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 q which will count for TWO grades O the Illustration Essay O the MTA § a 2 -for-1 deal

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 – but on a different topic) v Since the Writing Sample is essentially an Illustration Essay itself, 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 WHY YOU ARE THE PERSON YOU ARE

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 Body modification is a growing occurrence in modern life. q Body modification is a controversial issue today.

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 2 examples of events that have happened to you in your life that have made you into the person you are today

THESIS

THESIS v Next is to fashion a focused THESIS SENTENCE from your chosen topic. q Topic + Main Idea + Support O Examples of events that have shaped my life are __ and __. § 2 specific instances/events that have shaped your life O The two biggest reasons I have become a “bomb shelter” type of person are because __ and __. § 2 reasons supported by specific examples O The two most important reasons I have become the person I am today are __ and __. § 2 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. Introduction (ends w/Thesis) Example #1 Example #2 (best) Conclusion OPTION #2 (prompt as part of the Thesis – prove prompt) I. III. IV. Introduction (ends w/Thesis) Reason #1 Reason #2 (best) Conclusion

Structure: TITLE v TITLE q Topic + Main Idea O Examples of Life-Shaping Events O Reasons I Am the Person I Am Today O Reasons I Am a “Brave Soldier” Notice the Capitalization (cap. the major words in a title) • 1 st & last words • nouns, verbs, adj. , adv. ,

Structure: INTRODUCTION v INTRODUCTION q start w/the Opening Generalization q end w/the Thesis Statement (see the digressions above – with the “ ”)

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 an educational trip is …. § Another reason education is a vital aspect of life 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 work is an essential part of adulthood is …

Structure: BODY v BODY 2 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 (best) IV. Conclusion v Use specific examples to support 2 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 (best) IV. Conclusion v Use specific examples to support 2 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 ….

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