AP LangSeptember 23rd

Responding to ThoreauWalden: Where I Lived and What I Lived For

Rhetorical Strategies: Structure, Syntax, Diction, etc. Is the essay divided into distinct

sections or parts? How would you describe/define them?

Why would Thoreau arrange the essay in this particular fashion?

Are more sentences short or long? Why? Are particular sentence structures

repeated?

Rhetorical Strategies: Structure, Syntax, Diction, etc. Does Thoreau ask a lot of questions or give

direct statements? Why? What word choices seem particularly

important ? Does Thoreau make use of any repetition,

alliteration, antithesis, or the like? How would you describe the author’s voice?

Formal or Informal? How would you describe the tone of the

essay?

Paragraph One Please reread

paragraph one

A main theme of this chapter is misplaced priorities: Americans’ preference for material rather than spiritual reality. Discuss.

What does Thoreau mean by the following?

“As for work, we haven’t any of consequence.”

Shams and delusions are esteemed for soundest truths, while reality is fabulous.

MORE Analysis Thoreau tells the story of how he almost

bought Hollowell Farm. How does he define being rich?

How do the descriptions of the pond and scenery show what Thoreau values?

Thoreau argues in favor of the simple life. How do you know this is the case?

Is Thoreau’s position persuasive to you? Why or Why not?

Introduction: SOAPSSpeakerOccasionAudiencePurposeSubject

Rheto

ric

Club

Introduction: SOAPS1. Speaker, Occasion, and Subject

Sentence Frame: (Writer’s credentials), (writer’s first and last name), in his/her (type of text), (title of text), (strong verb – Mr. Johnson will give you a list) (writer’s subject).

Example: Well-known essayist and writer, Joan Didion, in her essay, The Santa Ana, describes the dramatic mood altering effects of the Santa Ana winds on human behavior.

Introduction: SOAPS2. PurposeSentence Frame: (Writer’s last

name)’s purpose is to (what the writer does in the text).

Example: Didion’s purpose is to impress upon readers the idea that the winds themselves change the way people act and react.

Introduction: SOAPSAudience He/she adopts a[n]

(adjective describing the attitude/feeling conveyed by the writer) tone in order to (verb phrase describing what the writer wants readers to do/think ) in his/her (intended audience)

Example: She creates a dramatic tone in order to convey to her readers the idea that the winds are sinister and their effects inescapable.

Body: StructureWhen writing an analysis, it

is crucial that you work chronologically through the text. This means that you start at

the beginning of the text and work your way through it by discussing what the writer is saying and the effectiveness of the strategies he/she is using at the beginning, middle, and end of the text.

Body: StructureSometimes this means that you

will discuss each paragraph (one at a time), and sometimes this means that you will divide the text into sections and discuss the beginning, middle, and end of the text. Whether you discuss each

paragraph or each section depends on the length and organization of the text itself.

Body: TransitionsBegins opens closes contrastsShifts to juxtaposes ends moves to

Body: Analysis Identify the strongest rhetorical

strategies used in that particular section. Do NOT try to discuss every strategy the writer uses; pick the strongest!

Clearly and specifically explain how the rhetorical strategies are used to help the writer achieve his/her purpose and reach his audience.

The above items must be woven together seamlessly into one sophisticated paragraph of the body of your analysis essay.

Body: Quotations

Using a signal phrase:As PC World columnist Daniel Tynan points

out, “Employees could accidentally (or deliberately) spill confidential corporate information” (52).

Using blended quotation:Brandon Conran argues that the story is

written from a “bifocal point of view” (111).

Sentence Frames: Locate your readers by telling them where you are

starting your analysis and what the subject of the section is: (Writer’s last name) (transition word) his/her (type of text)

by (strong verb) that (main idea of this section of the text).

What is the rhetorical strategy being used by the writer and what textual evidence supports it: His/her use of (rhetorical strategy) (prepositional phrase)

(textual evidence – blended quotation). Explain how the rhetorical strategies helped the writer

achieve his/her purpose: Use an “in order to” statement.

The fourth sentence identifies the effect of the writer’s use of these rhetorical strategies on the audience. Describe the tone being conveyed and the action/belief

the author desires from the audience.

Reagan begins his tribute to the Challenger astronauts by acknowledging that the shuttle accident has appropriately postponed his planned State of the Union address and by expressing the depth of his and his wife’s personal grief. He appeals to the mournful emotions of the audience by admitting that he and Nancy are “pained to the core” (3), that today is rightfully a “day for mourning and remembering” (2-3), and that the accident is “truly a national loss” (4). He joins in this time of mourning in order to unify the nation and humbly admit that “we share this pain with all of the people of our country” (4). This outpouring of emotion from the president conveys a calming tone that reassures the Nation that their grief is both understandable and proper.

Example:

Conclusion The conclusion is probably the easiest

part. Be brief. In one to two sentences, simply remind your reader of the things you said in the introduction.

Writing: SOAPS and Ray Rice Analysis (Homework?)

Write a three sentence introduction Outline three body paragraphs, each has

Rhetorical Strategy Textual Evidence

Signal Phrase Blended language

Analysis How this strategy serves the author’s purpose

3 sentence conclusion

Reading Hunger of Memory p.941

Continue Novel Reading and discuss plans for your preview with teammates

Works Citedhttp://www.franklin.kyschools.us/Downloads/How%20to%20write%20a%20rhetorical%20analysis%20essay.pdfHacker, Diana. The Bedford Handbook. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2002. Print.

AP LangSeptember 23rd