RHETORICAL STRATEGIES

1. RHETORICAL STRATEGIES REVIEW

2. RHETORICAL STRATEGIES I. DESCRIPTION

3. I. DESCRIPTION • Relies upon SENSE DETAILS • Sights • Sounds • Smells • Tastes • Touches (tactile impressions)

4. I. DESCRIPTION • And FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE • Describing the unknown by way of the known • Similes • Using “like” or “as” • Metaphors • Using or implying “is” • She had black wires for hair. • Her eyes were as black as a shark’s. • Her nose was a ski slope. • She had a mouth like a trash compactor.

5. I. DESCRIPTION • And PROPER DICTION • Keen, discriminating word choice • The “right” words (descriptive) • adjectives, adverbs • to modify ordinary, plain words • nouns, verbs • the exact word, technical term, vocabulary • Sometimes a heart just “beats” • But often, more descriptive words can be utilized to help you make your point - • Beats quickly, very fast, irregularly • Pounds, throbs, drums, flutters, dances

6. I. DESCRIPTION • To support a DOMINANT IMPRESSION • The atmosphere, setting • A unifying impression or controlling aspect • Links all of your sense details • The first adjective that comes to mind when you think about a particular place, object, person, or event

7. I. DESCRIPTION • Details are arranged SPATIALLY • By space • (as opposed to chronology, reason, logic, or emphasis) • Left to right or right to left • Top to bottom or bottom to top • To “pan,” as with a camera

8. I. DESCRIPTION On the Job: • Reports of all kinds • Medical reports • Police reports • Accident reports • Business reports • Journalist’s or Reporter’s article • Product description • Construction site details • Chemistry or Biology labs

9. I. DESCRIPTION In Argument: • To help prove your claim • To help persuade or convince • Topic = abortion • “for” • Describe the living conditions of the unwanted child of a drug-addicted mother • “against” • Describe the surgical procedure • “Suction Aspiration” or “Dilation and Curettage”

10. RHETORICAL STRATEGIES II. NARRATION

11. II. NARRATION • Relies upon STORY ELEMENTS • Plot • Characterization • Theme • Setting

12. II. NARRATION • And DESCRIPTIVE ELEMENTS • Sense Details • Figurative Language • Diction • Dominant Impression (related to theme)

13. II. NARRATION • To relate a STORY • Narrative • Account, chronicle • Tale, myth, legend

14. II. NARRATION • With a MORAL • Message • Point • Meaning • Theme

15. II. NARRATION • Details are arranged CHRONOLOGICALLY • By TIME • (as opposed to space, reason, logic, or emphasis) • Beginning, Middle, End • Linear progression • No flashbacks, no circling, no juxtaposition

16. II. NARRATION On the Job: • Recording witness testimony • Lab reports • Experiment notes • Journalistic accounts • Workman’s Compensation Accident reports • Meeting minutes • Troubleshooting explanation

17. II. NARRATION In Argument: • To help prove your claim • To help persuade or convince • Narration as evidence • Eye-witness or expert testimony • Lab reports • Journalistic accounts • Historic accounts • Topic = Depression • Case studies • Your personal account with the disease

18. RHETORICAL STRATEGIES III. ILLUSTRATION

19. III. ILLUSTRATION • Employs various means of EVIDENCE • EXAMPLES • Clear, unambiguous, unequivocal • Relevant, topical, warranted, applicable • concrete and specific details • statistics, facts, figures • specific people, places, objects • anecdotes • brief informative stories to help develop ideas; • like instances or occurrences

20. III. ILLUSTRATION • To support a SPECIFIC CLAIM • Argument • Point • Issue • Thesis

21. III. ILLUSTRATION • That is clearly stated in the THESIS STATEMENT • Clear, emphatic • Argumentative • Topic + Main Idea + Support • Located at the end of the Introduction

22. III. ILLUSTRATION • Evidence arranged EMPHATICALLY • Save the “best” for last • Most common, important, significant, demonstrative • By reason, logic, or emphasis • (as opposed to chronology, space) • Build “emphasis” • Move toward climax

23. III. ILLUSTRATION • Persuasive • When done correctly • Not overtly persuasive

24. III. ILLUSTRATION On the Job: • Case studies • Demographic statistics • Graphs, charts, tables, figures • Product specifications • Crime scene details • Legal precedents, case law • Recommendations from past customers or employers

25. III. ILLUSTRATION In Argument: • To help prove your claim • To help persuade or convince • Illustration as evidence • EXAMPLES • Clear, unambiguous, unequivocal • Relevant, topical, warranted, applicable • Illustrative narrative (anecdote) • concrete and specific details • statistics, facts, figures • specific people, places, objects

26. RHETORICAL STRATEGIES IV. DIVISION and CLASSIFICATION

27. IV. DIVISION-CLASSIFICATION • DIVISION “divides” a topic into • Roles • Subgroups • Subdivisions • “1 into many”

28. IV. DIVISION-CLASSIFICATION • CLASSIFICATION groups into • Types • Groups • Classifications • Classes • Categories • “many into 1”

