KHANH LY - Unit 1 Essay: Introduction

KHANH LY Unit 1 Essay Introduction In “What Is Rhetoric?,” the author says, “ How one says something conveys meaning as much as what one says ” Choose a text we have read in class, then write an essay[.]

In “What Is Rhetoric?,” the author says, “ How one says something conveys meaning as much as what one says.” Choose a text we have read in class, then write an essay that analyzes how the author uses rhetoric to advance a point of view or achieve a purpose Discuss, as part of the analysis, how the author unfolds the series of ideas or events and the effect of specific word choices on meaning and tone Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support the analysis.

Activity 1: Analyzing the Prompt

1 Underline the main task(s) and highlight the other directions of the prompt.

In “What Is Rhetoric?,” the author says, “ How one says something conveys meaning as much

as what one says.” Choose a text we have read in class, then write an essay that analyzes how the author uses rhetoric to advance a point of view or achieve a purpose Discuss, as part of the analysis, how the author unfolds the series of ideas or events and the effect of specific word choices on meaning and tone Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support the analysis

2 Fill in the following statement:

I must _write an essay that _analyzes how the author

uses rhetoric to advance a point of view and _achieve a purpose, including how the author

unfolds _a series of ideas or events and the

_effect _of specific word choices on

meaning _and _tone

3 What text will you write about?

A Fable for Tomorrow by Rachel Carson

4 Collect your annotated copy of the text and any handouts you have that connect

to the text These can be found in Google Classroom.

5 Reread the text and your notes and materials Identify at least three rhetorical strategies/appeals present in the text and then complete the following

statements:

Strategy/Appeal: Imagery

What does the author achieve? Attract the readers by relating the audiences through

illustrating the situations and indicating a feeling of fear to the audiences (adversity)

Strategy/Appeal: Pathos

What does the author achieve? Invoke the emotion to the reader through using the imagery, figurative language and connotative words (fear, pity/sympathy)

Strategy/Appeal: Metaphors

What does the author achieve? Describes the town and emphasizes the dangers of the use of pesticides

Activity 2: Writing an Introduction Paragraph and Thesis Statement

1 Follow the steps that your teacher walks you through in order to draft your introduction paragraph below.

“A Fable for Tomorrow” is the chapter 1 of “Silent Spring” written by Rachel Carson Carson manipulates imagery, pathos, metaphors to appeal the emotions to the readers and convey the destructiveness and dangerousness of the pesticides affecting the natural environment and the health of humans and animals

2 Use the template below to write a working thesis statement This statement can

be the last sentence of your introduction paragraph.

In“A Fable for Tomorrow”,Rachel Carsonmanipulatesimagery,pathos, andmetaphorsin order toappeal the emotions to the readers and convey the destructiveness and

dangerousness of the pesticides affecting the natural environment and the health of humans and animals

Activity 3: Topic Sentences for Body Paragraphs

The topic sentences should be precise claims Use the templates below to help you organize your ideas An example is provided for you

Roosevelt (author) builds (strong verb) pathos (strategy/appeal) in

order to evoke a sense of pride and determination in

the Americas (meaning/purpose of strategy) .

Topic Sentence #1: Fill in the information.

_Rachel Carson_ _ maipulates _ _imagery_ in order to _ attrack the readers by relating

the audiences through illustrating the situations and indicating the feelings of fear and

adversity to the audiences _.

Topic Sentence #2 Fill in the information.

_Rachel Carson_ _ builds _ _pathos_ in order to _ invoke the emotions of fear and

pity/sympathy to the reader through using the imagery, figurative language and

connotative words _.

Topic Sentence #3 Fill in the information.

_Rachel Carson_ _ utilizes _ _metaphors_ in order to _ describe the town and emphasize

the dangers of the use of pesticides _.

Activity 4: Choosing Evidence

For this essay, you must choose evidence from throughout the text to support your analysis

Use your text and completed assignments to select appropriate evidence

YOUR IDENTIFICATION AND ANALYSIS

OF THE APPEAL/STRATEGY? WHAT IS THE EFFECT ON TONE OR MEANING?HOW DOES THE AUTHOR UNFOLD THE IDEAS AND EVENTS? Strategy/Appeal 1

Imagery

“There was once a town in the heart of America where all life seemed to live in harmony with its surroundings….Others came to fish the streams, which flowed clear and cold out of the hills and contained shady pools where trout lay.”

(paragraphs 1 and 2)

First evidence describes how beautiful and prosperous that town is through the imagery It’s a beautiful town in the heart

of America that is in harmony with nature There are varieties of birds, farms, hills and the green fields There are many people who would like to travel to this town from great distances to observe the

abundance of bird life and fishing Rachel describes it’s peaceful and dreamy town Second evidence shows how the abuse of the pesticides destroyed a beautiful town then became a dying town Everything changed to negative Both evidences help the readers understand the situations and the events in the town and indicate to the audiences the feelings of adversity and fear

“The roadsides, once so attractive, were now lined with browned and withered vegetation as though swept by fire.” (paragraph 6)

Strategy/Appeal 2

Pathos

“Everywhere was a shadow of death The farmers spoke of much illness among their families…., who would be stricken suddenly while at play and die within a few hours.” (paragraph 3)

Rachel Carson associates the imagery, the figurative languages and connotative word choices to give the emotions to the audiences while they’re reading She describes how the town changed to a dying town after using the pesticides

“Everywhere was a shadow of death” makes the audiences feel fear about the pesticides The author describes the town

as a spring without voices She means when she wrote “it was a spring without voices' ' that the town usually has many sounds from the robins, catbirds, but the chemical was destroying all of them Those evidences indicates the feelings of fear and sympathy to the readers, helps them feel pity for the humans, the birds and the town are dying under abuse of the pesticides

“The few birds seen anywhere were moribund;

they trembled violently and could not fly It was a spring without voices….; only silence lay over the fields and woods and marsh.”

Strategy/Appeal 3

Metaphors

“a checkerboard of prosperous farms” (paragraph 1) and “a backdrop of pines” (paragraph 1) First evidence describes the prosperity ofthe town and how beautiful it was before

the effects of the abuse of pesticides The second evidence is “Everywhere was a shadow of death” shows how the town is dying Animals, humans, prosperity, the environment, everything is destroyed because of the misuse of pesticides by humans

“Everywhere was a shadow of death.” (paragraph 3)

Activity 5: Writing a Conclusion Paragraph

Follow the steps that your teacher walks you through in order to draft your conclusion

paragraph below.

In conclusion, “A Fable for Tomorrow” by Rachel Carson manipulates rhetoric and special word choices such as ethos, pathos, logos, imagery and metaphor Through an idyllic

American town to convey the destructiveness and dangerousness of the chemicals that affect the natural environment and the health of humans and animals Moreover, the description of the abuse of pesticides that destroyed a beautiful town gives a warning for all American citizens and the government