AP

learning targets

homework

Memorize 7 rhetorically precise verbs. Cover a wide array of functions!

Prepare to write our first FRQ2 next class.

what we're doing today

1. Rhetorical Analysis

   • Overview

   • Verb precision

2. Notes: Rhetorical Purpose Statements

3. Practice: Rhetorical Purpose Statements

   • Harris

   • Biden

What is rhetorical analysis?

How is it different than types of writing we’ve done in the past?

What is a rhetorically precise verb?

Why does it matter whether or not our verbs are precise?

Rhetorical Purpose Statement

Sentence 1: Rhetorical Situation

1. Who / What / Where (Speaker / Title or Mode / Occasion or Event)
2. Rhetorically Precise Verb + Rhetorical Choices (2-3)
3. [”in order to”] + Ultimate Purpose

Sentence 2: Balanced Thesis

1. Tensioner (Obstacle or Challenge Posted By the Rhetorical Situation)
   • Despite
   • Although
   • Though
2. “, ”
3. How the Speaker Navigates That Obstacle
4. Speaker’s Message

Example Rhetorical Purpose Statement

In her response to the nightmare parent email, Ms. Hessler reassures the parent with her warm tone and vaguely positive diction in order to secure her freedom to continue functioning semi-autonomously in the classroom. Despite the parent’s insistence on the injustice of the grade given, Ms. Hessler maintains objectivity in her reply, emphasizing that fairness is the backbone of all her teaching practices.

How does this correspond with the framework for rhetorical purpose statements? Label it.

Example Rhetorical Purpose Statement

Sentence 1:

1. In her response to the nightmare parent email, Ms. Hessler
2. reassures the parent with her warm tone and vaguely positive diction
3. in order to secure her freedom to continue functioning semi-autonomously in the classroom.

Sentence 2:

1. Despite the parent’s insistence on the injustice of the grade given
2. ,
3. Ms. Hessler maintains objectivity in her reply, emphasizing that
4. fairness is the backbone of all her teaching practices.

Practice:

Rhetorical Purpose Statements

1. Pull up your homework (Biden/Harris SPACECAT)
2. You are going to have 10 minutes to write a rhetorical purpose statement for Kamala Harris.
3. You are allowed to use any notes we’ve taken/resources I’ve posted.
4. When our time is up, we’ll post all of the purpose statements on this Padlet.
5. Then we’ll discuss strengths and weaknesses we see amongst the spread.

Then, depending on time, we’ll do the same for Biden.