Angela Jong

APE Period 7
March 16, 2009
The Rhetorical Analysis Essay

I. Essay Strategies
1. First time - find out what kind of essay needed and underline key
words in prompt
a. Analysis/Expository: uses analyze, or explain
b. Doesn’t ask you to argue explain
2. 2nd time- margin notes
a. Clues about author, time,
b. Make notes on outside information
II. Personal Strategy
1. Read prompt, take notes
2. Draw in outside information, make quick list
3. Brief outline of body paragraphs with only the thesis written out
definitely
4. VERY strong THEISIS/INTRO
5. Leave 5 minutes to proofread
III. Sample Essay #1 Outline
1. Washington humbly argues for the betterment of both races by
“casting down our buckets” to make friends and to move forth
with a cooperative movement through the employment of
allusions and a benign tone.
2. Allegory- ‘cast down our bucket’ relate to AA and whites to
cast down to use what resources they already have
a. Create imagery
3. Audience w/ tone, diction
a. Audience: White crowd
b. Tone: humble, benign, pastoral tone
c. Diction: No big words  Don’t offend the audience
d. Syntax- ‘inexperienced’, ‘our humble way’, rounded,
gentle terms
4. Conclusion: Use the resources to make the best, can separate
for social purposes, but for economic and political betterment,
must unite.
IV. Strengths and Weaknesses of Sample Essay #1
A. Strengths: Good use of outside info, strong & solid thesis, Good
transitions (doesn’t use trite phrases of first, second, thirdly), good
 Angela Jong
APE Period 7
March 16, 2009
tone and interesting, fairly well organized with almost all
paragraphs ending with a link to the thesis
B. Weaknesses: At times, is not assertive enough ( ‘He seems to be
saying’) which casts doubt to his stance/essay, Different order than
thesis, Brings in a bit new info in conclusion (carpe diem), 3rd
Paragraph doesn’t link to the thesis