5 | FRQ (Question 2: Rhetorical Analysis) | Practice Sessions | AP English Language and Composition

Summary

In this video, Dawn Knight, an English teacher, goes over the process of analyzing a rhetorical analysis essay for an AP English Language and Composition class. Using the 2019 AP prompt, Knight explains the rhetorical situation, focusing on Gandhi's 1930 letter regarding the Salt March. He provides detailed steps on evaluating the message, context, audience, and writer's tone. Key takeaways include understanding the exigence, analyzing rhetorical choices, and crafting a specific thesis statement. Knight emphasizes the importance of identifying specific choices the writer makes to convey the intended message effectively.

Highlights

• Gandhi's letter to Lord Irwin is a masterclass in rhetorical strategy. 📜
• Knight emphasizes the importance of understanding the rhetorical situation. 🧐
• Analyzing tone shifts helps in identifying the writer's intentions. 🔄
• The Salt March serves as a key context for Gandhi's letter. 🥇
• Using 'if-then' statements can reveal logical appeals. 🤔

Key Takeaways

• Understanding the rhetorical situation is crucial for analyzing essays. 📚
• Examine Gandhi's letter carefully to unravel his rhetorical strategies. 🧐
• Identify the tone shifts in the text to understand the message better. 🔄
• Don't go on a treasure hunt for rhetorical devices; focus on their purpose. 🕵️‍♂️
• Craft a thesis that directly answers the prompt and is specific. ✍️

Overview

Dawn Knight, an English teacher, dives into the intricacies of writing a rhetorical analysis essay, using the 2019 AP English Language prompt as a backdrop. The prompt explores a letter from Mahatma Gandhi concerning the Salt March, providing a framework to understand rhetorical choices. Knight's insights pave the way for students to grasp the components of the rhetorical situation effectively.

The video lessons focus on dissecting Gandhi's choice of words, identifying the audience, and unveiling the context. There's a deep dive into understanding the purpose and message of the letter, as well as examining tone shifts and rhetorical devices such as 'if-then' statements. This process aids in comprehending the full spectrum of Gandhi's rhetorical strategies.

Knight offers invaluable tips like avoiding a 'treasure hunt' for devices, but rather understanding their purpose in the text. The session concludes with guiding viewers to craft precise thesis statements that encapsulate the prompt's demands. Dawn Knight's session is both a teaching aid and a reminder of the essential skills to excel in rhetorical analysis and AP English examinations.

