Lecture on Rhetorical Analysis Essay: Thesis Statements

Introduction

• Presenter: Don Knight, English Teacher from Westfield, Indiana.
• Focus: Thesis statements in a rhetorical analysis essay.
• Materials: Access to the prompt and passage available for download.

Key Points About Thesis Statements

• AP Answer Prompt: Thesis should directly answer the prompt.
• Originality: Should not be a direct quote or paraphrase.
• Clear Position: Take a clear stance that is defensible.
• Statement Format: Must be a statement, not a question.
• Essay Focus: Should be the central focus of the essay.

Structure of a Rhetorical Analysis Essay

• Introduction: Ends with the thesis statement.
• Body Paragraphs:
  • Contain claims (CL) that support the thesis.
  • Use evidence to support claims.
  • Commentary to link evidence back to the thesis.
  • Better to have two well-written paragraphs than more that are less clear.

Example Prompt

• Passage: From "Owls" by Mary Oliver.
• Task: Analyze rhetorical choices Oliver makes to convey her message about nature.
• Focus: Responding to prompt with a thesis analyzing Oliver's rhetorical choices.

Analyzing the Passage

• Highlighted Elements:
  • Rhetorical choices like imagery, parallelism, contrast, and paradox.
  • The message Oliver conveys about nature.

Paragraph Analysis

1. First Paragraph: Word Choice & Imagery
   • Words like 'delicate', 'sawet', 'luminous'.
   • Imagery shows contrast: beauty vs. fear in nature.
2. Second Paragraph: More Contrast and Imagery
   • Words like 'deathbringer', 'ricking glory'.
   • Continues theme of beauty and terror.
3. Third Paragraph: Imagery & First Person
   • Winter vs. summer contrast.
   • First-person perspective deepens relationship with nature.
4. Fourth Paragraph: Paradox & Imagery
   • Roses vs. owls as symbols of paradoxical nature.
   • First person reflection on relationship with nature.

Crafting a Thesis Statement

• Requirements:
  • Focus of Essay: Central to the thesis.
  • Clear Position: Must be defensible and original.
  • Rhetorical Choices: Must be specified, not just any choices.

Thesis Statement Options

• A: Mary Oliver uses imagery and paradox to convey her complex relationship with nature.
• D: Expresses connection and complex relationship through imagery and paradox.
• E: Uses imagery and juxtaposition to convey complex relationship.
• Invalid Choices:
  • B: Lacks specific message.
  • C: Incorrect rhetorical choices do not significantly convey the message.

Key Reminders

• Prompt and Passage: Focus on argument, message, and standout strategies.
• Avoid Treasure Hunting: Focus on devices that convey the message.
• Thesis Writing: Must fully address the prompt with specific rhetorical choices.

Conclusion

• Encourage kindness to oneself and others.
• Invitation to watch more educational videos.