Rhetorical Analysis Summative Assessment

How can I use my knowledge of rhetorical terms and appeals to write an on-demand rhetorical analysis essay?

1. Review strategies for writing the essay

• Rhetorical Situation (the triangle--who’s speaking, to whom, about what? Context, tone, purpose)
• Arrangement (hook, background, claim, subclaims, evidence, counterargument, conclusion)
• Appeals (to credibility, to reason, to emotion, to religion, patriotism, morality, etc.)
• Devices (intentional use of repetition, conjunctions, figurative language, etc.)   
• Diction (high, low, jargon, connotation, tone, etc.)
• Syntax (look for changes in; simple, complex, parallel structure, etc)

2. Rhetorical Analysis Prompt: Benjamin Banneker

Timed: 40 minutes

Step 1: Read the prompt carefully. Underline key information. What are you being asked to do in the essay?

Step 2: Read the passage carefully. Mark up the text as you go. What are you noticing? Mark little things and trace big things.

Step 3: Create a quick outline--answer the prompt and figure out your 2-3 “paragraph worthy” points. Mark evidence that you’ll use.

Step 4: Begin writing.

3. American Moments Speech Assignment--due Tuesday, December 5th
Read student sample and brainstorm topics

"I Have a Dream" Discussion and Essay Outline

IQ: How can I demonstrate knowledge of rhetorical terms? How can I show I am listening to others through my comments and building off what others say?

1. MLK essay reflection (HOW grade)

2. Rhetorical Terms Quiz 2

3. MLK Discussion
We will get into groups of 4
Each person takes a question, gives their answer, and the rest of the group can chime in and add to the response.
You can add to your responses during the discussion in a different color.

4. Outline for essay
How would you set up an essay? Practice creating an outline to prepare for your summative next class

Prompt: What is the purpose of MLK”s famous speech and how does he convey that purpose?

Outline:

--Context

--Meaning & Method (M & M)

--Main points/arguments--2-3 “Big Ideas” → These become paragraph T.S.’s

--Techniques--subclaims within your paragraphs

--Textual examples--weaving in quotes

I Have a Dream

IQ: What is the purpose of MLK's famous speech and how does he convey that purpose?

1. Kaia YLNT
2. Vocab Quiz
3. "I Have a Dream"

1. Number your paragraphs!!
2. Watch the video/listen to the speech--mark your text for rhetorical devices such as repetition, parallel structure, antithesis, anecdote, etc.
3. ALSO, try to follow his line of reasoning--what is his thesis or main claim and what are his supporting points of argument.
4. THEN, 1) read through the text again completing the question set. Your answers should be typed, thorough answers that include citations when necessary.
5. Finally, you will think about how you’d set up an essay!

HW: MLK Close Reading Questions

Rhetorical Terms Quiz #2 November 27th --Study!

Letter from Birmingham cont.

IQ: How can I use my knowledge of rhetorical strategies to outline and write a rhetorical analysis essay?

1. Maya: YLNT

2.Working in threes, create an outline for a rhetorical analysis essay of Letter from Birmingham Jail
(20 min)

1. Write an intro paragraph with a clear thesis--purpose and strategies
2. What will each paragraph focus on?
1. Write 2-3 topic sentence
3. What evidence will you use in each paragraph?
1. Highlight quotes that you will use in each of these paragraphs
2. Try to use short quotes that you can “weave” into your text
4. How will you analyze the evidence?
1. How does each piece of evidence link back to the topic of the paragraph?
2. How does each piece of evidence link back to the overall purpose?
5. Conclusion--so what now?
1. How does the whole piece convey the purpose?
2. What is the overall effect of the piece?
3. What is the relevance of the piece?

3. Timed writing (surprise!): 40 min
Write an essay in which you analyze the rhetorical strategies Dr. King uses to achieve his purpose. Support your analysis with specific references from the text

Next class:
Vocab Quiz
Review rhetorical terms: we will have another quiz after break

Letter from Birmingham Jail

IQ: How can I put together all of the rhetorical strategies I have learned to analyze MLK's Letter from Birmingham Jail?

