CRITICAL READING: IDENTIFYING RHETORICAL STRATEGIES

WRD103: Composition & Rhetoric I, Autumn 2013

Rhetorical Situation

Consider the context

Exigence:

what prompted the author to write?

who was the author targeting in their

Audience:

writing?
Constraints:

What values did the author assume he/she shared with their audience? What information did he/she assume their audience knew?

ANALYZING
Read First Impression Read Again Formalize your Stance Focus Dont try to cover everything! Themes & Patterns: What is the author attempting to claim? St Martins Handbook:

Section 8 (all) Analyzing

Analyzing & Critiquing Reasons

Ethos: The trustworthine ss or credibility of the author

Personal Experiences & Knowledge Common Ground Acknowledging the Counterargument

Analyzing & Critiquing Reasons

Pathos: Appeals to the audiences emotions

Descriptions & Concrete Language Figurative Language

Analyzing & Critiquing Reasons

Logos: Appeals established through the use of logical and consistent reasoning

Testimony from Authorities/Experts Cause & Effect Examples & Precedents

Practice Identifying Strategies

Identify in the following commercial:

TrueCAR.com A Better Way (http://youtu.be/YTcOrqYTM4Y) Who is the audience? How does the commercial use
Ethos Pathos Logos

What might you argue about this commercial?

Practice Identifying Strategies

Identify in the following image:

Who is the audience? How does the advertisement use: Ethos Pathos Logos What might you argue about this advertisement?