesis that would pull apart the rhetoric of your article. (Either by focused freewriting or idea mapping- keep your pens moving!)

*Remember Rhetoric means the choices behind what the writer is saying. First figure out, what is the writer saying? Then think, what does that do to the reader? Why did the writer make that specific choice?

Strategies for constructing an angle of vision: Pgs 54-55

State your meaning directly Choose what to include, omit what

doesn’t support your argument Choose words that frame the subjects in

desired ways Use metaphors, similes, or analogies to

create an intended effect. Vary sentence structure to emphasize or

deemphasize certain words, phrases, or sentences.

Logos/ Ethos/ Pathos:

Logos: Appeal to Reason or logic. Ethos: Appeal to the character of the

speaker/ writer. Format, grammar, professionalism.

Pathos: Appeal to the emotional, personal examples, evocative images, appeal to beliefs and values.

Jot down which of these (and how) your article uses. Think TONE, and WHY?

The Assignment

The Rhetorical Analysis assignment is found on page 33 of the Student Guide.

Questions about the assignment?

Office Hours, by appt. 3:30-6:30 on Wednesdays in 212 McMicken. Or use the writing center.