RHETORICAL ANALYSIS ESSAY COMMON MISTAKES RHETORICAL ANALYSIS COMMON

RHETORICAL ANALYSIS ESSAY COMMON MISTAKES

RHETORICAL ANALYSIS: COMMON MISTAKES IN INTRODUCTIONS • A hook is not required, though a short, general statement is appreciated (especially if you want a 7+ score). • Your introduction does not & should not need to list out every rhetorical device used- however, it should attempt to include the tone in which the author achieves his/her purpose and argument. • Use the rhetorical precis to guide your introduction but it does not need to be word for word. Also, do not put the date in (). See blue packet for specifics on your introduction.

SEE HANDOUT • FORMAT: 1. Speaker, Occasion, and Subject (Writer’s credentials), (writer’s first and last name), in his/her (type of text), (title of text), (strong verb – see list at end of this handout) (writer’s subject). 2. Purpose (Writer’s last name)’s purpose is to (what the writer does in the text). 3. Audience He/she adopts a[n] (adjective describing the attitude/feeling conveyed by the writer) tone in order to (verb phrase describing what the writer wants readers to do/think) in his/her (intended audience).

EXAMPLE • Education activist, Malala Yousafazai, in her 2013 speech to the UN, argues that the best weapon against poverty and terrorism is education. Yousafzai hopes her words will persuade the UN to become advocates of education for all. In a humble yet passionate tone, Yousafzai makes a plea for the UN to join her in making education a priority.

COMMON MISTAKES IN BODY PARAGRAPHS • REVERSE your STRATEGY <-> PURPOSE • It sounds extremely formulaic & unsophisticated to start each paragraph with the rhetorical strategy itself. • Yousafzai uses imagery to appeal to the emotions of UN members. • INSTEAD: • Yousafzai evokes pity from the UN nations when she describes the heartbreaking struggles of children in third world nations.

COMMON MISTAKES IN BODY PARAGRAPHS • Yousafzai establishes that education is the best weapon against the conflicts that third world countries are facing. When she suggests that we “empower ourselves with the weapon of knowledge”, she begins an extended metaphor that schooling is the best chance third world countries have in winning the war against poverty and terrorism. She indirectly conveys that the guns we so often turn to are not the best options in waging a war; rather, she says, “let us pick up our books and pens” and fight. To further metaphor that education is the best weapon, and to bring a sense of togetherness among the UN, Yousafzai states that we must “shield ourselves with unity and togetherness”. She implies that this cannot be done by her country alone. Instead, the UN and its participating countries must come together and work to solve the conflicts the people in third world countries face. It is only when they collaborate that the “shield” can be put up as a defense in the war that they are fighting.

COMMON MISTAKES IN BODY PARAGRAPHS • Unclear topic sentences that do not clearly state or tie back to the purpose being discussed. • Weak argument? IDENTIFY THE STRONGEST RHETORICAL STRATEGIES and write on those! • Clearly and thoroughly explain how the examples SUPPORT & TIE to the topic sentence and thesis! • Ask yourself: HOW DOES THIS EXAMPLE HELP ACHIEVE THE AUTHOR’S PURPOSE? HOW DOES THIS EXAMPLE USE THE RHETORICAL DEVICE TO APPEAL TO THE AUDIENCE?

SPELLING/GRAMMAR ERRORS • You need to write in present tense unless you are recounting something. • Patrick Henry (used/uses) analogies to make comparisons that the reader can understand. At the time, the Americans were not all convinced that going to war was the answer. However, by using his analogies, Henry makes it obvious that (is/was) the only choice. • EXCESSIVE SPELLING/GRAMMAR ERRORS are NOT acceptable!

CHECK YOUR OWN ESSAYS • HIGHLIGHT your purpose • In blue, underline your topic sentence • In red, underline all quotes/examples • In green, underline all analysis: IDENTIFY BOTH PARTS - the first question of how it ties to the purpose & the second question of how it affects the audience. • Do you clearly tie your ideas back to the PURPOSE? Do you give the proper amount of analysis?

REVISE YOUR ESSAY • Re-write your essay and highlight the changes made. • These essays are to be neatly handwritten or typed and turned in by tomorrow.