Rhetorical Effect Lab

AP English Language · Scheck Hillel Community School

The text

Who wrote it, and what it is.

Introduce

One lead-in: who is speaking, to whom, at what moment. Stop mid-sentence so the quote finishes it.

Quote

Only the words doing the work. At least 3; 3 to 5 is the sweet spot.

0 wordscites: (Author)
Analyze

Two full sentences. Argue the effect; never announce it. Every “This” takes a noun.

Sentence 1: [Writer]’s [choice] does [what], and this [noun] produces the rhetorical effect of [effect] because [reason]. Sentence 2: which [does what] to the audience, so that [the writer’s purpose].

0 sentences
The rubric behind the score (AP Lang rhetorical analysis, Row B: Evidence and Commentary)
  1. Restates. Repeats the quote, restates the thesis, or offers nothing relevant.
  2. Summarizes. Evidence is mostly general; commentary summarizes it without explaining how it supports the claim.
  3. Explains some. Specific, relevant evidence; explains how some of it relates to the argument, but the line of reasoning is missing or faulty.
  4. Argues a line of reasoning. Specific evidence supports the claims; explains how at least one rhetorical choice contributes to the writer’s argument, purpose, or message.
  5. Argues with multiple choices. Consistently explains how the evidence supports the reasoning and how more than one rhetorical choice contributes to the writer’s purpose.