Rhetorical Analysis Review

What does each letter in the acronym SPACECAT mean?

• Speaker

  Purpose

  Analysis

  Context

  Exigence

  Characters

  Appeals

  Theme

• Speaker

  Purpose

  Audience

  Context

  Exigence

  Choices

  Appeals

  Tone

• Speaker

  Purpose

  Appeals

  Choices

  Evidence

  Context

  Audience

  Tone

Why is it important to unpack the background information provided in a rhetorical analysis prompt?

• to understand the reader's possible biases and the historical, political, and cultural context of the text

• to understand the author's spark of inspiration for writing the text in the first place

• to understand the author's possible biases and the historical, political, and cultural context of the text

Which question(s) should you ask yourself when analyzing diction?

• How would you describe or classify the word choice?

• What tone do these words create?

• Which specific words stand out, and why are they relevant for the occasion?

• Are these words working in connection with another choice?

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.5

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

When analyzing tone, it can be helpful to anticipate potential ____.

• tone

• shifts

• diction

• rhetorical appeals

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.5

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

The writer of this thesis statement is clearly prioritizing ______.

• concise subtopics

• power verbs (not use or utilize)

• open-ended subtopics

• the call to action

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.1

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.6

An anecdote is...

• an extended metaphor

• a comparison between two things.

• a short (often witty or personal) story.

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

Parallelism (or parallel structure) is...

• a reference that needs little or no context because it is considered common knowledge

• when components of a sentence or sentences have the same or similar grammatical construction

• the use of examples to prove of claim; often creates a logical appeal

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.1

CCSS.L.11-12.3

When writing a rhetorical analysis essay, why might it be helpful to first write about the beginning of the text, then the middle, and then the end?

• This approach will help me ensure that I do not run out of time when I'm writing my essay.

• This approach will help me ensure that I develop a clear line of reasoning.

• This approach will help me ensure that I develop a clear argument.

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.5

CCSS.W.11-12.1

CCSS.W.11-12.1A

CCSS.W.11-12.2

Parallel structure, antithesis, and alliteration all fall under the umbrella (or category) of ____ because they are variations of the same concept.

• syntax

• word choice

• repetition

Tags

CCSS.L.11-12.5

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

Besides tone, you should also attempt to look for shifts in...

• perspective

• syntactic choices

• analogies

• pronoun usage

• personal narratives

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.11-12.6