Rhetorical Situation
Who is speaking in this commencement address?
Who is Sean Evans, Creator of Hot Ones and UofI alum
Evans describes his life as a “cartoon existence.” What tone does this contribute to?
What is humorous, playful, self-deprecating, or lighthearted?
What belongs in an effective rhetorical analysis introduction?
What is relevant rhetorical situation information?
Is this (Evans says that Hugh Jackman worked as a birthday clown before becoming Wolverine) a topic sentence, evidence, or commentary? Would you classify it as "good" - why or why not?
What is evidence and it is good because it is paraphrased but could be better with direct quotes?
Find a piece of evidence that supports Evans' message that success can come from unexpected beginnings.
What is any anecdote involving one of the celebrities he details?
What are three subject words of this speech?
What are...
Growth
Beginnings
Uncertainty
Success
Perserverance
Opportunity
Community
Which tone best describes Evans discussing celebrities' first jobs?
What is playful?
What is the intended purpose?
What is Evans seeks to encourage graduates to embrace uncertainty and recognize that their beginnings do not determine their futures?
What is the best way to analyze the following evidence:
Evans uses examples of celebrities' first jobs to __________.
What is reassure the audience that even people they consider very successful struggled to start?
Which quotation would BEST support the idea that Evans wants graduates to embrace uncertainty and WHY?
A. “pure comedic value”
B. “most of the time they were terrible”
C. “we’re all just figuring it out”
D. “I did love that job”
What is "C" because it reminds the audience they are not the exception to the rule and they are not alone in "figuring it out"?
What is the exigence?
What is Chris Evans who struggled to start his career and relied on his community and remained perseverant?
Evans says he interviews famous people who become nervous, sweat, and cry. Why include these examples?
What is to humanize successful celebrities and show that even highly accomplished people experience vulnerability and uncertainty?
What would qualify as a strong thesis statement?
What is Evans reassures graduates that uncertainty is a natural part of success and that their current circumstances do not determine their futures by humorously recalling interviews with celebrities and detailing his own success story?
Why does Evans' use of celebrity examples matter to his audience?
What is it makes celebrities more relatable and encourages the audience that if they too are struggling now, it is not an indicator of their future succes?
Which rhetorical DEVICE best describes the below evidence?
Evans explains that he used to give architectural boat tours before working on camera.
What is personal anecdote?
What are two values of the audience?
What are...
The value career success.
They may feel uncertain about their future.
They value independence.
They want to meaningfully contribute to their community.
Why is Evans' informal language effective for a commencement audience?
What is it makes him seem approachable and relatable rather than distant or overly formal, helping graduates connect with his message?
What revision considerations should the writer of the below thesis make?
“In his commencement speech, Sean Evans talks to graduates about how life is unpredictable. He uses rhetorical strategies to get his point across.”
What is the choices need to be specific and the purpose must be rhetorical, or persuasive?
Revise this "Evans uses humor to make the speech entertaining" to be true commentary.
What is Evans humorous tone eases the tension the audience may feel as a result of their fear of the unknown and encourages them to enter the unknown with a calm demeanor?
Which piece of evidence would BEST support the argument that Evans establishes a connection with his audience and WHY?
A. His discussion of Kevin Hart
B. His statement that “we’re all just figuring it out”
C. His description of famous people crying
D. His description of his boat-tour job
What is the intended purpose of the text?
What is to encourage graduates to embrace uncertainty and be patient as their current circumstances don't necessarily dictate their eventual success.
Evans says: “we’re all just figuring it out.”
Why is this particularly effective for a graduating audience?
What is because graduates are entering an uncertain period of transition. By acknowledging that even successful people are still figuring things out, Evans normalizes uncertainty and reassures the audience that they do not need to have their entire futures planned immediately?
Identify TWO weaknesses in this thesis:
Evans uses humor, anecdotes, and examples of celebrities to persuade his audience that life is unpredictable
What is it expresses choices as strategies and the purpose is too general/broad?
Create a commentary chain using the following sentence stems:
Evans ____
This is shown when _____
This is important to this audience because _____
This encourages the audience to ____
What is
Varied responses?
Which evidence best supports the claim that Evans reassures graduates that their beginnings don't determine their futures and WHY?
Evidence A:
“I did love that job.”
OR
Evidence B:
“where you start is not where you’ll end up.”