Rhetorical Strategies In Literature

Please write your response to one of the texts included in this folder. Your response (at least 800 words in total) should have the following four sections: 1. Literal comprehension: In this section, summarize the text, by highlighting the main argument and including the details used in the reading. Try to represent the essay the way it is so that your response gives readers a comprehensive sense of the text. Avoid making any comments at this point. Your task is to describe the argument in your words as literally as possible. Please avoid being trapped in the discussion of arrangement. For this section, many students automatically start writing how the essay starts, what is there in the middle, or how it ends. That is too easy and does not take much intellectual exercise. Summarize the reading holistically so that everything important is incorporated.   2. Interpretation: This section should interpret the text. Interpreting a text means deciphering how a text generates a message. So, think of these questions as you work for this section: What message or meaning is the writer trying to impart? How does the writer do that? What writing and rhetorical strategies does the writer use to generate that meaning or message?  What assumptions does the writer make about the subject matter and readers? What is stated clearly, and what is implied. Thus, your tasks in this section is to explain the text by using your close readings skills.   3. Critical Thinking: This section is reserved for your evaluation of the text. Using your critical thinking skills, discuss the strengths and limitations of the argument in the reading, and then present your judgment on the writer’s success to achieve the purpose. The following questions can help you with critical thinking: Is the argument valid? Too what extent? What unwarranted assumptions does the writer make? What important elements are not discussed? What details could the writer have included? What viewpoint does the writer emphasize? Does the writer’s emphasis on one thing undermine another kind of perspective? How would have the writer come up with a better argument? 4. Assimilation: Now, in this section, state your view on the subject matter. To what extent do you agree with the writer, and where are your views going to be different? You can also discuss how your perspective changed because of the text, and what you are going to do with this knowledge. Your task in this section is to demonstrate that you can assimilate other people’s ideas with your thoughts and use them constructively. Websites: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2008/07/is-google-making-us-stupid/306868/ https://www.wsj.com/articles/aylan-kurdi-and-the-photos-that-change-history-1442002594 https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/06/24/magazine/reparations-slavery.html https://swap.stanford.edu/20141218230016/http://mlk-kpp01.stanford.edu/kingweb/popular_requests/frequentdocs/birmingham.pdf