Chapters

• 00:00 - 00:30: Introduction to Rhetorical Analysis Essay The chapter is an introduction to the rhetorical analysis essay, focusing on the rhetorical situation and thesis statements. Dawn Knight, an English teacher from Indiana, discusses the 2019 prompt and begins by reading it, using Mahatma Gandhi's actions in 1930 as an example.
• 00:30 - 01:00: Background on Gandhi's Salt March This chapter provides background on Gandhi's Salt March, highlighting it as a pivotal non-violent protest against British colonial rule in India, specifically targeting the British monopoly and taxation on salt. This event sparked the larger Civil Disobedience movement, which ultimately contributed to India's independence in 1947. Additionally, the chapter references a letter Gandhi wrote to Lord Irwin, the British crown's representative in India, prior to the Salt March.
• 01:00 - 01:30: Analyzing the Rhetorical Situation In the chapter 'Analyzing the Rhetorical Situation,' the focus is on understanding and evaluating the rhetorical choices made by writers to convey their messages effectively. The chapter encourages readers to dissect texts, like Gandhi's letter to Lord Irwin, to identify the rhetorical strategies used for specific purposes. A primary step in this process is assessing the rhetorical situation, which involves comprehending the various elements at play that influence the communication of ideas, as outlined in the discussion.
• 01:30 - 02:00: Components of the Rhetorical Situation This chapter delves into the components of the rhetorical situation, which include: Exigence (the specific occasion or event prompting the message), Purpose (the reason behind the speaker's message), Audience (the group to whom the message is directed), Context (the circumstances surrounding the writing), Writer (the individual crafting the message and their background), and Message (the content or information the writer wants the audience to understand or consider).
• 02:00 - 02:30: Identifying Elements in the Prompt The chapter focuses on identifying key elements within a prompt to understand the rhetorical situation presented. The narrative highlights Gandhi's Salt March as an example, noting its purpose as a protest against British colonial rule in India in 1930. The text emphasizes the importance of recognizing elements such as the participants, time frame, and situational context to grasp the prompt's full meaning.
• 02:30 - 03:00: Understanding the Context and Writer The chapter titled 'Understanding the Context and Writer' explores the historical and rhetorical context of Gandhi's protests against the British monopoly and taxation of salt. It discusses Gandhi's strategic intentions in addressing the British authorities, particularly through the Salt March and his communication with Lord Irwin, a representative of the British crown. The chapter aims to provide insight into the motives and the audience of Gandhi's actions during the protest period.
• 03:00 - 03:30: Exploring Gandhi's Letter for Message In this chapter titled 'Exploring Gandhi's Letter for Message', the focus is on understanding the message conveyed in a letter from 1930. This historical context involves protests against Britain's colonial monopoly. The chapter delves into close reading of selected passages of the letter to analyze elements of the rhetorical situation. The reader is encouraged to reflect on the writing to glean insights into its message.
• 03:30 - 04:00: Purpose of Gandhi's Letter The chapter discusses the purpose of a letter written by Gandhi, focusing on identifying the key message and elements of the rhetorical situation within the text. The reader is encouraged to carefully analyze the paragraph to uncover these elements before the discussion continues. Although there might be different interpretations, the example provided suggests that Gandhi's invitation to 'pave the way' is a central theme.
• 04:00 - 04:30: Thesis Statement Essentials This chapter discusses the essentials of formulating a thesis statement. It draws on historical references, including a conversation concerning the perceived evils Britain imposed on India. The speaker emphasizes the importance of addressing these evils and indicates that if unresolved, they will encourage followers to take action by the 11th day. The chapter highlights the need for clear expression of ideas and intentions, especially when dealing with historical injustices.
• 04:30 - 05:00: Exploring Rhetorical Choices This chapter delves into the exploration of rhetorical choices made by a speaker. It highlights the intentions and strategic decisions underlying their communication. A key moment discussed in the chapter is the provisions of a salt law, which serves as a backdrop for the speaker's message. In paragraph five, the speaker expresses a desire for dialogue and resists being diverted by Lord Irwin unless there is genuine engagement. This section illuminates the speaker's objective of maintaining an open and purposeful conversation, revealing more about their intent and the nuances of their rhetorical strategy.
• 05:00 - 05:30: Analyzing Paragraph for Rhetorical Strategies The chapter titled 'Analyzing Paragraph for Rhetorical Strategies' includes a transcript of a dialogue between Gandhi and Lord Irwin. Gandhi expresses his desire for a discussion with Lord Irwin and warns that if Irwin tries to prevent this, the letter will be made public. The chapter also emphasizes the importance of a thesis statement which should answer the prompt, seemingly referred to as 'AP' (answer the prompt).
• 05:30 - 06:00: Elements of Tone and Logical Appeals The chapter titled 'Elements of Tone and Logical Appeals' appears to focus on the analysis of rhetorical choices in well-written essays, specifically referencing Gandhi's approach in presenting his case to Lord Irwin. The discussion emphasizes the need for specificity in understanding how Gandhi uses rhetorical strategies and logical appeals to effectively communicate his arguments.
• 06:00 - 06:30: Shifts in Tone and Word Choice In the chapter titled 'Shifts in Tone and Word Choice,' the focus is on understanding rhetorical choices as strategies that writers employ to appeal to their audience. These choices are informed by the writer's knowledge of the audience and the context, such as the time period. Based on this understanding, writers decide the specific rhetorical devices to use.
• 06:30 - 07:00: Continued Analysis of Gandhi's Letter This chapter focuses on analyzing rhetorical choices in Gandhi's letter, including sentence structure, organization, tone, and word choice. It encourages readers to identify potential shifts in tone and other rhetorical elements within a specific paragraph of the text. The aim is to enhance understanding of how these choices affect the communication of the letter's message.
• 07:00 - 07:30: Crafting a Thesis Statement based on Analysis This chapter discusses crafting a thesis statement based on analysis. It emphasizes understanding the author's message and identifies different strategies used by writers. The chapter warns against treating the process as a 'treasure hunt' for every possible strategy, suggesting instead a more focused approach that truly conveys the intended message.
• 07:30 - 08:00: Evaluating Thesis Statement Options The chapter titled 'Evaluating Thesis Statement Options' discusses the importance of identifying standout features in a thesis paragraph, such as similes or metaphors. It emphasizes examining the use of if-then statements and specific word choices that convey a particular message. Key terms highlighted include 'friendly negotiation,' 'common good,' 'mutual help,' 'fellowship,' and concepts that suggest equality and mutual suitability.
• 08:00 - 08:30: Conclusion and Recap The chapter concludes with an emphasis on logical reasoning and the use of if-then statements. The author notes a shift in tone marked by words like 'but' and 'however,' suggesting a change in direction or perspective. This reflects the potential for alternate outcomes and considerations within the logical framework presented.
• 08:30 - 09:00: Invitation to Next Video and Closing Remarks The chapter titled 'Invitation to Next Video and Closing Remarks' seems to guide the reader through a textual analysis technique. It focuses on observing changes in word choice and tone before and after specific terms, in this case, 'but.' The reader is encouraged to apply this analytical method to another paragraph, enhancing their skills in perceiving tonal shifts within a text.

