Instruction
Directions: Watch Jacqueline Woodson's TED talk, "What Reading Slowly Taught Me about Writing". Answer the questions below to the best of your analytical ability (there will be multiple, valid answers). I will show you how these questions can literally be turned into an essay. . Use quotes from the speech to help support/show your answers.
Rhetorical Situation Questions
Who is the writer? Is there anything in the writer’s background that might influence what is/isn’t included in the argument?
What is the writer’s purpose? What does the writer hope to achieve?
Who is the article’s audience?
What topic has the writer decided to write about? How broad is the topic?
What situation/event/problem created the need for the argument?
At what points in the argument does the writer appeal to logic, emotion, credibility?
Emotions?
Credibility?
Argument’s thesis?
How does the writer organize their argument? Chronologically? Important information first or last? How effective is this arrangement of ideas?
What evidence does the writer use to support the arguments? Does the writer use enough evidence?
Does the writer use similes, metaphors, allusions, or any other rhetorical techniques?