Rhetorical Analysis Essay: Evidence Selection and Commentary

Introduction

• Speaker: Don Knight, English teacher at Westfield High School, Indiana
• Topic: Rhetorical analysis essay, focusing on evidence selection and commentary
• Context: Continuation of a previous lecture on thesis statements
• Source Material: Mary Oliver's "Owls"

Overview of the Prompt

• Passage: Excerpt from "Owls" by Mary Oliver
• Objective: Analyze rhetorical choices Oliver makes to convey her message about nature
• Components:
  • Select and use evidence to support the line of reasoning
  • Explain how the evidence supports the line of reasoning (commentary)

Thesis Statement

• Example Thesis: Mary Oliver uses imagery and paradox to convey her complex relationship with nature, which she both reveres and fears.

Evidence Selection

• Importance: Evidence must illustrate imagery or paradox and show the complexity of Oliver's relationship with nature
• Body Paragraph Structure: 2 well-developed paragraphs are often more effective than 3-4 weaker ones in a timed essay

Body Paragraph 1: Imagery

• Claim: Imagery used by Mary Oliver conveys her complex relationship with nature
• Evidence Evaluation:
  • "I can imagine on my wrist... luminous Wanderer, the snowy owl": Imagery present but lacks complexity reveal
  • "I found the Headless bodies of rabbits and blue jays...": Imagery present but lacks complexity reveal
  • "Mary Oliver can imagine the Screech Al on her wrist...": Effective evidence showing both imagery and complex relationship

Body Paragraph 2: Paradox

• Claim: Paradox used by Mary Oliver reveals her complex relationship with nature
• Evidence Evaluation:
  • "Each flower is small and lovely...": Contains paradox but lacks complexity reveal
  • "Red and pink and white...": Imagery present but lacks paradox and complexity reveal
  • "I drop to the sand...": Effective evidence showing both paradox and complex relationship

Commentary

• Purpose: Goes beyond summary to explain how choices convey the message
• Strategies:
  • Assume the reader hasn't read the passage
  • Explain how imagery or paradox conveys complexity

Example Commentary for Imagery

• Description: Oliver uses imagery to contrast beauty and power of nature
• Explanation:
  • Beauty is seen in "white gleam of snow's feathers"
  • Power is feared in "great horned owl" – described as "pure wild hunters"
  • Complex relationship illustrated by her reverence and fear

Example Commentary for Paradox

• Description: Oliver's happiness from nature is both terrible and frightening
• Explanation:
  • Uses parallelism and rhetorical questions to show simultaneous emotions
  • Nature's beauty is terrifying; its terror is beautiful

Key Reminders

• Align evidence and commentary with the thesis
• Evidence should focus on how a rhetorical choice conveys a message
• Commentary should clarify how the choice supports the message

Conclusion

• Final Notes: Be kind to yourself and others; continue learning about rhetorical analysis