Tuesday, August 09, 2005

Rhetorical Square

The rhetorical analysis required to successfully write free-response AP essays demands that students be able to read, argue and support with evidence prompts featuring texts at various levels of difficulty. One tool available to students is the rhetorical square, which enables students to ask four questions when reading analytically. Students need to define the writer's purpose and pose the question, "What action does the speaker want the audience to take?" Second, define the persona the writer is assuming and ask (ethos), "How does the speaker establish common values with the audience and how does the speaker create a common ground for speaker and audience?" Third, ask (pathos), "Who is the audience and which of their emotional characteristics does the writer keep in mind?" Finally, determine the writer's (logos), argument and, "How is the writer's message presented, what figurative language is involved, and what mode of discourse (compare-contrast, cause/effect, classification and division, etc.) does the speaker employ to convey the message?" The purpose for writing, the persona or assumed role of the writer, the audience for whom the writing is done, and the message or content of the writing form the heart of the rhetorical square. This strategy will be used frequently in class to prepare students to read, analyze, and write successfully to prepare for the AP exam.

Credit for the Rhetorical Square is given to writingback.org and Marcy Bowman.