Analysis & Rhetoric Identifying, Responding, Analyzing, & Writing Strategies.

Analysis & RhetoricIdentifying, Responding, Analyzing, & Writing Strategies

At the end you should be able to:1. Identify and understand a writer’s reason

for writing a particular article or book. 2. Recognize or find manipulation,

straightforwardness, or communicating information in a variety of ways.

3. Understand why writers make the decisions they do—from the largest decisions about what information to present to the smallest details of what words to use.

What is Analysis?

•It means that you are going to take apart a particular passage and divide it into its basic components for the purpose of examining how the writer develops his or her subject.

•Examples of Analysis: structure, purpose, and style.

What is Rhetoric?• Umbrella term for all

strategies, modes, and devices a writer can use to allow the reader to easily accept and understand his or her point of view.

Theories, Ideas, and Words You SHOULD Already Know!

1. Invention2. Arrangement3. Style, voice, & diction4. Expository5. *Description6. Sensory Details7. Prose8. *Process9. *Define10. *Summarize

11. *Compare and Contrast12. *Analysis13. *Classification14. *Narration15. Argumentation16. *Examples17. Non-Fiction18. *Cause and Effect19. Figurative Language20. Modes of discourse

What is Discourse?

•“Conversation”•Author vs. Reader (aka “the text”)•To communicate with the reader, the

writer uses a particular method or combination of methods to make his or her idea(s) clear to the reader.

•Tone•In Speech, Discourse = Code Switching

What is Mode of Discourse?

•Four Categories:▫Exposition: illustrates a point▫Narration: tells a story▫Description: creates a sensory image▫Argumentation: takes a position on an issue

and defends it.• You should be able to distinguish between

them.

What are Rhetorical Strategies?•Basic approaches a writer uses to

▫tell a story▫explain a point▫describe a situation▫argue a position.

•For Example: examples, contrast and comparison, definition, cause and effect, process, analysis/division, and classification

•aka Modes of discourse

But HOW Is This Done?

3 Most Popular Rhetoric Devices for Effective Tone and Message Delivery

• Ethos: credibility (or character) of the speaker. Does it deserve credit or trust?

• Pathos: emotional connection to the audience. Does it move you, captivate you, or inspire you?

• Logos: logical argument; defends claims and points. Does it make sense?

ETHOS

• TrustworthinessDoes your audience believe you are a good person who can be trusted to tell the truth?

• SimilarityDoes your audience identify with you?

• AuthorityDo you have formal or informal authority relative to your audience?

• ReputationHow much expertise does your audience think you have in this field?

Pathos: Delivering Emotion• Themes and Points• Words• Analogies and Metaphors• Stories• Humor• Visuals• Delivery • Techniques

Logos• Make it Understandable!

Can your audience understand you? Or have they only absorbed half of your points?

• Make it Logical.Do your arguments make sense? Or do you require your audience to make an extreme leap of faith? How easy is it for your audience to connect the dots?

• Make it Real.Concrete and specific tends to win over abstract and general.

Analysis of Rhetorical Structure?

• Step By Step▫Step 1:

Read the passage.▫Step 2:

Recognize and identify the rhetorical strategies being used. (Use your notes to help you).

▫Step 3: Answer WHY? Why has the author written this?

Author’s purpose.▫Step 4:

Answer HOW? By what methods? Mode of Discourse.▫Step 5:

Is it effective? Does the tone and words they’ve chosen make their communication effective and/or successful? Understand why? Ethos, Pathos, Logos