The Rhetorical Situation
What are the components of the rhetorical situation?
writer, message, purpose, exigence, context, audience
Where do writers typically make their messages clear and explicit?
In thesis statements
This mode tells a story in chronological order to illustrate a point or idea
Narration
What is a metaphor?
A figure of speech that directly compares two unlike things
“The river rose, and the bridges closed.”
What is a compound sentence?
What is the purpose in the context of the rhetorical situation?
What the writer hopes to accomplish within a text
What is a thesis statement?
A claim that expresses a perspective and idea about a subject.
This mode uses vivid sensory language to help the reader imagine sights, sounds, or feelings.
What is Description?
How does a simile differ from a metaphor?
Similes use "like" or "as"; metaphors make direct comparisons
“Because the lights dimmed, the audience fell silent.”
What is a complex sentence?
Which of the following best defines "exigence" in the rhetorical situation?
The part of the situation that inspires or provokes the creation of a text
How do writers reaveal their attitudes towards their subject?
through diction and writing style
In an essay explaining how social media algorithms shape user behavior, what is the writer’s primary mode of discourse?
Exposition – to inform or explain by analyzing causes and processes (logos appeal).
How is alliteration used in writing?
Repetition of initial consonant sounds in nearby words
“I wanted to call, but the phone was dead, so I wrote a note.”
What is a compound–complex sentence?
What are the three basic components of the rhetorical triangle?
Writer/speaker, audience, message
How is tone conveyed?
Diction refers to a writer's choice of words
A columnist claims that schools should delay start times and supports the claim with research and counterarguments.
What mode is being used, and what is its goal?
Argumentation – to persuade the audience to agree with a position or take action.
What is the purpose of using anaphora in a speech or text?
To emphasize a point through repetition of words at the beginning of successive clauses
“Weary from travel, muddy from rain, grateful at last to arrive, we collapsed.”
What is a cumulative (loose) sentence?
When analyzing the audience in a rhetorical situation, which factors should be considered?
Their shared and individual beliefs, values, needs, and backgrounds
What is the "magic formula" for a thesis statement?
Subject + idea + perspective
A writer defines “freedom” not by its dictionary meaning but by exploring what it is not—contrasting personal independence with social responsibility.
What rhetorical strategy and mode of discourse is the writer using, and what is the purpose of this approach?
What is Definition Mode using negation (defining by contrast) — the writer deepens understanding by clarifying boundaries of the concept and engaging the audience in critical reflection about its true meaning.
"This morning, as I was already late, my dog taquitos decided to chew up my shoe." is an example of which rhetorical device?
anecdote
“Only after the verdict did the room exhale.”
What is inversion (anastrophe)/periodic opening?