Today we are going to take a quiz on Assata, discuss "No Name Woman" and write a precis on the text, finish writing types and classifications of sentences.
HW: Study vocabulary, read chapter 1 of
The Language of Composition (for Friday) and outline it on your blogs, and read "The Allegory of the Cave" by Plato.
Here is an example of an outline of Chapter 1 of
Everyday Use
RHETORIC refers to two things:
1)
the art of analyzing all the language choices
that a writer, speaker, reader, listener might make so that a text becomes
meaningful
2)
The specific features of texts, written or
spoken, that cause them to be
meaningful, purposeful, effective
Rhetorical Triangle:
1)
Subject – and kinds of evidence
2)
Audience – their knowledge, ideas, attitudes,
and beliefs
3)
Speaker – the character of the rhetor
Sometimes a rhetor creats a persona or mask
SIX KEYS: understanding persona, understanding appeals to
audience, understanding subject, understanding intention, and understanding
genre
Key #1: Persona
The speaker, or rhetor, wants to do two things: 1) speak or
write so that the audience members perceive a distinct character, usually one
who is educated, considerate, trustworthy, and well intentioned; second make
inferences and judgments about the character and personality of another writer
or speaker
Key terms: voice, tone (speaker’s attitude toward the
subject he/she is writing or speaking about), diction, irony, effect
Key # 2: Appeals to Audience
Three kinds of appeals: Logos (clear, reasoned central idea
developed and supported with appropriate evidence); Ethos (evidence that the
speaker, writer is credible, good, believable, trustworthy person who has
his/her audience’s best interests in mind); Pathos (the emotions and interests
of the audience).
Key #3: Subject Matter and Its Treatment
1)
Topic, proposition, question or issue (be able
to recognize) and offer two paths of interpretation.
2)
Successful writer/speaker generates effective
material by capitalizing on what the audience already knows, making them
curious to know more about the topic, and satisfying their curiosity by
providing facts, ideas, interpretations that build on what they know
3)
Claims-plus-support. Thesis statement with supporting points, and
these points proven by facts, details, examples, illustrations, and reasons
CONTEXT (modifying the basic
rhetorical triangle) – a convergence of time, place, people, events; PURPOSE and
GENRE.
Key #4: Context
What immediate situation propelled
the writer to create the text (background information on topic, persona, etc.)
Context can be immediate or
distant (current events or historical patterns)
Key # 5: Purpose
What does the author wants to happen
as a result of the text.
Key #6: Genre
Think about modes of composition (narration,
definition, compare and contrast, etc)
Context plus purpose leads to
genre.
What do the authors say about
rhetoric and citizenship?
