Rhetorical Analysis Timed Writings

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Rhetorical Analysis Timed Writings

• Steps for Analysis

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Dissect the prompt.

• Each rhetorical analysis prompt will have two
  components.
• --the rhetorical device
• --the tone, theme, argument, purpose or
• other main element you are asked to identify
  
• and to prove

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The Scarlet Letter TW 1

• In the following passage from The Scarlet
  Letter, the narrator introduces the reader to the
  Puritan community of the novel. Read the passage
  carefully. Then write an essay analyzing how the
  narrators description of the Puritans and their
  community suggests his attitude toward them. You
  might consider such elements as selection of
  detail, manipulation of language, and tone.

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The Scarlet Letter TW 1

• In the following passage from The Scarlet
  Letter, the narrator introduces the reader to the
  Puritan community of the novel. Read the passage
  carefully. Then write an essay analyzing how the
  narrators use of rhetorical devices to depict
  the Puritans and their community suggests his
  tone toward them. You might consider such
  elements as selection of detail, manipulation of
  language, and tone.

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2. Literary Element

• The literary element (tone, theme, etc.) or
  argument (purpose position) is the primary focus
  of your assertion. This is what you will PROVE
  about the text.
• The literary element is implied in the text by
  the authors rhetorical choicesdiction, imagery,
  details, language, syntax, etc.
• Your specific identification of the authors
  choices is your textual proof for your assertion.

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3. Rhetorical Devices

• The rhetorical devices are the specific choices
  the author has made to communicate his argument,
  tone, theme, etc.
• When discussing style, these devices are your
  DIDLS.

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3. Rhetorical Devices (cont.)

• Ask yourself the question
• --What devices help me see the authors
• tone?
• Hint The prompt mentioned description.
• --What DIDLS focus on description?

diction
imagery
details
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3. Rhetorical Devices (cont.)

• Choose the device for which you can quickly
  identify textual evidence.
• Diction
• awful business
• anticipated execution
• venerable and awful
• good people
• What kind of words are these?

grim rigidity
Name them.
ironic
contradictory
satiric
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Literary Element (cont.)

• Think of the literary element as a question
• What is the tone (authors attitude) toward
  the specified subject?
• Using your tone words from your rhetoric
  handbook, answer the question.
• Satire means the author wants to bring about
  change. The author is critical of the Puritan
  society sotone critical.

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4. Assertion

• Decide how the two elements are connected to
  create your assertion.
• Ask yourself the question
• --How does the diction show the authors
• tone?
• (Remember to NAME both elements.)
• The answer (in a complete sentence) becomes your
  assertion.
• Your assertion IS your thesis.

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4. Assertion (cont.)

• Example
• Hawthorne uses satiric diction to define
• his critical tone.
• Refined example
• Hawthorne uses satiric diction to criticize
  the
• hypocrisy inherent in the Puritan
  community.

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5. Critical Essay Introduction

• Building backward from your assertion, create an
  introductory paragraph. (Your thesis should
  typically be the last sentence of your
  introduction.)

Nathaniel Hawthorne was a romantic who believed
we all must journey inside our hearts to find
truth. No external force can define us. If we
fail to look inward, our lives become a lie. In
his novel The Scarlet Letter, he creates a
society of Puritans who hide behind their laws to
disguise their real emotions. To expose this
travesty,
Hawthorne uses satiric diction to criticize the
hypocrisy inherent in the Puritan community.
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6. Critical Essay Paragraph 1

• Each body paragraph should consist of
• a topic sentence
• a concrete detail (quote)
• commentary
• commentary
• concluding sentence (final comment)

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6. Paragraph 1(cont.)

• Topic sentence
• Initially, Hawthorne seems to show respect for
  the Puritan community, but his satiric diction
  veils his true criticism.

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6. Paragraph 1(cont.)

• Concrete Detail (Quote)
• He calls the Puritans good people even though
  he has already described their grim rigidity.

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6. Paragraph 1(cont.)

• Commentary
• By using these contrasting images to emphasize
  his real purpose, Hawthorne shows that these
  people are not as good as they appear on the
  surface to be.

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6. Paragraph 1(cont.)

• Commentary (2)
• In reality, they are a cold and vicious group
  who are willing to whip a child simply for his
  unruly behavior.

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6. Paragraph 1(cont.)

• Concrete Detail (Quote)
• Instead, they are people who are involved in an
  awful business and are awaiting an anticipated
  execution.

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6. Paragraph 1(cont.)

• Commentary
• Hawthornes use of the word anticipated
  implies an eagerness in this community to watch
  someone die.

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6. Paragraph 1(cont.)

• Commentary (2)
• The multiple connotations implicit in the word
  anticipated allow Hawthorne to satirize this
  community more disposed to sentence lesser crimes
  with death rather than with simple ridicule.

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7. And it all comes together

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Nathaniel Hawthorne was a romantic who
believed we all must journey inside our hearts to
find truth. No external force can define us. If
we fail to look inward, our lives become a lie.
In his novel The Scarlet Letter, he creates a
society of Puritans who hide behind their laws to
disguise their real emotions. To expose this
travesty, Hawthorne uses satiric diction to
criticize the hypocrisy inherent in the Puritan
community. Initially, Hawthorne seems
to show respect for the Puritan community, but
his satiric diction veils his true criticism. He
calls the Puritans good people even though he
has already described their grim rigidity. In
reality, they are a cold and vicious group who
are willing to whip a child simply for his unruly
behavior. By using these contrasting images to
emphasize his real purpose, Hawthorne shows that
these people are not as good as they appear on
the surface to be. Instead, they are people who
are involved in an awful business and are
awaiting an anticipated execution. Hawthornes
use of the word anticipated implies an
eagerness in this community to watch someone die.
The multiple connotations implicit in the word
anticipated allow Hawthorne to satirize this
community more disposed to sentence lesser crimes
with death rather than with simple ridicule.
This harsh treatment of the accused for crimes
any person could commit speaks to the
hypocritical nature of the Puritans who are eager
to condemn others to better themselves.