Unit 1: Rhetoric and Persuasion
Rhetorical analysis is a cornerstone of 11th-grade English (often aligned with American Literature and
persuasive writing). It focuses on how writers and speakers craft messages to influence an audience.
The Three Rhetorical Appeals (Aristotelian Appeals)
Logos (Logical Appeal): Convinces an audience using logic, reason, hard data, statistics, and
verifiable facts.
Ethos (Ethical Appeal): Establishes the speaker’s credibility, character, and moral authority. According
to Quizlet, ethical arguments rely on ideas of “Right Or wrong, good/bad: moral” to win trust.
Pathos (Emotional Appeal): AppeaIs to the audience's feelings, using vivid language, moving stories,
or personal testimonies to evoke empathy, fear, or anger.
Common Rhetorical Devices
Rhetorical Question: A question asked merely for effect or to make a point, with no real answer
expected.
Parallelism: The repetition of similar grammatical structures across phrases or clauses to establish
rhythm and emphasis.
Repetition: Intentionally repeating words, phrases, or sentences to hammer home a central concept.
Antithesis: Placing two contrasting ideas side-by-side in a parallel structure to highlight their
differences.
Unit 2: Literary Analysis (Poetry, Prose, & Drama)
Analyzing complex texts requires looking past the surface plot to dissect structural and linguistic
choices.
1. Poetry Analysis Elements
Metaphor: A direct comparison between two unrelated things without using "like" or "as" (e.g., "Time is
a thief").
Personification: Assigning human characteristics or behaviors to non-human things (e.g., "The wind
whispered").
Imagery: Vivid sensory descriptions that appeal to sight, sound, smell, taste, or touch to build a
mental picture.
Tone: The author's underlying attitude or emotional stance toward the subject matter.
2. Prose (Short Stories & Novels)
Rhetorical analysis is a cornerstone of 11th-grade English (often aligned with American Literature and
persuasive writing). It focuses on how writers and speakers craft messages to influence an audience.
The Three Rhetorical Appeals (Aristotelian Appeals)
Logos (Logical Appeal): Convinces an audience using logic, reason, hard data, statistics, and
verifiable facts.
Ethos (Ethical Appeal): Establishes the speaker’s credibility, character, and moral authority. According
to Quizlet, ethical arguments rely on ideas of “Right Or wrong, good/bad: moral” to win trust.
Pathos (Emotional Appeal): AppeaIs to the audience's feelings, using vivid language, moving stories,
or personal testimonies to evoke empathy, fear, or anger.
Common Rhetorical Devices
Rhetorical Question: A question asked merely for effect or to make a point, with no real answer
expected.
Parallelism: The repetition of similar grammatical structures across phrases or clauses to establish
rhythm and emphasis.
Repetition: Intentionally repeating words, phrases, or sentences to hammer home a central concept.
Antithesis: Placing two contrasting ideas side-by-side in a parallel structure to highlight their
differences.
Unit 2: Literary Analysis (Poetry, Prose, & Drama)
Analyzing complex texts requires looking past the surface plot to dissect structural and linguistic
choices.
1. Poetry Analysis Elements
Metaphor: A direct comparison between two unrelated things without using "like" or "as" (e.g., "Time is
a thief").
Personification: Assigning human characteristics or behaviors to non-human things (e.g., "The wind
whispered").
Imagery: Vivid sensory descriptions that appeal to sight, sound, smell, taste, or touch to build a
mental picture.
Tone: The author's underlying attitude or emotional stance toward the subject matter.
2. Prose (Short Stories & Novels)