29. IV. DIVISION-CLASSIFICATION • Each uses EXAMPLES to support the division or classification: • Specific people • Specific instances or events • Uses clear, relevant, effective/telling, and specific examples/instances (“for example”), details, and anecdotes to illustrate the characteristics of each type/part

30. IV. DIVISION-CLASSIFICATION • Sets up each example with an appropriate TRANSITIONS: • “For instance” • “For example”

31. IV. DIVISION-CLASSIFICATION • Paragraph topics are arranged EMPHATICALLY • Save the “best” for last • Most common, important, significant, demonstrative • By reason, logic, or emphasis • (as opposed to chronology, space) • Build “emphasis” • Move toward climax

32. IV. DIVISION-CLASSIFICATION On the Job: • King Philip Came Over For Good Spaghetti • Customer analysis (personality types) • Sales floor organization • Video store classification • Understanding the functions of various parts of complex systems • Computers • Transmissions • Resume, Job Search

33. IV. DIVISION-CLASSIFICATION In Argument: • To help prove your claim • To help persuade or convince • To help understand the problem, issue, situation • D/C as evidence • Types and sub-groups, roles • Each supported with specific examples • Types of slavery, abortions, stem cells • Crucial roles played by immigrant workers

34. RHETORICAL STRATEGIES V. COMPARISON and CONTRAST

35. V. COMPARISON & CONTRAST • Employs various means of EVIDENCE • EXAMPLES • Clear, unambiguous, unequivocal • Relevant, topical, warranted, applicable • concrete and specific details • statistics, facts, figures • specific people, places, objects • anecdotes (brief informative stories to help develop ideas; like instances or occurrences)

36. V. COMPARISON & CONTRAST • To compare OR contrast TWO subjects: • Only 2 subjects • 2 subjects from the same class or category • 2 subjects clearly identified in the Introduction • 2 subjects compared or contrasted – not both

37. V. COMPARISON & CONTRAST • Points of comparison or contrast are clearly stated in the THESIS STATEMENT: • Topic + Main Idea + Support • “support” = similarities or differences • Located at the end of the Introduction

38. V. COMPARISON & CONTRAST • Writer effectively and strategically employs one of two ORGANIZATIONAL METHODS: • point-by-point-by-point method** • subject-by-subject method*

39. V. COMPARISON & CONTRAST • Writer uses appropriate TRANSITIONS to guide the reader through the text: • (comparison) • also, like, as, furthermore, additionally • (contrast) • on the other hand, on the contrary, conversely, however

40. V. COMPARISON & CONTRAST • Writer EMPHATICALLY arranges evidence: • Save the “best” for last • Most common, important, significant, demonstrative • By reason, logic, or emphasis • (as opposed to chronology, space) • Build “emphasis” • Move toward climax

41. V. COMPARISON & CONTRAST On the Job: • Job searches • Hiring, Firing, or Promoting • Product choices • Software, hardware • Tools, equipment • Storage, disposal, recycling • Experiments • Medications • Treatment regimens • Exercise, therapeutic, medicinal

42. V. COMPARISON & CONTRAST In Argument: • To help prove your claim • To help persuade or convince • Topic = Stem Cell Research • Compare cloned liver to “natural” one • Contrast embryonic to adult SCR • Topic = Global Warming • Compare current Global Warming fad to past Global Cooling vogue • Contrast current conditions with 50 years ago

43. RHETORICAL STRATEGIES VI. DEFINITION

44. VI. DEFINITION • Employs various means of EVIDENCE • EXAMPLES • Clear, unambiguous, unequivocal • Relevant, topical, warranted, applicable • concrete and specific details • statistics, facts, figures • specific people, places, objects • anecdotes • brief informative stories to help develop ideas; • like instances or occurrences

45. VI. DEFINITION • To support a PERSONAL UNDERSTANDING of a TERM: • Not a text book definition • Not a dictionary or encyclopedia definition • But a personal definition

46. VI. DEFINITION • That is clearly stated in the THESIS STATEMENT: • Thesis = Definition • Clear, emphatic • Located at the end of the Introduction • Topic + Main Idea + Support • Term + Class + Traits (characteristics, attributes)

47. VI. DEFINITION • Evidence arranged EMPHATICALLY: • Save the “best” for last • Most common, important, significant, demonstrative • By reason, logic, or emphasis • (as opposed to chronology, space) • Build “emphasis” • Move toward climax

48. VI. DEFINITION On the Job: • Job definitions, postings, searches • Technical terms • Movements, genres, techniques • Medical conditions, diseases, treatments • Tools, parts, functions • Ideas, ideologies, philosophies • Laws, legal terms

49. VI. DEFINITION In Argument: • To help prove your claim • To help persuade or convince • Topic = Racism (attitudes, language) • See Langston Hughes’ “Black” • Topic = Same-Sex Marriage • Define “marriage” • How it’s defined = side of the issue • “for” = couple based on love, commitment • “against” = 1 man + 1 woman, for procreation

50. RHETORICAL STRATEGIES VII. ARGUMENT and PERSUASION