Essays & Rhetorical Devices
What does S.E.E.S. stand for?
State, Evidence, Explain, Summarize
Name two of the four types of evidence (proof).
Statistics (facts), anecdotes, expert testimony, examples
What does formal tone say about the age of an audience?
Mature.
Define Rhetorical Situation.
The set of circumstances, events, and contexts that shape any piece of communication or writing
Name one weakness of an anecdote as evidence.
A single story does not equal a general claim
Why is it important to see how a writer handles counterarguments?
Serious engagement signals audience respect; dismissal risks alienating readers who hold those views.
What are three things a thesis statement absolutely must be?
Clear, Arguable and Defendable.
Name a strength of Examples as evidence.
Makes abstract ideas concrete; illustrates patterns
Name a common mistake students make when analyzing audience.
Confusing the audience with yourself, only relying on tone, recognizing without explaining why, assuming all audiences respond the same way
What are the four things that need to be in intro paragraphs for rhetorical analysis essays?
Hook, context (rhetorical situation), author info, thesis statement
Name a common weakness you may find in any type of evidence.
unsubstantiated claims, cherry-picked evidence, manipulative appeals to emotion, overgeneralization, straw man arguments, confusing correlation and causation
What does a reliance on only Ethos and Logos appeals tell us about what the writer assumes about their audience?
They assume they aren't swayed by emotion, but rather statistics and credentials. They likely assume they are an older, academic, skeptical audience.
In the S.E.E.S. structure, where is the best place for the counterargument?
Explain.
If I'm writing two essays, one arguing that paper is more effective for taking notes than computers to Mr. Harmon, and another arguing the same but to you (students), what style evidence would be best for Mr. Harmon, and what style of evidence would be best to students?
Mr. Harmon: Statistics and expert testimony
Students: Anecdotes and examples
What are the five audience awareness questions you should ask yourself when approaching a rhetorical analysis essay?