5 | FRQ (Question 2: Rhetorical Analysis) | Practice Sessions | AP English Language and Composition Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30 hi I'm Dawn Knight an English teacher from Indiana and today we're going to be talking about the rhetorical analysis essay specifically today we're going to be looking at the rhetorical situation and thesis statements with the rhetorical analysis essay so we're going to look at the 2019 prompt for today's lesson um we'll read it together and then I'll give you a little more information so in 1930 mahondas Mahatma Gandhi led a
• 00:30 - 01:00 non-violent March in India protesting Britain's Colonial Monopoly on and taxation of an essential resource salt the Salt March as it came to be known was a triggering moment for the larger Civil Disobedience movement that eventually won India independence from Britain in 1947. shortly before the Salt March Gandhi had written to Lord vistroy Lord Irwin the representative of the British crown in India the passage below is the
• 01:00 - 01:30 conclusion of that letter read the passage carefully then in a well-written essay analyze the rhetorical choices Gandhi makes to present his case to Lord Irwin so when we write a rhetorical analysis essay we're analyzing the rhetorical choices that a writer makes for a specific purpose and in order to do that one of the first things we need to do is look at the rhetorical situation so the rhetorical situation is what you see on the screen here it's made up of
• 01:30 - 02:00 components like exigence the specific occasion or event that prompted the message to be spoken or written the purpose why the speaker is conveying a message the audience to whom the writer is speaking the context the circumstances surrounding the situation the writer who is doing the writing and what we know about them and the message what the writer wants the audience to think or know so a lot of times we start
• 02:00 - 02:30 to see the rhetorical situation in the prompt itself as I read through the prompt I'm already looking for elements of the rhetorical situation that are revealed there so I might annotate for things like the Salt March that it's to present his case to Lord Irwin that Lord Irwin is a representative of the British crown in India that it's 1930 that there's a protest going on of Britain's Colonial
• 02:30 - 03:00 Monopoly and the taxation of salt and of course Gandhi himself um who is leading the protests so when I look back at my rhetorical situation now I have some information here I know the exigence is partly to do with the Salt March I know part of the purpose is to present his case to Lord Irwin that the audience is Lord Irwin a representative of the British crown but the context
• 03:00 - 03:30 background it's 1930 they're protesting Britain's Colonial Monopoly and I know who the writer is but I'm still not really sure much about the message so we're going to start reading a little bit from the passage and we're not going to read the entire thing just for the sake of time today but we'll read a couple of selections from it so we can start taking a look at some of these other elements of the rhetorical situation so if you could take a minute and pause
• 03:30 - 04:00 here and read through this paragraph looking for the message and any other elements of the rhetorical situation you can find and then hit play when you're ready to start again all right so um let's look at a couple of examples you might have found something a little different than I did but this will give you an idea um so we see that Gandhi's saying he's inviting him to pave the way for
• 04:00 - 04:30 immediate removal of um and open uh the pathway to conference and so he wants to have a conversation um and he says but if you can't see your way to deal with the evils and he's talking about the evils um that he thinks Britain did to India at the time um and he says if you're a letter if this letter makes no Appeal on your heart on the 11th day I shall proceed with to ask my followers to disregard
• 04:30 - 05:00 the provisions of the salt loss so now we're starting to see some of the message that he's revealing and in paragraph five we see he wants a discussion and he doesn't want Lord Irwin to deflect him from his course unless he wants to actually have that conversation so now we have a little more information about purpose he wants this open
• 05:00 - 05:30 dialogue between Gandhi and Lord Irwin and the message Gandhi wants Lord Irwin to have a discussion with him and he's warning him if Irwin tries to stop Gandhi the letter will go public all right so now that we have some of that information we can get to our thesis statement so the thesis statement must do two things one it needs to answer the prompt so we think AP answer the prompt and two
• 05:30 - 06:00 it needs to be specific and if you look at the prompt it's saying that in a well-written essay we need to analyze rhetorical choices Gandhi makes so that's one of the things we need to know to completely answer the prompt and to in order to present his case to Lord Irwin so we have to know those two things rhetorical choices and how he's going to present his case to
