Rhetorical AnalysisRhetorical Analysis

How to Get That Elusive 9How to Get That Elusive 9

Reading Comes FirstReading Comes First

Read the Read the directionsdirections!!

Always read for Always read for purpose and tonepurpose and tone

Annotate while you Annotate while you read.read.

Read through the Read through the prompt twice prompt twice before you start to before you start to write.write.

The DirectionsThe Directions

In an article first appearing in In an article first appearing in Time Time MagazineMagazine, James Poniewozik offers a , James Poniewozik offers a solution for what he considers our solution for what he considers our society’s prevalent, but empty, society’s prevalent, but empty, happiness. Read this selection from happiness. Read this selection from “The Art of Unhappiness” carefully. “The Art of Unhappiness” carefully. Then write an essay in which you Then write an essay in which you analyze the rhetorical techniques analyze the rhetorical techniques Poniewozik uses to convey the value Poniewozik uses to convey the value of art for our society. of art for our society.

Introducing…Introducing…

Don’t waste time!Don’t waste time! Historical context or Historical context or

the big picturethe big picture Purpose!Purpose! Mention the author Mention the author

and title when and title when available.available.

Thesis statement= Thesis statement= purpose and major purpose and major techniques techniques (directions!)(directions!)

Sample IntroductionSample Introduction The most intelligent people in the world would The most intelligent people in the world would

readily admit that wisdom doesn’t always bring readily admit that wisdom doesn’t always bring happiness. In fact, the more we reflect on our happiness. In fact, the more we reflect on our own position in the universe, the more we own position in the universe, the more we question our future and our purpose. James question our future and our purpose. James Poniewozik contemplates these same issues in his Poniewozik contemplates these same issues in his article “The Art of Unhappiness.” However, article “The Art of Unhappiness.” However, instead of describing the parallel between instead of describing the parallel between learning and sadness, he explores the depressing learning and sadness, he explores the depressing side of art. Through his light, sometimes facetious side of art. Through his light, sometimes facetious tone and colorful imagery, he shows us that the tone and colorful imagery, he shows us that the darker arts may be just what the doctor ordered darker arts may be just what the doctor ordered for our “happy” society.for our “happy” society.

The BodyThe Body

Use topic and closing sentences to Use topic and closing sentences to relate back to the prompt’s purpose.relate back to the prompt’s purpose.

Stitch and weave several examples Stitch and weave several examples of techniques.of techniques.

Make sure you comment on the Make sure you comment on the purpose of the technique.purpose of the technique.

Organize ideas chronologically (point Organize ideas chronologically (point by point) OR by technique.by point) OR by technique.

Example Body ParagraphExample Body Paragraph After making this initial assertion about art and its After making this initial assertion about art and its

necessary role in our world, Poniewozik builds his credibility necessary role in our world, Poniewozik builds his credibility with historical background, including references to the with historical background, including references to the “happier times” for the subject area. As Poniewozik reminds “happier times” for the subject area. As Poniewozik reminds us, in certain time periods, art was designed for mass us, in certain time periods, art was designed for mass appeal, so the subject areas portrayed were usually appeal, so the subject areas portrayed were usually “uplifting rather than dark.” His specific allusions to “uplifting rather than dark.” His specific allusions to Wordsworth and Baudelaire would assuage any critics who Wordsworth and Baudelaire would assuage any critics who might misinterpret his colloquial comments as a lack of might misinterpret his colloquial comments as a lack of knowledge. One must note, though, that these educated knowledge. One must note, though, that these educated allusions are balanced with references to Thomas Kinkade allusions are balanced with references to Thomas Kinkade and Usher. Although a well-educated, culturally astute and Usher. Although a well-educated, culturally astute audience might best understand his arguments (a more audience might best understand his arguments (a more typical audience for typical audience for TimeTime magazine), Poniewozik carefully magazine), Poniewozik carefully blends popular allusions with simple diction, perhaps in an blends popular allusions with simple diction, perhaps in an attempt to reach all audiences. He’s trying to convey that attempt to reach all audiences. He’s trying to convey that art “reflects our human nature,” so he needs to broaden his art “reflects our human nature,” so he needs to broaden his definition of art. definition of art.

In Conclusion…In Conclusion…

Analyze the Analyze the prompt’s prompt’s conclusion in your conclusion in your conclusion.conclusion.

Restate the Restate the author’s purpose. author’s purpose.

Give a sense of Give a sense of closure.closure.

Doesn’t have to be Doesn’t have to be long!long!

