Introduction to the Study of Rhetoric

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Introduction to the Study of Rhetoric

• AP Language and Composition
• using words to make sentences and paragraphs
  that persuade readers

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Reading persuasive essays and informational texts

• We read and study what professional authors do in
  order to become better writers ourselves
• Reading nonfiction is different from reading
  fiction
• How do writers keep our interest in the narrative
  of a novel?
• Why is nonfiction sometimes boring?
• What do we mean by boring?

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The Tools of Rhetoric (or persuasion)

• Logoslogic

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• Pathos--emotion

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• Ethoscredibility of the speaker or writer

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Thomas Paines The American Crisis (excerpt,
Dec., 1776)

• Read The American Crisis.
• Identify the purpose of the essay, the audience
  for the essay, the credibility of the author, the
  thesis statement (if it is explicit)

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After reading the essay once

• Create a key for the following
• Examples of logic and emotion (note especially
  references to God or patriotism)
• Loaded words with strong connotations
• Structure of the essay (how does Paine introduce
  the topic and then what does he do next and then
  after that, how does he conclude)

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• Note any figurative language metaphor, simile,
  personification, onomatopoeia
• Note any sound devices alliteration, assonance,
  onomatopoeia, cacophony, euphony
• Note allusions to the Bible, history, mythology
  (is the purpose to support logic or emotion)
• Note any anecdotes (once again, logic or emotion)

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• Finally, as a whole, is the essay effective?
  Does is serve its purpose? Does Paine convince
  us he knows what he is talking about, and does he
  do a good job of persuading us?
• What is his best use of rhetoric?

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• Reflection
• What made this difficult to read?