• 06:00 - 06:30 Lord Irwin when we talk about rhetorical choices what we're really talking about are the strategies that writers use to appeal to an audience and they choose these based on what they know about Their audience that's part of the reason that rhetorical situation is so important so what do they know about the audience the time and based on that information they determine whether they're going to use specific kinds of rhetorical devices or
• 06:30 - 07:00 sentence structures how they might organize their writing or speech the tone that they're going to use and whether there might be shifts in tone that's something we always want to look for and word choice so those are some of the rhetorical choices that we might be looking for when we're analyzing okay so it's your turn you're going to pause here and read through the selection from paragraph four again looking for rhetorical choices that you
• 07:00 - 07:30 find that you think might help convey the message and remember we talked about what his message is when you're ready just hit play all right and you'll see on the screen some of what I found when I looked through and yours might vary and that is completely okay um there are a lot of strategies that writers use we want to take a look at them and and not do like a treasure hunt where we're looking for every single
• 07:30 - 08:00 simile or metaphor that we find for example what we want to look at is what stands out as far as conveying the specific message so when I read through this whole paragraph I noticed that there were a lot of if then statements you'll see those here in yellow I noticed word choice friendly negotiation between equals common good mutual help Fellowship equally suited to both and so I'm seeing
• 08:00 - 08:30 um some tone emerge here with the if then statements I'm seeing this kind of logic if this happens then this thing might also happen and so maybe appealing to reason or logic and then I notice that there's a butt and this is something we want to look for but however um unlike any words that that might trigger that idea in a tone shift we
• 08:30 - 09:00 might see um and so after the but I notice what the word choice changes um to evils Monopoly cruel disfigured and so and seeing kind of two different tones emerge here um one before the butt and one after all right now we're going to do the same thing for paragraph five so just pause for a second read through paragraph five doing the same thing looking for those
• 09:00 - 09:30 rhetorical choices that you think stand out and when you're ready hit play okay so let's take a look at again some of the ones that I noticed at the very beginning he's saying he has no desire to cause any unnecessary embarrassment I'm seeing more if statements and even when I don't see the word then there's definitely an understood kind of if this happens this thing will also happen
• 09:30 - 10:00 um and he also says not to deflect him from his course and so I'm seeing this kind of tone here again where there's almost this warning element to it by Seether however that shows that shift in tone from hey I don't want to cause you any unnecessary embarrassment to hey don't deflect me from my course all right so a reminder when we are analyzing in a rhetorical analysis we're
• 10:00 - 10:30 looking for rhetorical choices a writer makes in order to convey a specific message in this case to present his case to Lord Erwin so now we can write a thesis statement and what I want you to do this might seem a little obvious doing this as a multiple choice question but I want you to think about which best shows both elements of the prompt that you're looking for specific choices that do us that convey a
• 10:30 - 11:00 specific message all right so Gandhi uses tone and parallel statements to convey his message to Lord Irwin Gandhi uses tone shifts from amical amicable to admonitory and if statements to convey his message to Lord Irwin that Britain needs to stop its poor treatment of India and treat it as an equal instead and Gandhi makes several rhetorical choices to convey his message to Lord Irwin that Britain is wrong in its
• 11:00 - 11:30 treatment of India all right so decide what you think the answer is and then hit play when you're ready okay so it wasn't the first one although we see a couple of specific rhetorical choices we don't see a specific message in this third one we see a specific message but we don't see specific rhetorical choices so our answer is the one in the Middle where we have specific
• 11:30 - 12:00 rhetorical choices that can convey a specific message all right so to recap read The Prompt and passage better to understand the rhetorical situation um to better understand the rhetorical situation you can read it better also don't treasure hunt rhetorical choices look for choices a writer makes to convey a specific message to a specific audience for a specific purpose and
• 12:00 - 12:30 write a thesis that fully answers the prompt it shows specific rhetorical choices to convey a specific message all right I hope you'll join me for the next video um we're going to look at the rhetorical analysis again but we're going to get into writing organizing commentary things like that so I hope you'll join me again um and a reminder to be kind to yourself and to others there's a lot going on thanks so much