Rhetorical Appeals
A rhetorical appeal that addresses the credibility and authority of a speaker
Ethos
What is a rhetorical question?
A question posed to make a point, not to get an answer.
What is a claim?
an argument's main idea or position
Beyoncé’s reference to her own nontraditional path to success (not attending college) primarily strengthens which rhetorical appeal?
A. Logos
B. Pathos
C. Ethos
D. Irony
C. Ethos
The article “Why school should start later in the day” is in favor of later start times in school because of better grades, attendance, and sleep for students. Which quotation best illustrates the author’s use of a counterclaim?
A. “Yet during the 2011-12 school year — the most recent statistics available — only 17.7 % of the nation’s public middle, high and combined schools met the 8:30 a.m. guideline” (Paragraph 1).
B. “Many districts are reluctant to change their schedules because they see the shift as too expensive and disruptive.” (Paragraph 2).
C. “Repeated studies also show that when the school day starts later and teens get more sleep, both grades and standardized test scores go up.” (Paragraph 3).
D. “Another study, in North Carolina, showed that more than a quarter of injured high-school athletes missed at least one week of playing time.” (Paragraph 8)
B. “Many districts are reluctant to change their schedules because they see the shift as too expensive and disruptive.” (Paragraph 2).
An appeal that addresses the values, needs, and emotions of an audience
What is an anecdote?
A short story rooted in personal experience.
What is a counterclaim?
an opposing viewpoint to an author's original claim
Beyoncé opens the speech by acknowledging the “loss, fear, and uncertainty” experienced by the Class of 2020. This opening primarily serves to:
A. Establish her credibility as a successful public figure
B. Create an emotional connection with the audience
C. Argue that graduation ceremonies are difficult times for students
D. Minimize the challenges faced by the graduates
B. Create an emotional connection with the audience
Which quotation best expresses the author’s main claim in “Why School Should Start Later in the Day”?
A. “It’s well known that teens who don’t get at least eight hours of sleep a night face a slew of problems” (para.1)
B. “In the long run, a later start could actually save schools money — and benefit society at large” (para. 2)
C. “Another potential problem schools commonly raise is that later start times would lead to kids missing classes at the end of the day in order to attend sporting events, or that athletic participation rates would decline” (para. 6).
D. “If schools go ahead and shift their start times, they may have to change bus schedules or alter team practice schedules” (para. 14).
B. “In the long run, a later start could actually save schools money — and benefit society at large” (para. 2)
An appeal that addresses the facts, logic, and reasoning of a message
Logos
What is an extended metaphor?
Metaphors (comparisons between two unlike things) that continue over sentences or paragraphs.
What is a rebuttal?
When an author responds directly to a counterclaim in order to disprove it
What was the primary purpose of the anecdote MLK Jr. shared in his speech (about almost dying if he had sneezed)?
A. To encourage his audience to live life to the fullest
B. To inspire his audience to fight for their rights
C. To denounce racism and how it can be deadly
D. To influence his audience to be careful at work
B. To inspire his audience to fight for their rights
The author of “Changing School Start Times” claims that later school start times can have a positive benefit on society as a whole. Which quotation provides a counterclaim to that idea?
A. “Later start times can mean less missed school — absences dropped 15% in Bonneville County, Idaho, after it instituted such a change, according to a 2014 Children’s National Medical Center report” (para. 3).
B. “Repeated studies also show that when the school day starts later and teens get more sleep, both grades and standardized test scores go up” (para. 4).
C. “Another potential problem schools commonly raise is that later start times would lead to kids missing classes at the end of the day in order to attend sporting events, or that athletic participation rates would decline” (para. 6)
D. “But sleepy teens aren’t just a problem in school. When they get behind the wheel, they contribute to what the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration calls the “extreme danger” of drowsy driving, which has an estimated annual societal cost of $109 billion” (para. 9).
C. “Another potential problem schools commonly raise is that later start times would lead to kids missing classes at the end of the day in order to attend sporting events, or that athletic participation rates would decline” (para. 6)
What is rhetoric?
the art of persuasive speaking and writing
The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of consecutive sentences
Anaphora
A claim must be a statement that can be _________.
A claim must be a statement that can be argued.
What was the primary reason of the repetition in Ashton Kutcher's speech where he mentions:
"And then I got a job... And then I got a job... And then I got a job..."
A. to explain how difficult life was for him as a hardworking teenager
B. to show how he worked many menial jobs before becoming famous
C. to demonstrate how there are many different jobs teenagers can get
D. to highlight his determination working hard at every job he had
D. to highlight his determination working hard at every job he had
In “Changing School Start Times Will Have Ripple Effects...,” the author asserts that new start times will disproportionately harm women who work. Which quotation best supports this claim?
A. “But for those who can’t stagger working hours — specifically single parents or families who don’t have any wiggle room on working hours — kids often see themselves to bus stops in the morning, then wait an hour or so after school, alone, until parents return” (para. 6).
B. “For the 30 percent of kids under 18 living at or below the poverty line in Boston, that’s one-third of the $2,100 monthly income for a family of four” (para. 9)
C. “The after-school program at Manning holds fundraisers several times a year, soliciting donations from an already tapped school community” (para. 10).
D. “As someone who has struggled to find meaningful work after being laid off during pregnancy, my partner has a vastly more earning potential. That means that if someone has to sacrifice by being underemployed — or even not working at all — the buck stops with me” (para. 11).
D. “As someone who has struggled to find meaningful work after being laid off during pregnancy, my partner has a vastly more earning potential. That means that if someone has to sacrifice by being underemployed — or even not working at all — the buck stops with me” (para. 11).
What is exigence?
The spark or catalyst why someone is encouraged to speak up or write something.
The repetition of grammatical elements to produce harmony in writing
Parallelism
What is evidence that specifically applies to the argument being made?
Relevant evidence
The frequent use of repetition and parallel structure throughout the speech mainly serves to:
A. Emphasize and reinforce key ideas
B. Highlight King’s individual authority as a leader
C. Organize factual evidence and examples
D. Distract the audience from unresolved tensions
A. Emphasize and reinforce reinforces key ideas
Both Superintendent Chang and Mayor Walsh would be wise to, at the very least, postpone the changes until the 2019-2020 school year. They must think carefully in the meantime about the ripple effects of asking kids as young as 5 years old to get to bus stops before sunrise, then potentially either spend 11 hours at school, or stay home unsupervised for long stretches of afternoon. Or, if they refuse to prioritize the well-being of Boston’s families over transportation budgets, they ought to at least consider the optics of these onerous changes and how they may affect their own careers. BPS parents are a passionate bunch, and we won’t stop fighting for the well-being of our kids.
In the conclusion of “Changing School Start Times Could Have Ripple Effects...,” the author supports her argument against changing school start times by directly addressing Superintendent Chang and Mayor Walsh to...
A. devise a new plan that provides flexible work hours for parents.
B. propose free before care and after care for any student under the age of 12.
C. rethink how a later start time can be detrimental for children who have to spend 11 hours at school.
D. reflect upon how a later start time can have negative consequences on their political careers.
D. reflect upon how a later start time can have negative consequences on their political careers.