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Rhetorically Analyze THIS!Please consider the following as you re-enter the fabulous world of rhetorical analysis.center2940050Aristotle’s Triangle - Centuries after Aristotle’s demise, we still honor our Greek rhetorical hero, who gave us the equilateral triangle with the points of Speaker, Audience, Purpose (“subject” in the diagram below). Although one may rightfully desire even more information regarding rhetorical analysis, Aristotle’s Triangle remains our touchstone, much like the classic little black dress (“LBD”) that one can wear for almost any occasion. When one confronts a piece to rhetorically analyze, one must first answer the BIG question and the little question (see what I did there?). Specifically:BIG question: What is the speaker/author’s purpose? (Without identifying the speaker/author’s purpose, one cannot write a rhetorical analysis. In short, the speaker/author’s purpose becomes the thematic guiding principle for your analysis.Little question: How does the speaker/author manipulate language (with specific rhetorical strategies) to achieve his/her/their purpose?You will include your answers to the BIG question and little question in your first paragraph of your analysis, which you may model after the rhetorical précis sheet that you received at the beginning of this school year. If you are sans your rhetorical precis sheet during Spring Break (sacrilege, darling!), click on (or copy and paste) this link: Please recall that the Evil Empire College Board (hereinafter “EECB”) seems to have embraced a closed thesis, namely that EECB would like to see your reasons (in this case, your chosen rhetorical strategies, the answers to the little question) supporting the answer to the BIG question in your thesis.After a spiffy transition, either at the end of your first paragraph or at the beginning of your second paragraph, you’re ready for the first paragraph of your analysis. BTW, in lieu of choosing a few strategies that recur throughout the piece, grouping them together, and discussing them, the EECB prefers that you analyze the piece chronologically, specifically that you discuss the most salient aspects of the piece in the order in which they appear, from beginning to end. The advantage to this chronological approach is that one may more easily observe and note the shape of the entire argument, as well as tone shifts, commentary on which the EECB seems to effusively adore. First paragraph of your analysis? Note and comment on the essential elements of: speaker (embed quote or paraphrase); audience (how does the specific rhetorical strategy (reflected in your embedded quote or paraphrase) affect the audience?); and purpose (how does this specific effect on the audience of this specific strategy support the purpose (i.e., the answer to the BIG question)).Transition either at the end of your first paragraph or the beginning of your second paragraph.Second paragraph must include the same essential elements of S, P, A.Rinse and repeat until you complete your analysis.Conclusion? Concise and in your voice. Also, if you know something about the topic (e.g., Toussaint Louverture, looking at you, Zander Tate), your conclusion is an optimal place to provide a soup?on of contextualization. ................
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