Rhetorical Analysis Using the Joliffe Framework Design

Rhetorical Analysis Using the Joliffe Framework Design

Rhetorical Situation Write a brief letter to your parent(s) asking forgiveness for something you did wrong. Your purpose in writing is to regain some lost privilege.

Rhetorical Situation: Exigence This is simply the problem or event causing you to write. Example: you snuck out of the house, so Mom took away your phone and your keys. Wow! That sucks!!

Rhetorical Situation: Audience To write effectively, you MUST consider your audience…their age, gender, educational level, state of emotion, beliefs, needs, experiences, biases, on and on…. In this case, your audience is your parent(s).

Rhetorical Situation: Purpose This is your desired outcome. What do you want your audience to do, feel, believe, etc. after they’ve read your writing? For our example, your purpose is to have your privileges reinstated.

Appeals: Logos • Supporting your argument using logical reasoning, concrete examples, data, cause & effect statements, comparisons & analogies, etc. • “I now know the consequences of sneaking out, so I will not do it again. ” • “You are wasting money each week paying insurance on my car to sit in the driveway. ” • “You can’t get ahold of me quickly without my phone. ”

Appeals: Logos The central appeal of any strong argument must be logical.

Appeals: Ethos • Using YOUR CREDIBILITY to convince your audience; your good reputation, honor, education, experience, dependability, etc • What is it about you that makes your audience believe your argument? • “Mom, you know I have never done anything like this before, and I have never lied to you. ”

Appeals: Ethos • Using YOUR CREDIBILITY

Appeals: Pathos • An attempt to persuade the reader through their emotions • fear, love, pride, shame, pity, etc. are strong motivators • “You never trust me. I try and try to please you, but you never give me a second chance!”

Appeals: Pathos • An attempt to persuade the reader through their emotions

Instruction Video http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=t. Asxyff. Bqm 0

Organization/Structure/Form • You consider which “angle” you’re going to come from first, and second, and then what you’ll say at the end to “sinch” your appeal. • Always work chronologically when analyzing a piece of literature; you cannot identify shifts in tone and other elements if you don’t look at it chronologically.

On the surface of the paper…it’s the words, phrases and images you create to make your argument. Surface Features

Surface Features: Diction • Diction is word choice intended to convey a certain effect ▫ denotation is the literal dictionary definition of a word ▫ connotation includes an emotional “implied” meaning House / Home Skinny / Thin Cheap / Frugal Police / Cops

Surface Features: Syntax • The arrangement and order of words in a sentence

Surface Features: Syntax 1. Sentence Structure - Short sentences are often emphatic, passionate, or flippant - Longer sentences often suggest the writer’s thoughtful response 2. Arrangement of Ideas in a Sentence - Are they set out in a particular way for a purpose? 3. Arrangement of Ideas in a Paragraph - Is there evidence of any pattern or structure?

Surface Features: Imagery & Figurative Language The use of language to appeal to the senses • Simile, metaphor • Allusion • Alliteration • Hyperbole