and thus forces all citizens to articulate their views, to put their views at risk, and to cultivate the virtues of eloquence, clarity of thought and expression, and sound judgment. Over the course of the semester, you will be asked to describe arguments, what they are, and how they are constructed. In order to do so, you will identify and discuss rhetorical concepts. This type of writing is called rhetorical analysis. : Rhetorical analysis looks not only at what a text says, but at what it does. It includes consideration of the claims, devices and strategic “moves” an author makes in hopes of persuading an audience. Many claims and arguments within texts are implied rather than explicit; performing rhetorical analyses on texts helps us to get a better sense of how, why, and to what extent an argument is effective. Consider how a text works to convince its audience of the argument at hand. What, besides simply using logic, do authors use to help win a crowd? This work may include describing an author’s argument, use of evidence, rhetorical strategies, textual arrangement, or the complex relationships between author, audience, text, context, and purpose. Some words used to describe what a text does argues appeals to authority assumes challenges complicates • • • • constructs an analogy contrasts presents counterexamples defines • • • distinguishes (between) extends forecasts frames implies parodies • • • • • problematized qualifies rebuts ridicules stresses • • • • supports synthesizes theorizes • •
and thus forces all citizens to articulate their views, to put their views at risk, and to cultivate the virtues of eloquence, clarity of thought and expression, and sound judgment. Over the course of the semester, you will be asked to describe arguments, what they are, and how they are constructed. In order to do so, you will identify and discuss rhetorical concepts. This type of writing is called rhetorical analysis. : Rhetorical analysis looks not only at what a text says, but at what it does. It includes consideration of the claims, devices and strategic “moves” an author makes in hopes of persuading an audience. Many claims and arguments within texts are implied rather than explicit; performing rhetorical analyses on texts helps us to get a better sense of how, why, and to what extent an argument is effective. Consider how a text works to convince its audience of the argument at hand. What, besides simply using logic, do authors use to help win a crowd? This work may include describing an author’s argument, use of evidence, rhetorical strategies, textual arrangement, or the complex relationships between author, audience, text, context, and purpose. Some words used to describe what a text does argues • appeals to authority • assumes • challenges • complicates constructs an analogy • contrasts • presents counterexamples • defines distinguishes (between) • extends • forecasts • frames • implies • parodies problematized • qualifies • rebuts • ridicules • stresses supports • synthesizes • theorizes
RWS_Handbook_fall2011.docx