Author’s Purpose & Rhetorical Appeals
What is the main purpose of a charity advertisement that shows sad images of animals in shelters?
To persuade the audience to donate by appealing to emotions (pathos).
Identify the type of figurative language: "Her smile was as bright as the sun."
Simile, because it compares the smile to the sun using "as."
What text structure is used when events are presented in time order?
Chronological order.
What type of reasoning makes a general conclusion based on specific examples?
Inductive reasoning, because it generalizes based on specific observations.
What does the prefix "un-" mean in the word "uncertain"?
The prefix "un-" means "not," so "uncertain" means "not sure."
A commercial features a doctor endorsing a new medicine. Which rhetorical appeal is being used?
Ethos, because the speaker is using their credibility as a doctor to convince the audience.
What rhetorical device is used in the phrase: "Are we really expected to believe this?"
Rhetorical question, as it poses a question without expecting an answer to emphasize a point.
Read this paragraph.
"The city of Riverdale has been experiencing severe flooding over the past decade, leading to significant property damage and displacement of residents. To address this, city officials have implemented new drainage systems, constructed flood barriers, and launched a public awareness campaign on emergency preparedness."
Does it use chronological order or problem-solution? Explain your reasoning with evidence from the text.
The paragraph follows a problem-solution structure. It first presents the issue (severe flooding in Riverdale) and then describes solutions (drainage systems, flood barriers, and a public awareness campaign) to address the problem.
A scientist observes that all tested metals expand when heated and concludes that all metals expand when heated. What type of reasoning is this?
Inductive reasoning, because the conclusion (all metals expand) is based on observed cases rather than a universal rule.
Based on context clues, what does "melancholy" mean in this sentence?
“After hearing the news of his friend’s departure, Tom felt a deep sense of melancholy, his smile fading as he sat quietly by the window.”
Melancholy means sadness or sorrow, as inferred from the context.
A speaker presents a statistic: "75% of teens report feeling stressed about school." Which appeal is being used?
Logos, as the statistic provides logical evidence to support the argument.
How does repetition strengthen the impact of this speech excerpt?
Repetition reinforces the speaker’s determination and makes the speech more memorable.
Read the following excerpt: "Studies show that smoking damages lung tissue, leading to chronic diseases such as emphysema and lung cancer. Over time, the buildup of tar in the lungs reduces oxygen intake, making breathing more difficult." How does the cause-and-effect structure help explain the dangers of smoking?
The cause-and-effect structure helps explain the dangers of smoking by clearly showing the relationship between smoking and its harmful effects. The excerpt presents smoking as the cause and chronic diseases (emphysema, lung cancer) as the effects. By organizing information this way, the text makes it easier for the reader to understand how smoking directly leads to health problems and why it is dangerous.
Read the following argument: 'All mammals have lungs. A dolphin is a mammal. Therefore, a dolphin has lungs.' Does this follow deductive reasoning? Why or why not?
Yes, this follows deductive reasoning because it applies a general rule (all mammals have lungs) to a specific case (a dolphin) and reaches a logically certain conclusion.
What is the difference in connotation between "cheap" and "affordable"?
"Cheap" has a negative connotation (low quality), while "affordable" has a positive connotation (good value).
How does an author appeal to pathos when writing about child hunger?
The author appeals to pathos by using emotional language to make the audience feel sympathy for hungry children.
Identify the figurative language used in the sentence: "The wind whispered secrets through the trees."
Personification, as it gives human qualities (whispering secrets) to the wind.
Compare and contrast how problem-solution and compare-contrast structures present information.
Problem-solution presents an issue and ways to fix it, while compare-contrast highlights similarities and differences.
A detective finds muddy footprints near a crime scene and concludes that the suspect walked through a muddy area before arriving. What type of reasoning is being used?
Abductive reasoning, because the detective makes an educated guess based on incomplete evidence (the footprints suggest the suspect walked through a muddy area).
How does connotation affect the tone in these two sentences? 'The old house was decrepit and falling apart.' vs. 'The old house was historic and full of character.
The first sentence conveys negativity, while the second suggests charm and historical significance
Compare how ethos and pathos are used in these two arguments about climate change. Argument 1:
Dr. Maria Sanchez, a climate scientist with over 20 years of research experience, states: “Data from NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration confirm that global temperatures have risen by 1.1°C since the late 19th century. This increase has led to more extreme weather patterns, including hurricanes and droughts. If carbon emissions are not reduced, scientists predict severe environmental and economic consequences.”
Argument 2:
A young girl named Aisha describes how rising sea levels have destroyed her family’s home: “Last year, our village was flooded, and we lost everything. My little brother cried as we left behind our school and friends. We don’t know where we will live next. I just wish people would stop hurting our planet so other families don’t have to suffer like mine.”
The first statement appeals to ethos by citing expert opinions, while the second appeals to pathos by using fear to persuade.
How does alliteration enhance the impact of a persuasive speech?
Alliteration enhances a persuasive speech by making key phrases more memorable and engaging.
Read the following excerpt: "The battlefield was cloaked in thick fog, the air filled with the distant echoes of cannon fire and the cries of wounded soldiers. Smoke curled through the air as the sun struggled to pierce the haze, casting an eerie glow over the devastated landscape." How does the descriptive text structure enhance the imagery of this historical event?
The descriptive text structure enhances imagery by using vivid sensory details to immerse the reader in the scene. The excerpt includes visual imagery (“thick fog,” “smoke curled through the air”), auditory imagery (“distant echoes of cannon fire,” “cries of wounded soldiers”), and light imagery (“the sun struggled to pierce the haze”). These details help the reader visualize the battlefield and emotionally connect to the historical event, making it more impactful.
Read the following scenario: A doctor diagnoses a patient with a rare disease based on their symptoms and a few test results. What type of reasoning is the doctor using, and why?
Abductive reasoning, because the doctor is making an educated guess based on incomplete evidence (symptoms and a few test results) rather than a full set of confirmed facts.
Break down the word "miscommunication" into its prefix, root, and suffix. Give another example with "mis-".
"Mis-" means "wrong," "communic" refers to communication, and "-ation" makes it a noun. Another example is "misunderstanding."