Rhetorical Analysis Review

What's the difference in a rhetorical strategy and a rhetorical device?

• a strategy is the choices a writer makes in his/her argument, whereas a device is the evidence the writer uses to back up his/her point

• a strategy is what a writer does (verb) and is a broad category, whereas a device is things a writer uses (noun) that fall under the category of the strategy

• a strategy is the purpose behind a persuasive text, whereas a device is anything the writer does to win over the audience

What is the difference in context and exigence?

• Context is the time period a text is about whereas exigence is the time and location a speech occurs

• Context is the rhetorical situation of a text whereas exigence is the event/situation that sparked a speaker to create a text

• Context is the immediate reason a text is written whereas exigence is what was occurring within the past 5-10 years leading up to the text that might affect what goes on in the text

• Context is what was occurring within the past 5-10 years leading up to the text that might affect what goes on in the text whereas exigence is the event/situation that sparked the writer/speaker to create the text at that moment in time

What are you analyzing in the rhetorical analysis essay?

• whether the author is effective at persuading the audience

• whether you agree or disagree with the author

• the author's theme or purpose

• the tools/strategies the author uses to present his/her message to the audience

One way to incorporate pathos or emotional persuasion in a speech is to

• tell them how your background and skills relate to the topic you're discussing

• use loaded words and descriptive imagery in your argument

• interview people to use as proof

• include research and credible websites

Which of the following would be a technique that BEST implements logos or logical persuasion?

• using pictures of a hurt child

• having someone credible who agrees with you

• making people laugh

• including research

A writer generally has two purposes in the persuasive text presented on the rhetorical analysis essay. These two purposes are

• the 1st has to do with presenting the audience with background information on the topic and the 2nd has to do with persuading the audience to agree with him/her/them

• the 1st has to do with informing and the 2nd has to do with a "call to action" as the writer presents something he/she/they wishes the audience to do or believe

• the 1st has to do with persuading an audience, the 2nd has to do with informing them of the problem

When discussing an author's diction, you should. . .

• analyze the writer's sentence lengths as he/she should include a variety of sentences

• use an adjective to characterize the diction and identify patterns within the writer's word choices

• not specifically describe it to keep it open to interpretation

• also identify the tone created by the words

A writer’s “rhetorical choices” can include ______________ OR ____________

• speech or letter

• inform or persuade

• strategies or devices

• persuasive appeals or rhetorical situation

What would differ about the audience for a letter versus a speech?

• The audience for a letter would be more formal

• The audience for a letter must always be specifically mentioned

• The audience for a speech would be more broad and possibly be more than 1 person or group while the audience for a letter would be narrower

• A speech can be written, published, or on tv

These are the means to persuade an audience in an argument: through logic (logos), emotion (pathos), and ethics (credibility).

• tone

• appeals

• diction

• rhetorical choices