1. Adapted from Kaplan SAT Premier 2017 Chapter 17
Rhetoric
Adapted from Kaplan
SAT Premier 2017
Chapter 17

2. Rhetoric Questions: Analyzing Purpose
Rhetoric = the language the author uses to persuade or influence the reader
Why did the author write this passage?
What does the author want the reader to think after reading the passage?
May focus on the entire work or a small section of that work.

3. Rhetoric Questions: Analyzing Point of View
Is the author’s tone positive, negative or neutral?
Does the author want things to change or stay the same?
Is the author addressing supporters of his/her point of view or people who are in opposition of his/her point of view?

4. Rhetoric Questions: Analyzing Word Choice
How does a particular word or phrase your understanding of the author’s point of view (denotation/connotation)?
Was the word/phrase used to….
Set a mood?
Convey an emotion?
Build a conclusion?
Call the reader to action?
State an opinion?

5. Rhetoric Questions: Analyzing Text Structure
Overall text structure
How the information is organized
Cause/Effect
Compare/Contrast
Sequence
Problem/Solution
Description
Part/Whole relationships
How a part of the selection (sentence, quotation, paragraph) relates to the overall text

6. Rhetoric Questions: Analyzing Arguments
Three Types
Rhetoric Questions: Analyzing Arguments

7. Claims and Counterclaims
Claim = thesis or main point
Counterclaim = opposite of the claim
EXAMPLE…
Claim- Although they are traditionally seen as a distraction, students should be able to bring cell phones to school because digital literacy can be used for educational purposes.
Counterclaim- Students should not be able to bring cell phones to school because they could use them to communicate during a test as well as use them for other non-academic purposes.

8. Assess Reasoning
Reasoning is the list of supports for the claim and counterclaim.
Is the author’s reasoning sound or true and valid?

9. Analyze Evidence Evidence = facts, reasons, statistics, etc.
What is the author’s purpose for using particular pieces of evidence?

10. Practice

11. Go to pages of the text.
Review the techniques from this presentation to answer the questions.
Discuss the process and answers with your teacher.
Complete the exercises on pages as if it is Test Day.
Review the answers with your teacher.