Advanced Placement English 11~ School year 2013-2014~Summer Assignment
Mr. Lenzi [email protected] Mrs. Seifert [email protected] Mr. Smith [email protected]
Rhetorical Elements Explained
Rhetoric--the way in which something is written or spoken.
Diction--Word Choice
Purpose:
Authors carefully choose words in order to express a certain degree of emotion, experience, reverence, etc…
Analysis:
The reason why an author chooses particular words is to imply tone--what tone or manner is the author transmitting
through his/her word choice?
How does the author's word choice help him/her to achieve the overall purpose of the text?
Syntax--Types of Sentence Structure (5 Types of Syntax)
Rhetorical Questions--A question that does not require an answer
Purpose:
To prompt the audience to think about an important issue/ idea etc…
Analysis:
Why has the author asked the question? What do they want the audience to consider?
How does the author's use of rhetorical questions help him/her achieve the overall purpose of
the text?
Repetition--the repeating of exactly certain words or phrases
Purpose:
To emphasize an idea, belief, emotion, experience, etc…
Analysis:
Analyze why the author has repeated the word/phrase. What do they want the audience to
clearly see?
Restatement--rephrasing an idea by writing it in different words
Purpose:
To emphasize the content of the idea that has been restated.
Analysis:
Analyze why the author has restated the word/phrase. What do they want the audience to
clearly understand?
How does the author's use of restatement help him/her achieve the overall purpose of the
text?
Parallel Structure--the repeated use of phrases, clauses, or sentences that are similar in structure or
meaning
Purpose:
To add force, unity, balance, and symmetry in writing. Authors use it to emphasize the
relationship among equivalent ideas. Makes sentence content more emphatic, concise, and varied.
Analysis:
How does the author's use of parallel structure help him/her achieve the overall purpose of the
text?
Sentence Length--Varying lengths of sentence throughout the text
Purpose:
To highlight the content of that (either long or short) sentence.
Analysis:
How does the authors use of varied sentence length help him/her achieve the overall purpose of
the text?
Details--the author's use of specific inarguable examples in a text
Purpose:
To provide support for argument in an argumentative text, explain ideas in an expository piece.
Analysis:
Why has the author used specific detail? What does he/she want the audience to clearly
believe?
How does the author's use of specific detail help him/her achieve the overall purpose of the
text?
Figurative Language--the author creates images through word comparisons
Purpose:
To create an image in the audience's mind. To create a connection to the audience's emotion or
experience. To compel the audience to understand the purpose of the text.
Analysis:
Analyze what type of figurative language has been used, explain the image created (what was
compared?) and why the image is appropriate. Is the author trying to appeal to emotion,
experience or both?
How does the author's use of this type of figurative language help him/her achieve the overall
purpose of the text?
Appeals--How the author appeals to the reader
Ethos--Appeal based on the character of the speaker. An ethos-driven document reies on the
reputation of the author
Purpose:
To use the author's experience, education, and/or social standing /reputation to convince the
audience.
Analysis:
Is the author believable? Why? Is he/she believable?
Logos--appeal based on logic or reason. Documents distributed by companies or corporations are logos driven. Scholarly
documents are also often logos driven.
Purpose:
To create an irrefutable argument by using logic.
Analysis:
Is the logic believable, convincing?
Pathos--Appeal based on emotion. Advertisements tend to be pathos driven.
Purpose:
To appeal to the audience's emotion and experience.
Analysis:
Is the author's appeal effective?