1. Go over Vocab: Quiz on Monday
2. Discuss "The Vietnam in Me" in partners:
Go through each paragraph together. Which sentences stood out?
How does O'Brien use syntax to create meaning?
3. MLK: Letter from Birmingham Jail
4. Partners: MLK's Letter

1. You will work in partners.
2. Take turns reading paragraphs (or sections) out loud. Try to hear some of the techniques he is using. Pay attention to diction to get a sense of appeals.
3. Pay attention to syntax to help you follow his argument--his line of reasoning (logos).
4. His arrangement will follow a classical model. Take out your notes if need be!
5. Look for rhetorical devices, as well.
6. Use your SOAPSTone to help you put it all together in the end.

FOCUS QUESTION: What is his purpose (point) in this letter and how does he convey that purpose?

HW: Read and annotate MLK's letter using the above framework. Complete SOAPStone for Thursday.

Syntax

IQ: How can varying sentence structures impact a text? How can I model varying sentence structures in my own writing?

1. Share Sacred Place speeches: underline words that create tone and label devices
2. Go over MC Practice: first in groups, then together
3. Intro to Syntax

Syntax: A fancy word for sentence structure
We look at four things:

• Length
• Structure 
• Voice
• Mode of verbs

“This sentence has five words. Here are five more words. Five-word sentences are fine. But several together become monotonous. Listen to what is happening. The writing is getting boring. The sound of it drones. It’s like a stuck record. The ear demands some variety. Now listen. I vary the sentence length, and I create music. Music. The writing sings. It has a pleasant rhythm, a lilt, a harmony. I use short sentences. And I use sentences of medium length. And sometimes, when I am certain the reader is rested, I will engage him with a sentence of considerable length, a sentence that burns with energy and builds with all the impetus of a crescendo, the roll of the drums, the crash of the cymbals–sounds that say listen to this, it is important.” --Gary Provost

Imitation Writing: Timed (10 Minutes)

Why do we imitate? (in case you're wondering...)

“I think if imitation were encouraged, much would be learned well that is now learned partially and haphazardly. Before we can be poets, we must practice; imitation is a very good way of investigating the real thing.” --Mary Oliver, A Poetry Handbook

“It’s a good idea to have a designated section of your bookshelf for books by writers who have obviously worked on their sentences...These are works you can turn to whenever you feel that your own style is getting a little slack or lazy or vague. You can open such books anywhere and read a sentence that will move you to labor longer, try harder, to return to that trouble spot or that imprecise or awkward sentence until it is something to be proud of instead of something you hope the reader won’t notice.”  --Francine Prose, Reading Like a Writer

4. Syntax Slideshow and Practice

Homework: Vocab Unit 2

"Vietnam in Me" Says/Does

Diction and Tone

IQ: How does a writer's diction impact tone, and to what effect?

1. Quiz over rhetorical terms

2. General Patton comparison SOAPStone
Discussion: how does diction impact the tone of the speech? What might have been each man's purpose in creating such a tone?

3. Multiple Choice Practice

HW: Imitation Writing
Create your own address for a sacred, or “hallowed,” space of your choosing. Your address must capture Lincoln’s in tone and structure and use of devices, but of course the content will be determined by the place you choose. (Graded assessment--creating tone, following structure, attempt at devices)

Diction and The Gettysburg Address

Inquiry: How do I discuss diction in my writing? What can a close reading of the Gettysburg Address teach me about rhetorical strategies?

1. Opener: Abbi's YLNT

2. Vocab Quiz #1

3. Levels of diction
Diction always needs to be described. For example: "The writer uses_________ diction".

Look at the 3 examples of levels of diction. What is diction and how do we change our diction-- specifically, our level of diction--to suit our purpose?

• High level diction--academic, eloquent, bombastic, formal, esoteric
• Low level diction--colloquial, grotesque, simple, slang, trite, informal, vulgar

4. Gettysburg Address: Rhetorical Devices

• Review Rhetorical Terms
• Gettysburg Address Close Reading: Use questions to guide your annotations in groups

Homework for Monday:

• Read and annotate General Patton's 3rd Army Speech
• Study for Quiz on Rhetorical Terms