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Common Mistakes on the AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Essay
Coach Hall Writes
Overview
This video explains common errors students make on the AP Lang rhetorical analysis essay, focusing on how to elevate analysis beyond simple summary or device identification. It emphasizes understanding rhetorical choices as active verbs, analyzing the line of reasoning chronologically, and deeply connecting rhetorical strategies to the speaker's purpose and audience. The video also highlights the importance of specific, insightful commentary over superficial statements and avoiding personal opinions, ultimately aiming to help students improve their essay scores by focusing on the 'why' and 'how' of rhetorical effectiveness.
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Chapters
- Focus on rhetorical 'choices' (verbs) rather than just 'devices' (nouns) for more active analysis.
- Many devices can be rephrased as choices (e.g., repetition becomes 'repeats').
- For devices that don't easily convert to verbs, use descriptive phrases like 'recalls a time when' instead of 'uses an anecdote'.
Using active verbs to describe rhetorical choices demonstrates a deeper understanding of the author's intent and actions, leading to more dynamic and insightful analysis.
Transforming 'uses repetition' into 'repeats' or 'uses metaphor' into 'metaphorically compares'.
- Avoid summarizing the passage; focus on analyzing the author's rhetorical actions and their purpose.
- Explain *what* the speaker is doing and *why*, rather than just *what* they are saying.
- Use commentary phrases like 'because' or 'in order to,' and analytical verbs like 'illustrates,' 'highlights,' or 'emphasizes' to signal analysis.
Distinguishing between summary and analysis is crucial for earning higher scores, as the essay's purpose is to dissect rhetorical strategies, not simply retell the content.
Instead of 'Kelley talks about child labor and says that children should not work at night,' use 'She presents an alarming statistic, emphasizing the scope of the issue and urging legislative action.'
- Device-driven essays, which group examples of a single device, often lack connection and a clear line of reasoning.
- A chronological analysis follows the progression of the speaker's argument or message, mirroring the structure of the text.
- Divide the passage into logical sections (often 2-3) based on shifts in topic, tone, or strategy to form body paragraphs.
- Use verbs like 'begins,' 'continues,' 'shifts,' or 'concludes' to indicate the flow of the speaker's reasoning.
Analyzing the text chronologically helps reveal the strategic development of the speaker's argument and how choices build upon each other for maximum impact.
Structuring body paragraphs around the beginning, middle, and end of a speech, rather than dedicating separate paragraphs to 'repetition' and 'metaphor' found throughout the entire text.
- Mnemonics like SPACE CAT (Speaker, Purpose, Audience, Context, Exigence, Choices) are tools, not endpoints; their components must be integrated into the analysis.
- Consider the speaker's values, the audience's values, and the specific occasion to understand *why* certain choices are made.
- Connect rhetorical choices directly to the prompt's focus: conveying a message, developing an argument, or achieving a purpose.
- Go beyond the surface-level purpose provided in the prompt; delve deeper into the specific intended effect.
Understanding the rhetorical situation provides the context necessary to explain *why* the author made specific choices and how those choices are intended to affect the audience.
Analyzing Florence Kelley's repetition of 'we' not just as a device, but as a choice that 'forges unity between her audience and the laborers they seek to protect, strengthening her call to action by framing it as a collective moral duty.'
- Superficial commentary, like 'this makes the speech more effective,' is insufficient; strive for in-depth analysis.
- Commentary should explain *how* or *why* a choice achieves its intended effect on the audience.
- Avoid generic phrases that could apply to any text; commentary must be specific to the passage and the author's choices.
- Ask 'so what?' to push beyond basic observations and explore the deeper implications and impact of the rhetoric.
Insightful commentary is the core of rhetorical analysis, demonstrating a sophisticated understanding of how specific rhetorical strategies function to persuade or inform.
Instead of 'Kelley uses statistics to make her speech more persuasive,' write 'She uses statistics to paint a distressing picture that amplifies her ethical appeal, forcing the audience to confront the exploitation of children and feel a moral obligation to act.'
- The rhetorical analysis essay requires objective analysis of how rhetoric works, not personal opinions or reactions.
- Avoid first-person statements like 'I think' or 'I agree' and subjective praise or criticism.
- Shift focus from personal feelings to the potential impact of the message on the intended audience.
- The goal is to explain the effectiveness of the rhetoric, not to evaluate the writer's character or personal beliefs.
Maintaining an objective stance ensures the essay remains focused on analyzing the text's rhetorical strategies rather than the writer's personal response, which is not assessed on the AP exam.
Instead of 'I think Albright is inspiring because she talks about breaking barriers, and I agree with her,' write about *why the audience* might find her message inspiring and how her rhetoric achieves that effect.
Key takeaways
- Elevate your analysis by focusing on the author's active rhetorical 'choices' (verbs) rather than passive 'devices' (nouns).
- Prioritize explaining *why* an author makes certain rhetorical choices and *how* they affect the audience, moving beyond simple summary.
- Structure your essay chronologically to better reflect the development of the author's argument and the strategic ordering of their choices.
- Integrate your understanding of the rhetorical situation (speaker, audience, purpose, context) to provide specific, contextualized analysis.
- Develop commentary that is deep, specific, and explains the precise impact of rhetorical strategies, avoiding generic or superficial statements.
- Maintain an objective tone by focusing on the mechanics of rhetoric and its intended effects, rather than expressing personal agreement or disagreement.
- Connecting specific rhetorical choices to the overall purpose or message is essential for a high-scoring essay.
Key terms
Rhetorical ChoicesRhetorical DevicesSummaryAnalysisLine of ReasoningChronological AnalysisRhetorical SituationSPACE CATSOAPSTONECommentaryExigencePurposeAudience
Test your understanding
- How can you transform a discussion of rhetorical devices into an analysis of rhetorical choices?
- What is the fundamental difference between summarizing a text and analyzing its rhetoric, and how can you ensure your essay focuses on the latter?
- Why is a chronological approach often more effective for analyzing the line of reasoning in a rhetorical text compared to a device-by-device approach?
- How does understanding the rhetorical situation (speaker, audience, purpose, context) help you write more specific and insightful commentary?
- What distinguishes superficial commentary from deep, analytical commentary in a rhetorical analysis essay?