Practicing Consultative/Formal Registers Outside the School Day:
Look through several newspapers and magazines to find an editorial writer you would be willing to read regularly. Choose someone who makes you think—either in agreement or in disagreement.
For each editorial, do the following:
1. What is the writer’s argument? Summarize the editorial’s argument in a sentence of no more than eighteen words.
2. How does the writer prove it? What evidence does the writer give?
3. How does the writer explain the evidence? What does the writer explain about the evidence that shows how or why it proves the argument?
4. Do you agree with the argument? Why or why not?
5. Write down three things you would like to say to this writer.
6. Find three ways this editorial relates to something you have studied or learned about in school. Write an explanation of how the editorial relates to your class work.
c.Marcy Bowman, 2005 California State University AP Seminar and writingback.org
SUGGESTED COLUMNISTS:
Bob Herbert New York Times
Maureen Dowd New York Times
Thomas L. Friedman New York Times
Patt Morrison Los Angeles Times
Jonathan Chait Los Angeles Times
Margaret Carlson Los Angeles Times
Max Boot Los Angeles Times
George Will Newsweek
A brief explanation of ethos, pathos, and logos and rhetorical analysis:
The three rhetorical appeals identified by Aristotle are the rational (logos), the emotional (pathos), and the ethical (ethos).
The rational appeal is to reason, to logic. Often it is possible to construct the syllogism implicit in a work: All men are mortal. Socrates is a man. Therefore, Socrates is mortal.
The emotional appeal is based on shared human values; for example, anger at mistreatment of a child, or sorrow for an untimely death. What incidents in the work call forth strong emotions? What is the expected audience reaction? What values will the audience be likely to share?
The ethical appeal is the appeal of the persona as a person, someone the audience can like or trust or admire. An audience that reacts favorably to a speaker will more readily accept that speaker’s message. Is the speaker in the work likable, admirable, or trustworthy? Has the speaker persuaded you to change your mind about any beliefs you had previously?
c.Page 46, Advanced Placement English Language and Composition Institute, Chapman University 2005