Sample ConclusionSample Conclusion Finally, in the conclusion of his essay, Poniewozik offers his Finally, in the conclusion of his essay, Poniewozik offers his

thesis. The reason that art is depressing is because we thesis. The reason that art is depressing is because we need it to be that way. We need to be reminded that true need it to be that way. We need to be reminded that true happiness is not “pleasure sans pain,” but rather the joy happiness is not “pleasure sans pain,” but rather the joy and triumph that is made sweeter by trials. Poniewozik and triumph that is made sweeter by trials. Poniewozik used an inductive organization, skillfully leading his reader used an inductive organization, skillfully leading his reader to this conclusion rather than revealing it immediately, to this conclusion rather than revealing it immediately, because he knew that this idea is hard to swallow (or because he knew that this idea is hard to swallow (or “bitter” as he describes it.) However, it is an important “bitter” as he describes it.) However, it is an important message, one that we are more likely to accept now that message, one that we are more likely to accept now that we’ve been swept away by his logic. Indeed, he draws us in we’ve been swept away by his logic. Indeed, he draws us in through his witty, conversational tone, so by the end we through his witty, conversational tone, so by the end we find it hard not to accept his ideas. With his final sentence, find it hard not to accept his ideas. With his final sentence, Poniewozik frames his essay with a reference once again to Poniewozik frames his essay with a reference once again to the artist’s clove cigarettes, leaving us with a strange taste the artist’s clove cigarettes, leaving us with a strange taste in our mouths, but one that will not be forgotten soon.in our mouths, but one that will not be forgotten soon.

Rhetorical Analysis QuestionsRhetorical Analysis Questions

What is the message?What is the message? How is the message being conveyed?How is the message being conveyed? Why is the message being conveyed?Why is the message being conveyed?

Style TipsStyle Tips

SHOW, don’t tellSHOW, don’t tell Stitch and weaveStitch and weave Relate everything back to purposeRelate everything back to purpose Don’t mention a technique if you Don’t mention a technique if you

don’t know why it’s theredon’t know why it’s there Don’t worry too much about Don’t worry too much about

technical names.technical names.

More TipsMore Tips

Focus on the big strategies first (the Focus on the big strategies first (the overall argument)overall argument)– What evidence do they offer?What evidence do they offer?– Where do they refute/ make a Where do they refute/ make a

concession?concession?– Where do they use an appeal?Where do they use an appeal?– How is the piece structured?How is the piece structured?

Think about how they designed their Think about how they designed their message for their particular audiencemessage for their particular audience

Talking About StyleTalking About Style

Only mention a particular stylistic Only mention a particular stylistic technique if it adds something technique if it adds something unique to that particular text.unique to that particular text.– Ex: Any author can use anaphora once. Ex: Any author can use anaphora once.

It’s worth talking about if anaphora is a It’s worth talking about if anaphora is a distinct part of the author’s style and it distinct part of the author’s style and it clearly relates to the purpose of the clearly relates to the purpose of the piece.piece.

SHOW, don’t tellSHOW, don’t tell

Not this…Not this…– Johnson really uses emotional appeal in Johnson really uses emotional appeal in

his third paragraph.his third paragraph. But this…But this…

– Using abstract words such as “freedom” Using abstract words such as “freedom” and “dignity,” Johnson reels in his and “dignity,” Johnson reels in his audience emotionally, reminding them audience emotionally, reminding them that the foundations of American society that the foundations of American society are still worthwhile today.are still worthwhile today.

Stitch and WeaveStitch and Weave

Not this…Not this…– ““Laughing, crying, running, sleeping, breathing Laughing, crying, running, sleeping, breathing

are all human actions, human emotions, that are all human actions, human emotions, that make us alive.” This quote uses parallel make us alive.” This quote uses parallel structure to make its point.structure to make its point.

But this…But this…– To support his point that humans are complex To support his point that humans are complex

creatures, Brown creates a parallel string of creatures, Brown creates a parallel string of human actions: “laughing, crying, running, human actions: “laughing, crying, running, sleeping, breathing.”sleeping, breathing.”

More Stitching and WeavingMore Stitching and Weaving

Not this…Not this…– ““We as Americans need to stand up for We as Americans need to stand up for

our rights and fight for our freedoms.” our rights and fight for our freedoms.” This emotional call would clearly have This emotional call would clearly have an affect on Jameson’s audience.an affect on Jameson’s audience.

But this…But this…– Jameson calls for Americans to “stand Jameson calls for Americans to “stand

up for [their] rights and fight for [their] up for [their] rights and fight for [their] freedoms,” stirring his audience to freedoms,” stirring his audience to action.action.

Relate Everything to PurposeRelate Everything to Purpose

Not this…Not this…– In his 2In his 2ndnd paragraph, Millikin uses repetition paragraph, Millikin uses repetition

several times.several times. But this…But this…

– As Millikin calls for unity among all nations, he As Millikin calls for unity among all nations, he repeats phrases to emphasize the need for “all repeats phrases to emphasize the need for “all nations to rally as one.”nations to rally as one.”

– As Millikin calls for unity among all nations, he As Millikin calls for unity among all nations, he uses a succession of “we must” clauses to uses a succession of “we must” clauses to emphasize the necessity of unity.emphasize the necessity of unity.