AP Language and Composition
Unit 1: Lecture/Reading Outline
- Key Elements of Rhetoric
- Rhetoric is always situational
- The occasion or the time and place the material was written or spoken is the context.
- The goal that the speaker or writer wants to achieve is the purpose
- The thesis, claim, or assertion is a clear and focused statement that is situationally arguable
- The Rhetorical Triangle [Also known as Aristotle’s Triangle
- Describes the interaction among subject, speaker, and audience [or subject, writer, and reader
- Describes how the interaction between subject, speaker, audience determines the structure and language of the argument, a text or image that establishes a position
- A subject is chosen, studied, and evaluated for supporting evidence
- A persona is developed, or the character a writer or speaker develops as he/she writes or speaks depending on the context, purpose, subject, and audience
- Appeal to Ethos, Pathos, and Logos[or rhetorical appeals
- Pathos is the rhetorical argument being made in order to manipulate the emotion of the audience –rarely effective long-term and therefore an argument that is pathos only is a weak argument
- Pathos arguments often use connotative language heavily due to its over-reliance on imagery and associative meanings
- Pathos arguments are heavily propagandistic in purpose and more polemical than persuasive.
- Visual Rhetoric
- Political cartoons are a form of visual rhetoric and are often satirical or critical
- Political cartoons are dependent on the conditions of the audience
- Political cartoons are visual commentary of primary societal issues
- Political cartoons are both visual and textual
- Captions assist the picture in appealing to ethos, pathos, and logos
- Often the text will alter the meaning of the picture as it would exist separate of the effect.
A. The Classical Model includes five aspects of structure used for speech and writing
B. The introduction draws the reader or listener into the argument by establishing credibility…or ethos.
C. The narration provides factual information and background material and establishes why the subject is a problem that needs addressing…often appealing to logos.
D. The confirmation is usually the majority of the text and is the proof needed to make the writer’s argument and containing the most specific and concrete detail…makes the strongest appeal to logos.
E. The refutation addresses the counter-argument and is often the bridge between the proof and the conclusion as well as a method of anticipating objections to an argument…and often appeals primarily to logos.
F. The conclusion usually appeals to pathos and provides the most memorable emotional appeals and the unwritten and unspoken rhetorical question –so what?
4. Patterns of development
A. Narration refers to recounting and retelling of a series of events, based on personal experience and knowledge gained from reading and observation
B. Description emphasizes the senses by focusing on the sensory language of how something looks, sounds, tastes, smells, or feels.
C. Process Analysis explains hoe something functions, or how to do something and focuses on the clarity and logic of a process
D. Exemplification provides a series of examples, facts, specific cases, anecdotes, turns a general idea into a concrete idea making an argument clearer and more persuasive –includes logical proofs Aristotle labeled as induction.
E. Compare and Contrast juxtaposes two things to highlight their similarities and differences in order to better discuss the subtle differences or similarities in the method, style, or purpose of two texts
F. Classification and Division
1. The sorting and categorization of material by a reader or writer to determine what goes together and why?
2. Allows for a writer to break down a larger idea into its components and better describe each part
1. Usually the first step in the development of an argument
2. Often clarifies terms and/or establishes purpose
H. Cause and Effect
1. The effects that result from a cause are a powerful foundation for an argument
2. Depends on clearly defined logos
3. Depends on careful delineation of a chain of events or circumstances
5. Art and Craft of Analysis
A. Analyzing Style
B. Conversing with Text
C. Graphic Organizer
D. Analysis to Essay