The Rhetorical Analysis Essay

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The Rhetorical Analysis Essay
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Task

• Unlike argument or synthesis, this is not a
  debate paper.
• Task of the essay is to analyze the methods
  employs in his writing to convey his attitude,
  his opinion, or his conviction about some topic.
• You must talk about how the authors argument is
  created. What tools do they use to gain their
  readers agreement?

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Task, cont.

• You are NOT being asked to write a movie review
  Twain wrote really well and that held my
  attention.
• The test makers wouldnt have you evaluate an
  essay if it was poorly written.
• Something holding your interest is not an
  insightful comment, much less astute analysis.

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Some Things NOT to Do

• Dont use the authors first name
• Discourteous, sloppy, and unscholarly
• Use the full name the first time you mention
  them, then the last name after that
• Avoid fancy language (be direct and clear)
• Bad The aphoristic asyndeton parallelism of the
  third sentence provided a syncretistic
  introduction for his thoughts.
• Better The simple and direct diction of the
  third sentence provided an effective preface to
  the complex ideas that were to follow.

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Some Things NOT to Do

• Do NOT summarize the authors essay. You must
  discuss strategies the author uses!!!

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What You NEED to Do

• Discuss the authors attitude toward bear
  baiting and the strategies the author employed to
  achieve his purpose.
• Read to determine the authors attitude
• Identify techniques he used to develop his
  argument

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Rhetorical Strategies

• Diction
• Word choice
• Negative or positive
• Dont say The author uses diction to convey his
  meaning. That is like saying The wind blows
  wind to make wind.

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Rhetorical Strategies

• Syntax
• Short sentences are almost always abrupt,
  intense, and confrontational. They force a sudden
  stop in thinking.
• Long sentences are more thoughtful and permit
  reflection.
• Parallel syntax functions like a train gathering
  steam. It convinces by overwhelming the reader
  syntactically.

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Rhetorical Strategies

• Syntax, cont.
• Rhetorical questions manipulate you to provide
  the answer the author wants you to accept. They
  are never meant as a genuine question, but are
  always coercive.
• Repetition within a piece is meant to provide
  emphasis. Reptition provides emphasis. Emphasis.

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Rhetorical Strategies

• Figures of speech
• Metaphor --Allusion
• Simile --Apostrophe
• Symbol --Pun
• Personification --Paradox
• Hyperbole --Oxymoron

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Rhetorical Strategies

• Figures of speech
• Look for patterns.
• Is the passage heavy with metaphors and similes?
• You can write an entire paragraph of analysis on
  a particularly powerful metaphor, symbol, or
  allusion.
• Are their certain kinds of symbols operating?

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Rhetorical Strategies

• College Board expects you to be familiar with
• Greek Mythology
• Judeo-Christian religious tradition
• Main works of Western thought

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Rhetorical Strategies

• Rhetoric
• PELIDS
• Pathos
• Ethos
• Logos
• Inductive
• Deductive
• Syllogism