Rhetoric
What is Speaker, Audience, and Purpose
An author/speaker's attitude towards a subject
What is tone
Name 7 rhetorical devices/strategies
What is...
Tone
Diction: negative word choice, positive word choice, professional, colloquial, etc.
Detail: imagery, anecdotes, figurative language, etc.
Syntax: parallel structure, juxtaposition, anaphora, etc.
Name 3 kinds of evidence that can be used for the argument essay
What is history, pop culture, personal experience, news, current events, etc.
The minimum number of sources you need to use in your essay
What is 3 sources
The appeal in which a speaker establishes credibility
What is ethos
Name 5 different kinds of syntax
What is... rhetorical questions, anaphora, antithesis, repetition, sentence fragments, exclamatory statements, etc.
The two main things you need to include in your thesis
What is... rhetorical strategies and claim (defensible)
The type of evidence you should not use in your argument essay
What is hypothetical situations
True or False: A counterargument is necessary for a synthesis essay
What is...False
The driving force, spark, or catalyst that prompts the writer/speaker to write or speak at that specific moment
What is exigence
Common knowledge and/or belief that helps explain why your evidence supports your claim
Authors/speakers employ a specific kind of diction to...
What is convey tone and style, relate to the audience, etc.
Paraphrase the following prompt; what is it asking you to do?
In a 2013 New York Times article on the practice of taking selfies, writer, editor, and podcast host J Wortham wrote: “Rather than dismissing the trend as a side effect of digital culture or a sad form of exhibitionism,1 maybe we’re better off seeing selfies for what they are at their best—a kind of visual diary, a way to mark our short existence and hold it up to others as proof that we were here.” Write an essay that argues your position on the extent to which Wortham’s claim about the value of documenting one’s life with selfies is valid.
What is...Develop a position in which you agree, disagree, or qualify Wortham's claim that documenting one's life with selfies is valid
The kind of evidence you should use
What is specific quotes from the sources
The difference between purpose and message
What is...
Purpose is the reason (the why) an author/speaker creates their writing or speech; the overall goal of communicating this piece
Message is the central argument/claim, the overall takeaway an author or speaker wants the audience to know
DAILY DOUBLE
The logical sequence of claims, evidence, and commentary that connects your body paragraphs to your thesis
Write a thesis statement for the following prompt:
The following is an excerpt from "Mother Knows Best" from Disney's Tangled, a song that Mother Gothel sings to convince Rapunzel not to leave the tower. After reading the excerpt, analyze the rhetorical choices Mother Gothel employs to achieve her purpose.
You want to go outside? Why, Rapunzel
Look at you, as fragile as a flower
Still a little sapling, just a sprout
You know why we stay up in this tower
That's right, to keep you safe and sound, dear
Guess I always knew this day was coming
Knew that soon you'd want to leave the nest
Soon, but not yet
Trust me, pet
Mother knows best
What is...
(example)
In Disney's Tangled, Mother Gothel employs a condescending tone and figurative language to achieve her purpose of trying to convince Rapunzel to stay in the tower.
Write a Yes, But, So What thesis statement for the following prompt:
In a 2013 New York Times article on the practice of taking selfies, writer, editor, and podcast host J Wortham wrote: “Rather than dismissing the trend as a side effect of digital culture or a sad form of exhibitionism,1 maybe we’re better off seeing selfies for what they are at their best—a kind of visual diary, a way to mark our short existence and hold it up to others as proof that we were here.” Write an essay that argues your position on the extent to which Wortham’s claim about the value of documenting one’s life with selfies is valid.
What is...
(example) While selfies initially began as an early 2010s fad, their relevance today is a testament to its validity as a form of documentation in an ever-changing technology driven world.
Paraphrase the following prompt; what is it asking you to do?
Mapping software and Global Positioning System (GPS) devices are used regularly by travelers and commuters. Since these devices and apps are updated in real time with user-supplied information, they have become associated with a number of problems. While commuters attempt to avoid traffic on highways, they often create traffic on smaller, local roads that are less able to handle this new burden. Users also lose a sense of their geographical surroundings as they rely more on mapping software or GPS devices for navigation. Carefully read the following six sources, including the introductory information for each source. Write an essay that synthesizes material from at least three of the sources and develops your position on the value, if any, of mapping software and devices.
What is...read the sources; use 3 sources to develop your position (agree, disagree, or qualify) on if GPS devices and mapping software is valuable to use
Name 3 different modes of discourse
What is Narration, Example, Description, Compare/Contrast, Definition, Cause/Effect, Division/Classification, Argument/Persuasion, etc.
A rhetorical device that uses humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize human vices, follies, abuses, or shortcomings
What is Satire
Two specific analyses from the following selection from "Mother Knows Best" from Disney's Tangled
You want to go outside? Why, Rapunzel
Look at you, as fragile as a flower
Still a little sapling, just a sprout
You know why we stay up in this tower
That's right, to keep you safe and sound, dear
Guess I always knew this day was coming
Knew that soon you'd want to leave the nest
Soon, but not yet
Trust me, pet
Mother knows best
What are
simile/metaphor (fragile as a flower/little sapling, just a sprout) -- compares Rapunzel to a flower to signify that she still needs to grow up, she needs to be protected
diction: "fragile," "pet," "sapling," "sprout," -- refers to Rapunzel as pet names, signifies relationship and also emphasizes her vulnerability as a child in Mother Gothel's eyes, wants Rapunzel to think of herself as a child as well so that she doesn't go outside
Tone: condescending and direct, "keep you safe and sound, "trust me, pet/Mother knows best" create a sense of trust in Mother Gothel and also implies her power over Rapunzel
Name 2 specific pieces of evidence that can be used for the following prompt:
In a 2013 New York Times article on the practice of taking selfies, writer, editor, and podcast host J Wortham wrote: “Rather than dismissing the trend as a side effect of digital culture or a sad form of exhibitionism,1 maybe we’re better off seeing selfies for what they are at their best—a kind of visual diary, a way to mark our short existence and hold it up to others as proof that we were here.” Write an essay that argues your position on the extent to which Wortham’s claim about the value of documenting one’s life with selfies is valid.
What is...
(examples)
- specific personal experience of one time where your friend was taking a selfie and missed out on an experience
- social media platforms: Be Real, Snapchat, Instagram, selfie trends are a way to connect with others, gain confidence
- negative side of selfie trends/social media: encouragement of vanity, leads to mental health issues (bring in personal experience or science/psychology to back this up)
Write a thesis that qualifies this topic
Mapping software and Global Positioning System (GPS) devices are used regularly by travelers and commuters. Since these devices and apps are updated in real time with user-supplied information, they have become associated with a number of problems. While commuters attempt to avoid traffic on highways, they often create traffic on smaller, local roads that are less able to handle this new burden. Users also lose a sense of their geographical surroundings as they rely more on mapping software or GPS devices for navigation. Carefully read the following six sources, including the introductory information for each source. Write an essay that synthesizes material from at least three of the sources and develops your position on the value, if any, of mapping software and devices.
What is... Although Mapping software and GPS devices are the norm in our society, this kind of technology is only helpful at certain times, as reliance on it can lead to a decline in personal navigation skills and awareness.