UNIT 1: FUNDAMENTALS OF
READING AND WRITING
LECTURE 2. READING RHETORICALLY
Presented by
Min Pun, PhD
5 June 2023
OUTLINE OF THE LECTURE
The contents of Unit 1
Lecture 2: Reading Rhetorically
1. Reading as composing
2. Reading as a writer
3. Analyzing a text rhetorically
4. Writing a rhetorical analysis
THE CONTENTS OF UNIT 1
LECTURE 2: READING RHETORICALLY
Reading as composing
Reading as a writer
Analyzing a text rhetorically
Writing a rhetorical analysis
BOOK CHAPTER (FOR LECTURE 2):
FROM READING AS A WRITER TO WRITING AS A READER
Reading as an act of composing: Annotating
Reading as a Writer: Analyzing a Text
Rhetorically
Writing as a Reader: Composing a Rhetorical
Analysis
An Annotated Student Rhetorical Analysis
Writing a Rhetorical Analysis
Writing Yourself into Academic Conversations
INTRODUCTION: FROM READING AS A WRITER
AND WRITING AS A READER
Reading is the first step in the writing process.
Both reading and writing require to
understand the situation, purpose of writing,
the main claim, audience and language.
So reading and writing are linked to each
other; good academic writers are also good
critical readers.
Here, critical readers try to understand the
strategies that writers use to persuade
readers to agree with them.
ANNOTATING (READING AS COMPOSING)
When we are reading critically, we mark the
pages of the text, underlining the important
information and adding notes with explanations
and comment. This act of reading is called
“annotating”.
Annotating is the first act of composing because
you come up with your own new ideas for your
writing.
Good readers don’t try to memorize, but they
read strategically, looking for the writer’s key
ideas.
CONTD…..
When we annotate a text, we try to make notes
in the margins that may address the following
questions:
1. What arguments is this author responding to?
2. Is the issue relevant or significant?
3. How do I know that what the author says is
true?
4. Is the author’s evidence legitimate? Sufficient?
5. Can’t think of an exception to the author’s
argument?
6. What would the counterarguments be?
AN EXAMPLE OF ANNOTATING
CONTD….
By annotating the text, we understand the
author’s arguments and make connections.
So annotating help us to write our own
writing as well as to start our own research.
ANALYZING A TEXT RHETORICALLY
(READING AS A WRITER)
Rhetoric (jSt[Tjsnf jf cfn+sfl/s efiff) is the art of
speaking and writing effectively or persuasively
(art of persuasion) through the use of language
and compositional techniques (strategies).
Usually, speakers and writers use rhetoric to
influence their readers through language.
When we are reading as a writer, we analyze the
text, identifying the features of rhetoric to better
understand the major idea of the text to persuade
the reader.
CONTD……
Here are these elements (features) when we try
to read and analyze the text rhetorically:
1) how the write sees the situation that calls for
a response in writing,
2) the writer’s purpose for writing,
3) intended audience,
4) kinds of claims, and
5) types of evidence
ANALYZING A TEXT RHETORICALLY: 2 EXAMPLES
Preface to Cultural Literacy: What Every
American Needs to Know (1987) by E.D.
Hirsch
Hirsch’s Desire for a National Curriculum by
Eugene F. Provenszo, Jr.
WRITING (COMPOSING) A RHETORICAL ANALYSIS
(WRITING AS A READER)
A rhetorical analysis is a type of writing such as
an essay that examines a text in terms of rhetoric
(situation, purpose, claim or argument and
audience).
In writing or composing a rhetorical analysis, you
should discuss the situation that motivates your
writing, the purpose of your argument, the main
claim and the audience.
As you read the text, you can underline or circle
the important words and phrases, taking notes
with explanations and comments.
CONTD…..
First, as you read the text, you can underline or
circle the important information (such as words
and phrases) and take notes in the margins with
explanations and comments.
Consider the following points while writing a
rhetorical analysis:
1) the situation that motivates your writing
2) the purpose of your analysis and argument
3) your main claim or thesis, and
4) who you believe your audience is (consider types
of language [vocabulary and sentence structures] and
references used)
WRITING A RHETORICAL ANALYSIS: 3 EXAMPLES
“Whither History Textbooks?” by David Tyack
(extracted from Tyack’s book on education
Seeking Common Ground: Public Schools in a
Diverse Society (2004)
“A Rhetorical Analysis of ‘Whither History
Textbooks?’” (an annotated rhetorical analysis)
by a student
“The Flight from Conversations” by Sherry
Turkle
WRITING YOURSELF INTO ACADEMIC
CONVERSATIONS (ESP. INTO YOUR PAPER)
After learning how to use the techniques of
rhetorical analysis, it is also necessary to write
yourself into academic conversations of ideas.
So every time you write an argument (in your
paper), the way you position yourself will depend
on three things:
1) which previously stated arguments you share;
2) which previously stated arguments you want to
refute; and
3) what new opinions and supporting information you
are going to bring to the conversation (in your paper).
WORKSHOP
Group discussion
Writing session
WORKSHOP: GROUP DISCUSSION
1) What is annotating? Discuss 6 ways to annotate a text.
2) What is critical reading? Why do academic writers read
critically?
3) When you analyze a text rhetorically, what steps should
be considered? Discuss.
4) When you write a rhetorical analysis, what steps should
be considered? Discuss.
5) What are the differences between analyzing a text
rhetorically and writing a rhetorical analysis.
6) What do you mean by the phrase “writing yourself into
academic conversation”? How can we use the rhetoric
into your paper (academic conversation)?
WORKSHOP: WRITING SESSION
2 texts for annotating (and analysis)
Write a brief rhetorical analysis of Sherry Turkle’s
essay, referring to your notes and citing passages
where she indicates her situation, purpose, main claim
and audience.
Now that you have done a rhetorical analysis of Sherry
Turkle’s “The Flight from Conversation,” follow the
steps to writing yourself into the conversation and
write a short one-page argument. You should retrace
the conversation, explain Turkle’s argument in ways
that demonstrate you understand her argument and
underlying assumptions, and formulate your own
position with a clear sense of purpose.
REFERENCES CONSULTED
Green, S., & Lidinsky, A. (2015). From inquiry to
academic writing: A practical guide (3rd ed.).
Bedford/ St. Martin.
Min Pun, PhD
Email: minpun@[Link]
