Rhetoric

Using words effectively

Rhetoric QuestionsQuestions with words and phrases like:

1) "...the writer..."

2) "Given that all the choices are true..."

3) "...style and tone..."

4) "...logic and coherence..."

5) "Which choice provides the most..."

6) "Which choice fits..."

7) "The best placement..."

are RHETORIC QUESTIONS!

Rhetoric Questions

Do what the question asks you to do!

"...which choice best accomplishes the writer's goal?"

"...deleting the phrase..."

"This sentence should be placed..."

"Which choice most effectively..."

Rhetoric Questions

Keep your focus on the question!

When reading the rhetoric questions which ask you to consider making changes to what is written to create a certain effect, underline the key phrase you are to address so as to not lose focus on what the question asks.

2Step 1) Understand what the question is asking you to do.

The writer would like to suggest the potter's cautious pace and sense of anticipation in opening the kiln. Given all the choices are true, which one best accomplishes the writer's goal?

2Step 1) Understand what the question is asking you to do.

The writer would like to suggest the potter's cautious pace and sense of anticipation in opening the kiln. Given all the choices are true, which one best accomplishes the writer's goal?

2Step 2) Do what the question is asking you to do.In this case, plug in the options.

Unbricking a kiln is like uncovering buried treasure. As the potter takes bricks away to create an opening into the oven, an expanding view of gleaming shapes rewards the artist for months of hard work.

The writer would like to suggest the potter's cautious pace and sense of anticipation in opening the kiln. Given all the choices are true, which one best accomplishes the writer's goal?

F. NO CHANGEG. removes bricks by handH. removes one brick at a timeJ. experiences great anticipation and removes bricks

2

Unbricking a kiln is like uncovering buried treasure. As the potter takes bricks away to create an opening into the oven, an expanding view of gleaming shapes rewards the artist for months of hard work.

The writer would like to suggest the potter's cautious pace and sense of anticipation in opening the kiln. Given all the choices are true, which one best accomplishes the writer's goal?

F. NO CHANGE (boring)G. removes bricks by hand (boring)H. removes one brick at a time (pace & antic.)J. experiences great anticipation and removes bricks (no pace)

7Step 1) Understand what the question is asking you to do.

She then carries the assortment outside the wood-fired kiln, it is a brick structure designed to bake pottery to a hardness and transform glazes to glorious colors that drying alone won't achieve.

The writer is considering deleting the phrase "and transform glazes into glorious colors" from the preceding sentence. Should the phrase be kept or deleted?

7Step 1) Understand what the question is asking you to do.

She then carries the assortment outside the wood-fired kiln, it is a brick structure designed to bake pottery to a hardness and transform glazes to glorious colors that drying alone won't achieve.

The writer is considering deleting the phrase "and transform glazes into glorious colors" from the preceding sentence. Should the phrase be kept or deleted?

7Step 1) Understand what the question is asking you to do.

Step 2) Do what the question is asking you to do.

She then carries the assortment outside the wood-fired kiln, it is a brick structure designed to bake pottery to a hardness and transform glazes to glorious colors that drying alone won't achieve.

The writer is considering deleting the phrase "and transform glazes into glorious colors" from the preceding sentence. Should the phrase be kept or deleted?

7Step 1) Understand what the question is asking you to do.

Step 2) Do what the question is asking you to do.

She then carries the assortment outside the wood-fired kiln, it is a brick structure designed to bake pottery to a hardness

The writer is considering deleting the phrase "and transform glazes into glorious colors" from the preceding sentence. Should the phrase be kept or deleted?

7She then carries the assortment outside the wood-fired kiln, it is a brick structure designed to bake pottery to a hardness and transform glazes to glorious colors that drying alone won't achieve.

The writer is considering deleting the phrase "and transform glazes into glorious colors" from the preceding sentence. Should the phrase be kept or deleted?

