1. English 1301
Week 8
Thurs, March 8, 2018

2. Free Writing
Not really a “free writing” activity, but I want to know. It’s okay if you don’t really know.
What are the differences between a rhetorical appeal and rhetorical choices?

3. March 28, 2018 – Final week of March
Last Drop date
March 28, 2018 – Final week of March

4. After spring break You will get a midterm grade.
I will give you a temporary participation grade.
I will give you all a temporary Eli Review grade.
I will add any absences + tardy penalties.

5. Rhetorical Analysis
“I picked my article. I think I understand it. How do I set up a Rhetorical Analysis?
Where do I even start?”

6. Rhetorical Analysis
A rhetorical analysis focuses on how a writer makes meaning. A rhetorical analysis looks at the choices a writer makes to persuade his/her audience.

7. Understand Specific Audience
Step 1:
Understand Purpose
Step 2:
Understand Specific Audience
Rhetorical Analysis
Note: To determine the effectiveness of the writer’s choices, you must first determine what the writer’s purpose is and who the writer’s audience is..

8. Audience Writer’s have a specific audience. No general audience.
The audience must make logical sense and you must be able to link this audience to the author’s purpose and rhetorical choices to put forth a convincing, logical argument.

9. Purpose Exigence (issue + solution) Pg 20 in textbook …
From Chapter 4:
At the beginning of the text, the writer assumes that the audience believes __________________. 
By the end of the text, the writer hopes that the audience believes ____________________. 

10. Example
In his article “Violence in Videogames: It’s All Part of Growing Up,” Michael Venables argues that violent videogames are not bad for children; rather, he believes that playing violent videogames assists in healthy childhood development. First, Venables is likely targeting parents who are interested in technological issues here because he uses personal diction like “us parents” and “we parents” throughout the entire essay. In addition, these parents also believe that violent video games are bad for children because Venables wants to persuade them to believe that video games can have a positive influence on children. The author’s purpose is to convince the audience that playing these games is part of growing up and that children can learn to cope with fear and violent situations at an early age in a low-risk environment. 

11. Remember rhetorical appeals are NOT rhetorical choices.​
Ethos: the persuasive power of the author’s credibility or character​
Logos: the persuasive power of the author’s reasons, evidence, and logic​
Pathos: the persuasive power of the author’s appeal to the interests, emotions, and imagination of the audience​
Remember rhetorical appeals are NOT rhetorical choices.​

12. Rhetorical Appeals You cannot “USE” rhetorical appeals.
Wrong: “The author uses logos in the piece by …”
Right: “The author appeals to ethos by …”

13. Rhetorical Choices
See “Rhetorical Choices List” on WordPress site. nts/

14. Also, https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=nkRC4DZF-_U
Rhetorical Choices
Also, watch?v=nkRC4DZF-_U

15. Here is an example of a rhetorical choice in a rhetorical analysis paper
Informal Language: “Let’s be frank — violent content is emotionally appealing to kids.” (Venables 30).
Overall, Venables writes his essay with informal language. Rhetorically, this informal language helps Venables make a personal connection with the audience because the article reads as if he is having a conversation with the audience instead of lecturing to them about the positive effects of violent videogames on children. This personal connection makes the audience more inclined to listen to him and keep reading. 

16. Rhetorical Choice Workshop
Break up into small groups Spend minutes briefly analyzing the text and find a part in the article where the author seems persuasive.​
What choice is the author using in order to be persuasive?​
Why is that choice persuasive? ​

17. For Monday, March 19
Due Monday, March 19 by 8:00 a.m. …

18. ENJOY SPRING BREAK