Rhetorical Analysis Essay How-To

What is the Rhetorical Analysis Essay?

According to the College Board:

• Respond to the prompt with a thesis that analyzes the writer’s rhetorical choices.
• Select and use evidence to support your line of reasoning.
• Explain how the evidence supports your line of reasoning.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the rhetorical situation.
• Use appropriate grammar and punctuation in communicating your argument."

Rhetorical Analysis Rubric for Scoring

The Rhetorical Analysis FRQ is out of 6 Points

Evidence and Commentary (4 points)

Sophistication (1 point)

• Explaining the significance or relevance of the writer’s rhetorical choices (given the rhetorical situation).

• Explaining a purpose or function of the passage’s complexities or tensions.
• Employing a style that is consistently vivid and persuasive.

Timing

• 12 minutes: Read the text and plan out your essay. (TOBI)

• 6 minutes: Write your introduction paragraph.
• 18 minutes: Write 2-3 body paragraphs.
• 2 minutes: Write a quick conclusion.
• 2 minutes: Proofread and revise your essay.

How to Maximize Your Time

• T- Thesis
• O-Outline
• BI-Big Idea

From CollegeBoard AP Lang 2017 Exam, FRQ Question 2

FAQ

Other Tips and Tricks

• The big idea should show how this prompt applies to today. This will help you write your conclusion. In most language arts classes they teach you to simply restate your points, but not in AP Lang!

• The first thing you are going to want to do is carefully read through and highlight any strategies you see. 

• Even if TOBI doesn’t work for you, it is a good idea to outline the essay. Even though it takes time, it will end up saving you time in the end because it gives you direction.

• One of the most useful tools for the introduction is something called Soapstones. In this intro you are introducing the Speaker, Occasion, Audience, Purpose, Subject, Tone, and Style. (Keep in mind: You do not need to include EVERY ONE). But, most successful essays include a few of them.

• DON’T SKIM! It will only hurt you in the long run, even if you think it might be saving you time.

• If you need to, review strategy names, but if you don’t remember, do your best to describe what is going on and how the author is using it.

Rhetorical Analysis Example Essay Prompt

“Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in Liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate—we can not consecrate—we can not hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”