This is the link to the article https://slate.com/technology/2017/08/smartphones-havent-destroyed-a-generation.html
Paragraph #1: This is the paragraph where you set up the context of the article. Look at the first page of notebook 11. These questions are also in the instructions in the prompt, which in the essay tab of this week. What is the title of the article? Put the title in quotation marks. When was it written? By whom? (Do a quick google search on the author.) What background information on the author is relevant to this essay? What do you think your reader should know about the author? What is the name of the publication- meaning where was it published- The New York Times? Scientific American? Put the publication in italics. Who is the intended audience- meaning who reads this publication? And who would seek out this article? What is the larger conversation around this topic ? What was the call to write this- meaning why did the author feel the need to write this article? What are they responding to? Thats it for the first paragraph. Dont start talking about any strategies or appeals yet. (Side note: Once you introduce the author by their first and last name, from then on you will just refer to them by their last name.)
Paragraph #2: The summary paragraph. You wrote two summaries in notebook 9. If you feel confused on how to write a summary, go back and read the instructions in that notebook. This is a small paragraph, 100- 150 words. You are NOT talking about strategies yet. You are NOT giving your opinion on the topic. This is an objective summary on the main points of the entire article. These first two paragraphs give your reader the context and summary of the article, so that they dont have to read the article to understand your essay. Now you are about to discuss the author and their use of rhetorical strategies.
Thesis: You can create one sentence here by itself, or a few sentences to describe which strategies the author is using to influence the audience. Underline your thesis so we can see it clearly, separated from your other paragraphs. Your thesis needs to mention the author, the writing strategies, and the impact of these choices on the audience. Here are some examples of rhetorical writing strategies: narrative (story-telling), imagery, tone, specific word choice, fact, statistics, charts, research, studies, specialists, evidence, visual design, organization/structure, compare/contrast, use of italics, or asking questions and then answering them, which is called hypophora. Pick two or three strategies that you are noticing. You need to be able to NAME these strategies in your thesis. Or you can discuss the persuasive appeals: logos, pathos, and ethos. You are analyzing HOW the author uses these writing strategies or appeals to influence the audience. For example: Is the author using specific WORD CHOICE or TONE to create a certain feeling? Is the author using lots of FACTS and EVIDENCE, or RESEARCH and STUDIES to appeal to logic? Or to gain credibility? Is the author using NARRATIVE, a story, to create an emotional response from the audience? Or to connect to the reader? Did the author structure their article in a way that has an impact of the reader? The author is using specific writing strategies on purpose to influence the audience in a certain way, and you are analyzing HOW effective the author is in their choices. You are about to do that analysis in your body paragraphs.
For your body paragraphs, think about this: How does the author use this writing strategy? Provide an example of this from the article, meaning a quote. How does this choice affect the reader?
First body paragraph/ first point of analysis: This is your first body paragraph. This will be point #1, or strategy #1. After you name the strategy in the topic sentence, give an example of how this strategy was used- a quote- a word, a phrase or a sentence, as evidence. (See the quotation sandwich link at the bottom of the READ/VIEW section of this week) After the quote, offer some analysis. Why did you add in this quote? What does the quote suggest? Dont ever leave a quote hanging without saying something about it, which also means dont put quotes at the end of paragraphs. Do you want to use another quote from the article as evidence of this strategy? Do you feel like youve sufficiently discussed the use of this strategy? If so, move on to the next point. If not, add in another piece of evidence (another quote, or you can even paraphrase) on HOW they are using this technique/strategy. Have you mentioned how this choice by the author influenced the reader? Here is an example of a topic sentence (the first sentence of the paragraph): Shahani uses Melissas story so that the audience could hear Melissas voice, creating empathy for her version of the truth. Now as a reader I know Ill be reading about HOW the author used story and HOW it impacted the audience.
Second body paragraph/ second point of analysis: Use a transition to move to the next strategy. Follow the same ideas as above. Be sure to name the strategy in the topic sentence so your reader isnt confused. Move through the strategies one at a time in separate paragraphs.
Third point of analysis: Do the same thing as above. This paragraph should get you to the minimum word count of 1000. This essay is somewhere between 1000-1500 words. If you have made it to 1000 words without a third point, that is fine. But you want also want to think: Have I sufficiently discussed the ways in which the author reached their audience?
Conclusion: Wrap up your essay with final comments. Come back to the purpose of your essay. Do you feel the author was effective in reaching their audience? What are the final thoughts you want you reader to have on this author and their use of strategies to persuade the audience? Is there a way to look forward from this article?
