1. Rhetorical Analysis An Primer

2. Rhetorical Analysis • Address the prompt • Identify style choices at the bottom of the triangle • How does style influence ethos, pathos, logos, tone? • Organization/Structure

3. Exigence Context/Situation Audience Purpose Ethos Logos Pathos Organization & Structure Diction Syntax Imagery Figurative Language Tone

4. Rhetorical Analysis • Evidence driven thesis statement • Appropriate and convincing evidence • Clear prose - appropriate diction, syntax, and verbs • Organization – paragraph division and transitions

5. To accurately analyze a text… • SOAPS • Speaker • Occasion • Audience • Purpose • Subject • Tone • Rhetorical Strategies • Appeals – ethos, pathos, logos • Style – diction, syntax, details, imagery, tone, etc.

6. Continued… • Why did the author choose these strategies for the particular audience, occasion, and/or purpose? • This is the analysis part! Without this you are merely summarizing the text. • Strong verbs required!

7. Continued… • HOW do the rhetorical strategies help the author achieve his/her purpose? • WHY did the author choose those strategies for that particular audience and for that particular occasion?

8. The Introduction • The intro paragraph to an analysis essay is usually brief, but it must contain some essential information: • 1st • Speaker, Occasion, and Subject • Writer’s credentials + writer’s first and last name+ his or her type of text + title of text+ STRONG VERB + subject matter.

9. The Intro Continued… • 2nd • Purpose • (Writer’s last name)’s purpose is to (what the writer does in the text)

10. The Intro continued… • 3rd • Tone & Audience • He/she adopts a[n] (adjective describing the attitude/feeling conveyed in the writer) tone in order to (verbal phrase describing what the writer wants readers to do/think) in his/her (intended audience).

11. Intro Example • The novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald, in his novel, The Great Gatsby acknowledges the conflicts between classes in America. Fitzgerald’s purpose is to argue the idea that America is a land of people who are born into wealth and are better suited to maintain their social and economic lifestyle, and those who lack financial means are forced to work harder to advance in financial and social class. He adopts a critical tone in order to evoke similarfeelings and experiences in his adult readers.

12. Body • Work chronologically through the text. • Discussion of what writer is saying/effectiveness of strategies • Sometimes you go paragraph by paragraph • Sometimes you divide the text into sections • Length and organization of text should determine your approach

13. Transitions • In addition to the transition words you received on your Power Verb handout, consider the following: • Begins Opens • Closes Contrasts • Shifts to Juxtaposes • Ends Moves to

14. Analysis paragraphs MUST… • Identify the part of text you are analyzing by using TRANSITION WORDS and STRONG VERBS to explain the text. • Identify the STRONGEST RHETORICAL STRATEGIES used in a particular section. • This includes incorporating SPECIFIC TEXT EXAMPLES • Do NOT try to discuss every strategy the writer uses • PICK THE STRONGEST!

15. Analysis paragraphs MUST… • Clearly and specifically EXPLAIN how the rhetorical strategies are used to help the writer achieve his/her purpose and reach the audience. • The above items must be woven together seamlessly into a sophisticated paragraph • That where you work YOUR magic! • MATURE PROSE STYLE is at the top of the AP Rubric