Rhetorical Strategies for Composition: Cracking an Academic Code

135 Pages·2015·3.38 MB·English

by  Karen A. Wink

Rhetorical Strategies for Composition

Rhetorical Strategies for Composition
Cracking an Academic Code
Karen A. Wink
ROWMAN & LITTLEFIELD
Lanham • Boulder • New York • London
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Copyright © 2016 by Karen A. Wink
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or
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British Library Cataloguing in Publication Information Available
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Wink, Karen A.
Cracking an academic code : rhetorical strategies for composition / by Karen A. Wink.
pages cm
ISBN 978-1-4758-1430-9 (cloth : alk. paper) — ISBN 978-1-4758-1431-6 (pbk. : alk. paper) — ISBN 978-1-4758-1432-3 (electronic)
1. English language—Composition and exercises. 2. English language—Rhetoric—Study and teaching. I. Title.
LB1576.W4895 2015
372.62’3—dc23 2015025507
∞ ™ The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National
Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials,
ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992.
Printed in the United States of America
To
Cameron, Donovan, Lily, and Jake
whose brightness shines in my life.

Contents
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction xi
1 Rhetoric 1
Essentials of Rhetoric 1
Brief History 2
Audience 4
Texts, Contexts, and Purposes 7
2 Forming an Argument: Aristotle’s Six Parts of an Argument 11
Essentials of Argumentation 11
Classic Model 11
Stases: Categories of Argument 12
Exigency 15
3 Rhetorical Situations 19
Essentials of a Rhetorical Situation 19
Writing Process Checklist 20
Thesis Statement 21
Topic Sentences 25
The Paragraph 27
Paragraphs with Specific Functions: Introductions 30
Paragraphs with Specific Functions: Conclusions 32
Assertion, Evidence, Analysis (AEA) Method 35
4 Appeals and Fallacies: Essentials of Appeals and Fallacies 37
Essentials 37
Examples of Rhetorical Appeals 39
Essentials of Logical Fallacies 41
Rhetorical Analysis Exercise 45
5 Voice: Essentials of Voice 47
Essentials 47
6 Stylistics: Essentials of Stylistics 53
Essentials 53
Figures of Speech 54
Sentence Variation 59
7 Revision 67
Essentials of Revision 67
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viii Contents
Active and Passive Voice 69
Choosing Exact Words 79
8 Documenting Sources: Essentials of Documenting Sources 83
Essentials 83
Citing Sources: Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing 86
9 Grammar, Punctuation, and Usage: Essentials of Grammar, Punctuation, and Usage 95
Essentials 95
10 Visual Arguments: Essentials of Visual Arguments 103
Essentials 103
Appendix I: Sample Research Paper with Audience Analysis: Angela, College Freshman, Composition Course 107
Audience Analysis 107
Angela’s Research Paper: “Hands for the future,” Reflecting Classic Model: Aristotle’s Six Parts
of an Argument 107
Works Cited 111
Works Consulted 111
Works Cited 113
Index 115
About the Author 121
Acknowledgments
Special thanks to my editor Dr. Tom Koerner, associate editor Carlie Wall, and assistant editor Christine Fahey for
their guidance and support. An extra special thanks to Dr. Jeanne Fahnestock, Dr. Faye Ringel, Dr. Kim Parker, and
Ms. Chelsea Reel for endorsements and editorial guidance. An extra, extra special thanks to my family and students for
their inspiration.
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