A. Kept, b/c it emphasizes that painting pottery is a time-consuming process.B. Kept, b/c it is relevant to the essay's focus on the role of kilns in making pottery.C. Deleted, b/c the appearance of the pottery is not as important to the essay's focus as how kilns function.D. Deleted, b/c this level of detail is not consistent with the essay's description of a kiln firing.

7She then carries the assortment outside the wood-fired kiln, it is a brick structure designed to bake pottery to a hardness and transform glazes to glorious colors that drying alone won't achieve.

The writer is considering deleting the phrase "and transform glazes into glorious colors" from the preceding sentence. Should the phrase be kept or deleted?

A. Kept, b/c it emphasizes that painting pottery is a time-consuming process.B. Kept, b/c it is relevant to the essay's focus on the role of kilns in making pottery.C. Deleted, b/c the appearance of the pottery is not as important to the essay's focus as how kilns function.D. Deleted, b/c this level of detail is not consistent with the essay's description of a kiln firing.

7

A. Kept, b/c it emphasizes that painting pottery is a time-consuming process.

(not the point of the essay)

B. Kept, b/c it is relevant to the essay's focus on the role of kilns in making pottery.

C. Deleted, b/c the appearance of the pottery is not as important to the essay's focus as how kilns function.

(appearance is important)

D. Deleted, b/c this level of detail is not consistent with the essay's description of a kiln firing.

(it is consistent w/ rest of essay)

10

By nightfall a controlled inferno roars in the kiln.

The writer would like to indicate that at this point the fireis extremely intense. Given that all the choices are true, which one best accomplishes the writer's goal?

F. NO CHANGEG. the fire is stronger than everH. there is more heat being produced J. a kind of intense blaze takes place

10

By nightfall a controlled inferno roars in the kiln.

The writer would like to indicate that at this point the fireis extremely intense. Given that all the choices are true, which one best accomplishes the writer's goal?

F. NO CHANGEG. the fire is stronger than everH. there is more heat being produced J. a kind of intense blaze takes place

10

By nightfall a controlled inferno roars in the kiln.

The writer would like to indicate that at this point the fireis extremely intense. Given that all the choices are true, which one best accomplishes the writer's goal?

F. NO CHANGEG. the fire is stronger than everH. there is more heat being produced J. a kind of intense blaze takes place

10

By nightfall a controlled inferno roars in the kiln.

The writer would like to indicate that at this point the fireis extremely intense. Given that all the choices are true, which one best accomplishes the writer's goal?

F. NO CHANGE(more concise and precise than G)

G. the fire is stronger than everH. there is more heat being produced

(boring & not precise)J. a kind of intense blaze takes place

(boring & not precise)

13At last, when the temperature soars out of sight, she knows the firing is nearing its end.

Given that all the choices are true, which one provides the most specific detail and maintains the style and tone of the essay.

A. NO CHANGEB. rises beyond belief,C. soars well above a thousand degrees, D. elevates increments to the point that a temperature of more than one thousand degrees is reached,

13At last, when the temperature soars out of sight, she knows the firing is nearing its end.

Given that all the choices are true, which one provides the most specific detail and maintains the style and tone of the essay.

A. NO CHANGEB. rises beyond belief,C. soars well above a thousand degrees, D. elevates increments to the point that a temperature of more than one thousand degrees is reached,

13At last, when the temperature soars out of sight, she knows the firing is nearing its end.

Given that all the choices are true, which one provides the most specific detail and maintains the style and tone of the essay.

A. NO CHANGEB. rises beyond belief,C. soars well above a thousand degrees, D. elevates increments to the point that a temperature of more than one thousand degrees is reached,

13At last, when the temperature soars out of sight, she knows the firing is nearing its end.

Given that all the choices are true, which one provides the most specific detail and maintains the style and tone of the essay.

A. NO CHANGEB. rises beyond belief,C. soars well above a thousand degrees,

(only one with specific detail)D. elevates increments to the point that a temperature of more than one thousand degrees is reached,

(too specific, too wordy)