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English III/IVMr. Booth2017-2018Writing a Rhetorical AnalysisAs we’ve progressed through our unit on rhetoric, we’ve discussed rhetorical appeals and devices, as well as some techniques for writing a strong and clear analysis paragraph. Today we’re going to introduce the next step in the process: how to write a rhetorical analysis essay. Don’t let the task intimidate you. We’ll be walking through the process step-by-step. I cannot emphasize enough how important these skills of analysis are, so pay attention, apply yourself to diligence, and do good work. Step 1: Reviewing Rhetorical Appeals DevicesExercise 1Directions: Define the following terms in your own words.Audience: Purpose: Context: Speaker/AuthorPathos: Ethos:Logos:Exercise 2Directions: Before we continue to the next step, let’s take some time to review some of the rhetorical devices we’ve learned thus far. Below are several examples. Identify the rhetorical device used in each example and annotate the excerpt for the device. "...Well, sir, I'm Jordan Rivers. And these here are the?Soggy Bottom?Boys?out of Cottonelia, Mississippi --?songs of?salvation to?salve the?soul. Uh, we hear that you pay good money to sing into a can."delivered by George Clooney (from the movie 'O Brother, Where Art Thou?)Device:"Was he not unmistakably a little man? A creature of the?petty rake-off,?pocketed with a?petty joke in?private and denied with the stainless?platitudes in his?public utterances."[C.S. Lewis]?The Screwtape LettersDevice:"To raise a happy, healthy, and hopeful child,?it takes?a family;?it takesteachers;?it takes?clergy;?it takes?business people;?it takes?community leaders;?it takes?those who protect our health and safety.?It takes?all of us."-- Hillary Clinton,?1996 Democratic National Convention AddressDevice:"The minister who has been called?by God, ordained?by God, appointed?by God, and anointed?by God, is assumed guilty until proven innocent."-- Ravi ZachariasDevice:"I believe that I have learned the most important thing that has happened in Britain during the last six years. It was not,?I think, the demonstration of physical courage."-- Edward R. MurrowDevice:"Duty,?Honor,?Country: Those three hallowed words reverently dictate what you ought to be,?what you can be,?what you will be. They are your rallying points: to build courage when courage seems to fail;?to regain faith when there seems to be little cause for faith;?to create hope when hope becomes forlorn."-- General Douglas MacArthur,?Thayer Award Acceptance AddressDevice:"Don't you surrender! Suffering breeds?character;?characterbreeds?faith; in the end?faith?will not disappoint. You must not surrender...." -- Jesse Jackson,?1988 Democratic National Convention AddressDevice:"And I can pledge our nation to a goal: When we see that?wounded traveler on the road to Jericho, we will not pass to the other side."- George W. Bush,?2000 Inaugural AddressDevice:"[World War II] veterans here today will tell you that the first thing they noticed about basic training was breakfast. You could eat all that you wanted. Many got their first new pair of boots or trousers in basic training after a young life of hand-me-downs. Many will also tell you that before war came to America at Pearl Harbor they were opposed to this country getting involved. But when?the Japanese attacked?and the Germans declared war they converted overnight and transformed America into a mighty military machine -- in uniform?and?factories?andlaboratories?and?shipyards?and?coal mines?and?farm fields?and?shops?and?offices. - Tom Brokaw,?WWII Memorial Dedication AddressDevice:"We observe today?not a victory of party?but?a celebration of freedom, symbolizing?an end as well as a beginning, signifying?renewal as well as change."-- John F. Kennedy,?Inaugural AddressDevice:Step 2: Analyzing and Annotating a TextDirections: Below is a speech given by Abraham Lincoln at Gettysburg on November 19, 1863 at the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The speech, now known as “The Gettysburg Address” is one of the most famous speeches in American history. First, read the speech and annotate it, looking for rhetorical appeals and devices. Then, in a well-crafted essay, analyze the rhetorical appeals and strategies used by Lincoln to pay respects to the fallen soldiers and to reinforce the Union’s purpose in the way—namely its commitment to the principle of equality. 1102360262890Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate — we can not consecrate — we can not hallow — this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.00Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate — we can not consecrate — we can not hallow — this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.Step 3: Brainstorming and Outlining Your ResponseDirections:There are many effective methods of organizing a rhetorical analysis response. For this assignment, however, we’re going to learn one strong, effective method together. If, later in the year, you get more comfortable with the process, you can branch out and change it up. For now, though, we’ll work through this first one together. At this point, you should have read and annotated the speech. You should have also wrote down all of the important information about the speech (SOAPStone). The next step is brainstorming and coming up with a clear thesis statement. Before you do this, however, make sure you understand what the prompt is asking you to do in the essay. Let’s review it together. Prompt: Below is a speech given by Abraham Lincoln at Gettysburg on November 19, 1863 at the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The speech, now known as “The Gettysburg Address” is one of the most famous speeches in American history. First, read the speech and annotate it, looking for rhetorical appeals and devices. Then, in a well-crafted essay, analyze the rhetorical appeals and strategies used by Lincoln to pay respects to the fallen soldiers and to reinforce the Union’s purpose in the way—namely its commitment to the principle of equality.What’s helpful about reading the prompt is that it actually gives you the information that you need to write your thesis statement. Remember, rhetorical analysis is about stating the WHAT of an excerpt as well as the HOW. The prompt above gives you the WHAT, but leave the HOW up to you. The WHAT, or purpose, of the speech is “to pay respects to the fallen soldiers and to reinforce the Union’s purpose in the way—namely its commitment to the principle of equality.” The HOW is through rhetorical appeals and devices, which you should be familiar with if you did your work on the reading and annotation. Write the WHAT and HOW of the speech below. WHAT (purpose): HOW (appeals and devices): Thesis Statement Template: In _______________________________________________________, Abraham Lincoln, ___________________________________, uses ______________________, ___________________________, and ______________________________ in order to _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.IntroductionThesis Statement:Paragraph 1Main Idea:Topic Sentence:Paragraph 2Main Idea:Topic Sentence:Paragraph 3Main Idea:Topic Sentence:ConclusionParagraph 1: IntroductionTitle of textSpeaker/authorAudienceOccasionThesis statementThe purpose of the speech and three strategies used by the speaker/author to achieve this purpose. Paragraph 2: Strategy 1Discuss how each rhetorical device is used to construct an appeal (pathos, ethos, logos)Show examples of the rhetorical devices from the speechBe sure to discuss the effect of each example given. Paragraph 3: Strategy 2Discuss how each rhetorical device is used to construct an appeal (pathos, ethos, logos)Show examples of the rhetorical devices from the speechBe sure to discuss the effect of each example given. Paragraph 4: Strategy 3Discuss how each rhetorical device is used to construct an appeal (pathos, ethos, logos)Show examples of the rhetorical devices from the speechBe sure to discuss the effect of each example given. Paragraph 7: ConclusionRe-state the thesis statement using different wording. Keep it short, simple, and concise ................
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