ILLUSTRATION AKA Example Essay THE RHETORICAL MODE RHETORICAL

ILLUSTRATION (AKA, Example Essay)

THE RHETORICAL MODE

RHETORICAL MODE v DEFINITION: v AKA: q Illustration Essay q Illustrative Essay q Example Essay

RHETORICAL MODE v DEFINITION: v “illustration” q not as in drawing or sketching q but as in demonstrating, proving, exhibiting, revealing, showing, exemplifying

RHETORICAL MODE v DEFINITION: v “example” q relevant, topical EXAMPLES q unambiguous, unequivocal EXAMPLES q concrete and specific details & EXAMPLES q specific EXAMPLES of general terms

RHETORICAL MODE v 2 BASIC APPROACHES: Reasons supported by specific, relevant examples. 2. General examples supported by more specific examples. 1. v The key part of this mode is the move q from GENERAL, abstract q to SPECIFIC, concrete O specific people, places, objects O specific instances

RHETORICAL MODE v CHARACTERISTICS: q Emphatic Order: save the “best” for last & say so q Transitions: “for example, ” “for instance” q “The Classic 5 -Paragraph Essay”: O Introduction (ends w/Thesis) O 3 Body par. (for 3 reasons or for 3 examples) O Conclusion

Illustration as MTA a “two-fer”

Illustration as MTA v This semester, we are going to use the Illustration Essay as our Mid-Term Assessment. v For you, that means that q you will write ONE essay (instead of 2) q which will count for TWO grades O the Illustration Essay (essay grade) O the MTA (test grade)

Illustration as MTA v In the PAST, we wrote an Illustration Essay (based on the Past WCE Prompts) v AND v Then later wrote the MTA (which was another Illustration paper – but on a different topic) v In the interest of time, we can safely combine these other 2 assignments and still get our exposure to this important rhetorical mode.

SUBJECT

SUBJECTS v NO CHOICE: You MUST use the following SUBJECT for the Illustration Essay: q TWEENS

PROMPTS

PROMPTS v Next, place that subject into a statement that will serve as your OPENING GENERALIZATION in your Introduction paragraph. v For example – q Examples of “The Dark Side” of tween behavior q Reasons tween behavior is distressing

TOPIC

TOPIC v Next, focus that broad subject into a narrow TOPIC. v Below are some examples –

TOPIC v choose 1 of the following (don't do all of them!): q 3 REASONS O For a beloved childhood possession or cherished childhood O O O activity You put away such childish things Risky tween behavior (in general) is distressing A specific risky tween behavior is distressing A specific tween’s behaviors are distressing Against a specific tween behavior Argue with the author: disagree with her (reasons against such a pessimistoc outlook on tweenhood) § § ***support each of these reasons with specific examples*** (1 specific example per reason) (specific people, instances, prices, . . ) **be as specific as you can without doing research***

TOPIC v choose 1 of the following (don't do all of them!): q 3 EXAMPLES of O Beloved childhood possessions O Cherished childhood activities O Changes (internal, external) tween typically go through O Changes (internal, external) YOU went through O Risky tween behavior O Your own self-image at this stage (8 -12) O Ways tweens (or you specifically) project this image § ***support each of these examples with specific examples*** § (1 specific example for each general example) § (specific people, instances, prices, . . ) § **be as specific as you can without doing research***

THESIS

THESIS v Next is to fashion a focused THESIS SENTENCE from your chosen topic. q Topic + Main Idea + Support O Examples of dangerous tween behavior include __, and __. § 3 general examples supported by specific examples O Cutting (a specific tween bad behavior) is a controversial issue today because it __, and __. § 3 reasons supported by specific examples O The three most important reasons against anorexia nervosa (a specific eating disorder & bad tween behavior) are __, and __. § 3 reasons supported by specific examples

STRUCTURE

STRUCTURE v With Topic, Thesis, and Opening Generalization now in hand, you are ready to pattern your Illustration Essay in accordance to the proper STRUCTURE: OPTION #1 (prompt as Opening Generalization) I. III. IV. V. Introduction (ends w/Thesis) Example #1 Example #2 Example #3 (best) Conclusion OPTION #2 (prompt as part of the Thesis – prove prompt) I. III. IV. V. Introduction (ends w/Thesis) Reason #1 Reason #2 Reason #3 (best) Conclusion

Structure: TITLE v TITLE q Topic + Main Idea O Examples of Risky Tween Behavior O Cutting Is a Dangerous Tween Behavior Today O Reasons against Anorexia Nervosa Notice the Capitalization (cap. the major words in a title) • 1 st & last words • Nouns/PN, Verbs, Adj. , Adv. ,

