1. Rhetorical Tools for Literary NonFiction

2. Point of View
Definition: who is telling the story and the opinions and beliefs of the narrator

3. Types of Point of View
First Person: told from the point of view of the author – uses “I”
Third Person: told from the point of view of the narrator – uses “he,” “she,” “it,” “they”
Second Person: told from the point of view of the author commanding a reader – uses “you” and “yourself”

4. Point of View
Multiple Perspectives: story switches point of view and is told from the point of view of multiple characters
Limited: narrator knows thoughts and feelings of the main character
Omniscient: narrator is all-knowing; sees the thoughts and feelings of all characters

5. What’s the POINT? (of view)
Point of view affects how the story is told. Depending on the narrator, bias and opinions will impact the story. Additionally, depending on the narrator, some information may be withheld, affecting the reading and interpretation of the story.

6. Reading Task: Journal 2
As you read, keep an eye on the point of view and the narrator. When you write your journals today, discuss point of view and reflect on these questions:
What is the point of view of the text? How does this point of view impact the story?
What do you know about the narrator? What type of person is he/she? What clues contribute to this?
How does the narrator affect the story? Think about the narrator’s opinions, biases, emotions? What might be being left out?

7. Tone
Definition: the perspective or attitude that the author adopts with regards to a specific character, place or development

8. How to Uncover Tone
What is the author’s opinion on their subject matter?
What words help you discover that opinion?
Notice what the author DESCRIBES and the DETAILS he or she focuses on.
Look at dialogue. What type of language is being used?

9. Common Tone words Cheerful Confident Powerful Desperate Furious Tired
Whimsical
Sarcastic
Sad
Humorous
Sentimental
Persuasive
Reflective
Sincere
Emotional
Aggravated
Apprehensive
concerned
Pessimistic
Somber
Paranoid
Horrific
Fearful
Embarrassing
Condescending
Disappointed
peaceful

10. Tone Example #1
“The day I went into physics class it was death. A short dark man with a high, lisping voice, named Mr. Manzi, stood in front of the class in a tight blue suit holding a little wooden ball. He put the ball on a steep grooved slide and let it run down to the bottom. Then he started talking about let a equal acceleration and let t equal time and suddenly hewas scribbling letters and numbers and equals signs all over the tiny blackboard and my mind went dead.”
–Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar 

11. Tone example #2
“I had an amazing feeling when I finally held the mix tape in my hand. I just thought to myself that in the palm of my hand, there was this one tape that had all of the memories and feelings and great joy and sadness. Right there in the palm of my hand. And I thought about how many people have loved these songs. And how many people got through a lot of bad times because of those songs. And how many people enjoyed good times with those songs. And how much those songs really mean. ”
–Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being aWallflower

12. Reading Task: Journal 3
As you read today, think about the tone of the text. What is the author’s tone? Discuss this, at least briefly, in your journal for today. Think about the following questions.
What words, phrases, description, or dialogue help you to uncover the tone?
Is there just one or two common or several?
Do different parts of the text reflect different tones? Do they change or is it pretty consistent thus far? Why might this be?

13. Text Structure Six Primary Text Structures Sequence/Chronological
Compare & contrast
Problem and Solution
Supporting an Argument
Description
Cause and Effect

14. Focus for reading: Journal 4
You text will have an overall text structure, but then use many different text structures within them. Most will be sequence/chronological or problem and solution. As you read today, look for other smaller uses of text structure. In your journal response, discuss the overall text structure and how that might help to support the central idea, and then try to identify one other small use of text structure and discuss why the author chose to include this particular structure.

15. Figurative language
Simile – comparing two unlike things using “like” or “as”
Metaphor – comparing two unlike things without using “like” or “as”
Personification – giving nonhuman objects human qualities
Hyperbole – an extreme exaggeration
Imagery – using vivid descriptive language to appeal to any of the five senses

16. Focus for reading: journal 6
As you read today, your two quotes should be an example of figurative language. Copy and properly cite two examples. For each example, label the type of figurative language and discuss how that example of figurative language impacts the text overall. (1/2 page) For the other ½ of your journal, please reflect on your reading thus far. What are your thoughts on the text and the story?

17. Modes of persuasion
Ethos: an appeal to ethics; convincing someone of the credibility for the persuader; “It is the right thing to do” idea

18. Examples of ethos
"As a doctor, I am qualified to tell you that this course of treatment will likely generate the best results."
"If my age doesn’t convince you that my opinion matters, at least consider that I am your grandfather and I love you dearly."
"You know me – I’ve taught Sunday School at your church for years, babysat your children, and served as a playground director for many summers."

19. Examples of ethos

20. Examples of ethos

21. Modes of persuasion
Pathos: an appeal to emotion; a way of convincing an audience by creating an emotional response

22. Examples of pathos
"If we don’t move soon, we’re all going to die! Can’t you see how dangerous it would be to stay?"
"You’ll make the right decision because you have something that not many people do: you have heart."
"There’s no price that can be placed on peace of mind. Our advanced security systems will protect the well-being of your family so that you can sleep soundly at night."

23. Examples of pathos

24. Examples of pathos

25. Examples of pathos

26. Modes of persuasion
Logos: an appeal to logic; using reason

27. Examples of logos
"You don’t need to jump off a bridge to know that it’s a bad idea. Why then would you need to try drugs to know if they’re damaging? That’s plain nonsense."
"Research compiled by analysts from NASA, as well as organizations from five other nations with space programs, suggests that a moon colony is viable with international support."

28. Focus for reading: Journal 7
As you read today, identify two examples of two different modes of persuasion. Examples:
Ethos: How does your author make him or herself credible? Why should we believe this person? What makes him or her an expert on this subject and how do you know this? For many of you, it is because the author is has gone through the ordeal.
Pathos: How does the author appeal to you emotions? What vivid imagery or statistics are used to make you feel sad, angry, afraid, disgusted, hopeful?
Logos: How is the author supporting an argument or his or her opinion? What facts are used to supplement his or her story? What other, outside stories does the author use to supplement his or her story or opinion?
Try to find a quoted example for two different modes of persuasion and discuss!