Guided rhetorical analysis of 2008 q2 prompt

A guide to tackling the rhetorical analysis prompt

1. APLang
You Got This!
Modified from
Aaron Gillego/[email protected]

2. Q2 Rhetorical Analysis Prompt
Free-response question 2 presents students with a passage of nonfiction prose of
approximately 600 to 800 words. Students are asked to write an essay that analyzes the
writer’s rhetorical choices. This question assesses students’ ability to do the following:
➢Respond to the prompt with a thesis that makes a claim as yo your analysis of the writer’s
rhetorical choices, including why these choices are sufficient and relevant.
➢Select and use evidence to support your line of reasoning.
➢Explain how the evidence supports your line of reasoning.
➢Demonstrate an understanding of the rhetorical situation.
➢Use appropriate grammar and punctuation in communicating your argument (analysis).

3. Simply Put


Your job in writing a rhetorical analysis is to explain two things:

1)WHAT does the writer say? (What is the argument?)

2)HOW does the writer say it? (What choices does the writer make?)

3)WHY do the rhetorical choices work?

4. Parts of the prompt
Sample Question
In 1997, then United States Secretary of State
Madeleine Albright gave the commencement
speech to the graduating class of Mount
Holyoke College, a women’s college in
Massachusetts.
Read the passage carefully. Write an essay
that analyzes the rhetorical choices Albright
makes to convey her message that
perseverance can make a difference.

Stable Prompt Wording
The text in italics will vary by question, while
the remainder of the prompt will be
consistently used in all Rhetorical Analysis
essay questions.
[Background on the rhetorical situation]. Read
the passage carefully. Write an essay that
analyzes the rhetorical choices [the writer]
makes to [develop/achieve/convey] [his/her]
[argument . . . /purpose . . . /message . . .].

5. Steps to Success
Read actively and use the annotation techniques prescribed.
●Underline clear moments.
●Circle interesting words or words in patterns.
●*** Star deliberate choices.
●[Bracket] or chunk the different/discrete parts or moves in the essay.
➢As you read, paraphrase and make sense of the language in your own words.
➢Understand that each chunk of the essay is making a sub-argument or sub-point.

6. How does a scientist talk? (Anticipatory set)
TASK: Record your
impression of Dr.
Fauci’s statements
on your own paper.
Feel free to pause,
rewind, etc.

7. Transition to Prompt
Practice

8. Transition to 2008
Prompt Practice
Print the prompt and text here.

9. WHAT is Barry’s characterization of
scientific research? In other words, what
does he say in the entire piece?
WHAT choices does the writer make? HOW
does the writer make his argument?
REMEMBER, you will have 45 minutes on
the actual exam + 5 minutes to upload.
REMEMBER, you will not be given the
author’s name on this year’s exam.
Attacking the Prompt

10. TASK: Mark key words
that jump out at you.



Marking
The Text

11. Comparison of certainty vs.
uncertainty using parallelism.
Explains attributes that
scientists need, but lands on the
idea that uncertainty--not
knowing or skepticism--is
paramount. Use of listing.
Allusion / reference / appeal to
authority. Cites Bernard and
Einstein as two exemplars of
scientists who embraced
uncertainty.

12. TASK: In the margins,
PUT THIS INTO YOUR
OWN WORDS.

What is this paragraph
saying?

13. The author makes an analogy that
characterizes scientific research
as akin to exploration of the
wilderness--requiring the same
inventiveness and the same
courage to broach such
precariousness or danger.



Allusion to Alice and Wonderland:
“through the looking glass”,
which implies unpredictability,
when daring to cross that
threshold.

14. TASK: In the margin,
explain how this
paragraph relates to
the previous
paragraph.

15. Notice the dominant choice here of
the author: a series of
hypotheticals in the form of
questions.


The “grunt work” or “tedious”
nature of scientific exploration is
supported by the author’s use of
the kind of methodical inquiry that
goes into the minutiae of how to
penetrate a rock formation.

Author uses such a mundane
example to emphasize the tedium
of scientific inquiry.

16. TASK: In the margins,
explain how these final
two paragraphs are
developed.

17. SUCCESS VS. FAILURE

This paragraph explains what
happens with success.

The scientific pioneer who
succeeds will make it easier for
others to follow.




This paragraph examines why
some scientists don’t succeed.
(This is the antithesis). Lists some
of the pitfalls of those who don’t
succeed: lack of confidence, lack
of persistence, or sheer bad luck.

18. Planning Your Essay
Read examples of finished product here. They are not perfect, but you can learn from each of
them.
https://secure-media.collegeboard.org/apc/ap08_english_lang_q2.pdf
●In your intro, provide the SOAPS that you glean from the prompt itself. Try to relate to the
topic in an interesting way. Your thesis should announce WHAT the author has argued.
You don’t need to list the choices yet. Leave your thesis open.

●In your body, the HOW of the argument should be explained. You can do this
chronologically or you can do this by grouping ideas. DO NOT organize by grouping
strategies.

●In your conclusion, share the SO WHAT. Why was this strategy successful. What can we
learn from the choices the author makes? What is the lasting impact of the argument?

19. Writing the Essay
●Give yourself 45 minutes to write the essay.
●Have printed copies of these with you:
○RA Verb List (helps you write more powerfully)
○Analysis Checklist (allows you to plan well)
○Body Paragraph Précis (*NEW:allows you to take stock. May become
the foundation for your intro paragraph.)
●Write your essay (Use google or handwrite—whichever way you intend to
complete the exam).

20. Reflection
At the end of your essay, write a reflection on this process.
●What did you learn?
●With what are you confident?
●In what ways might you strengthen your abilities?
●How will you go about doing that?
Upload your essay and reflection to Canvas for feedback by Friday.