Structure: INTRODUCTION v INTRODUCTION q start w/the Opening Generalization q end w/the Thesis Statement NARROWING from a broad subject to a focused topic: v Tweens changes risky behavior cutting v Tweens changes giving up beloved childhood possessions examples of cherished possessions from my childhood

Structure: BODY v BODY 1 q ALL body paragraphs 1. Name 2. Explain 3. Illustrate 4. Reiterate

Structure: BODY v BODY 1 q Name: O start w/a strong, clear TOPIC SENTENCE § Another example of a risky tween behavior is …. § Another reason anorexia nervosa is bad is …. q Explain: O explain or clarify your pt. , define your term q Illustrate: O use specific and relevant EXAMPLES as support q Reiterate: O end w/a CLINCHER SENTENCE that repeats the paragraph’s point & relates it to the overall point § Thus, as this example illustrates, one reason anorexia nervosa is a bad tween decision is …

Structure: BODY v BODY 2 q follow the previous pattern – O name, explain, illustrate, reiterate v BODY 3 q *this must be your most important/significant reason or example O “EMPHATIC ORDER” = save the “best” for last & say so q follow the previous pattern – O name, explain, illustrate, reiterate

Structure: CONCLUSION v CONCLUSION q reiterate your Thesis q reiterate your main points q “So What? !” O draw a conclusion O make a recommendation O make an argument

RECAP

RECAP prompt as part of the OPENING GENERALIZATION I. Introduction (ends w/Thesis) II. Example #1 III. Example #2 IV. Example #3 (best) V. Conclusion v Use specific examples to support 3 General Example s q specific instances, specific people, specific events, …

RECAP prompt as part of the THESIS I. Introduction (ends w/Thesis) II. Reason #1 III. Reason #2 IV. Reason #3 (best) V. Conclusion v Use specific examples to support 3 Reasons q specific instances, specific people, specific events, …

EXAMPLES These are general examples, not necessarily on the given subject.

EXAMPLES *Illustrate the Prompt* v INTRO: Since travel and leisure have become necessary aspects of the well-balanced lifestyle, people try to take vacations at least once a year. Some people go far away, travelling to foreign countries and exotic locales. Others may opt for some place local to get away from the everyday stresses of modern life. I certainly need to “get out of Dodge” every so often to keep my proverbial battery charged. Thus, I have been on some wonderful vacations over the year. Examples of the three most interesting vacations I have had are my trips to Antarctica, New Zealand, and Mars. q this could easily become the “examples of educational trips” given above

EXAMPLES * Illustrate the Prompt * v BODY PARAGRAPH STRUCTURE: q Name the example in a Topic Sentence. O One of the most interesting trips I have been on… q **Be specific in your illustration. q **Make sure the details you give match your theme: O interesting OR educational q Reiterate the example in a Clincher Sentence.

EXAMPLES * Prove the Prompt * v INTRO: We live in a hypermodern world now in which everything streaks by at light speed. There hardly seems time to catch our breath on a given day, leaving us feeling exhausted, empty, and depressed. Sometimes it feels as if we are revving our engines so high that they will blow a gasket at any moment. However, I do believe that there is an antidote for the hypermodern blues: taking a vacation. In general, travel and leisure are important remedies for today’s high-speed culture. In particular, though, taking vacations has become a necessary aspect of the well-balanced lifestyle because it exposes us to new cultures, it reboots our family life, and it recharges our batteries for work.

EXAMPLES * Prove the Prompt * v BODY PARAGRAPH STRUCTURE: q Name the reason in a Topic Sentence. O One reason vacations are necessary today is … q Explain or clarify the reason. O In other words … O That is to say… q *Illustrate it with a specific example. O For example, one time I…. q Reiterate the reason in a Clincher Sentence. O Thus, one significant reason vacations are a vital aspect of a well-balanced lifestyle is ….

EXAMPLES * EXAMPLES* v INTRO: In “Tweens: Ten Going on Sixteen, ” Kay S. Hymowitz paints a distressing picture of tweenhood – that period of development between ages 8 and 10 years of age. She lists examples of “deviant behavior” (par. 12) that she notices in kids the same age as her youngest child. Some deal with fashion or alcohol abuse. However, I believe that (examples of) the three most disturbing trends in tween behavior are sexting, cutting, and anorexia nervosa.

EXAMPLES * REASONS* v INTRO: In “Tweens: Ten Going on Sixteen, ” Kay S. Hymowitz paints a distressing picture of tweenhood – that period of development between ages 8 and 10 years of age. She lists examples of “deviant behavior” (par. 12) that she notices in kids the same age as her youngest child. Some deal with fashion, crime, sex, drugs and alcohol, and eating disorders. One of the most common eating disorders is anorexia nervosa. I believe this is the most dangerous of tween behaviors because it destroys their teeth, it establishes a distressing copying mechanism that will follow them throughout their lives, and it can kill them.

THE END