Plan with Me | Rhetorical Analysis Essay | AP Lang Exam Prep | Coach Hall Writes

Summary

In this video, Coach Hall provides a detailed guide on how to outline and plan an essay for rhetorical analysis, using Madeleine Albright's 2018 commencement speech as an example. The process involves crafting a strong introduction with a defensible thesis, organizing body paragraphs with clear main ideas, evidence, and analysis, and using strategic planning to save time during exams. Coach Hall emphasizes the importance of quality analysis over quantity of paragraphs, advises on layering evidence, and highlights how specific rhetorical choices impact the message. Overall, the video equips students with a structured approach to tackle rhetorical analysis effectively under exam conditions.

Takeaways

• 😀 Planning your essay in advance, even with a simple outline, can lead to a more effective and organized response during an exam.
• 😀 A defensible thesis is crucial for earning points in the introduction, even if you're short on time or inspiration for the context.
• 😀 It's important to reference the rhetorical situation in the introduction, including the speaker, audience, and occasion, to establish context for your analysis.
• 😀 Organizing the text into parts (beginning, middle, and end) helps you structure your analysis and keeps your argument focused.
• 😀 Focus on the message, rhetorical choices, and how they relate to the purpose of the passage when writing your thesis and body paragraphs.
• 😀 For body paragraphs, always clearly define your main idea and narrow it down to specific rhetorical choices to analyze.
• 😀 Use shorthand and plan your evidence in advance to avoid wasting time searching for quotes while writing your essay.
• 😀 Effective commentary doesn't just explain evidence, but also analyzes its significance and how it connects to the rhetorical purpose.
• 😀 Layering your evidence and commentary ensures a balanced analysis and avoids a chunk of evidence followed by a chunk of commentary.
• 😀 When addressing the audience, consider how the speaker tailors their message (e.g., repetition or addressing the audience's specific needs) for maximum impact.
• 😀 If you're short on time during an exam, focus on producing high-quality analysis rather than worrying about having a conclusion paragraph. If you do write one, make sure it's insightful and not just a restatement of your thesis.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of the video?

The video aims to teach viewers how to outline and plan an essay for a rhetorical analysis, specifically using the 2018 exam prompt, a speech by Madeleine Albright.

Why is it important to create an outline before writing the essay?

Creating an outline helps ensure a clearer structure and better organization of ideas, which leads to a more effective and focused essay. It also helps save time by planning evidence and commentary in advance.

What is the suggested structure for the introduction of an essay?

The introduction should be about three sentences long, starting with context or acknowledgment of the rhetorical situation, followed by the thesis. If time is limited, focusing on a clear and defensible thesis is crucial.

What does a defensible thesis need to include?

A defensible thesis must reference specific rhetorical choices from the passage and address what the prompt asks, such as the purpose, message, or argument.

How does the video suggest handling the body paragraphs?

The body paragraphs should focus on analyzing the evidence in depth, with clear main ideas, evidence, and commentary. Each paragraph should analyze how the speaker uses rhetorical strategies to convey their message.

What are the benefits of planning evidence before writing the essay?

Planning evidence in advance ensures you don’t waste time searching for quotes during writing. It also helps you identify the most relevant pieces of evidence and makes your argument more focused.

What should be done if an important idea comes up while reading the passage?

It’s important to quickly make a note of any significant ideas during reading. This ensures that you can return to them when writing the essay, reducing the chance of forgetting them under exam pressure.

How should commentary be structured in the body paragraphs?

Commentary should explain why the evidence is significant and analyze how it supports the thesis. It should go beyond summarizing and explore the purpose or effect of the rhetorical choices.

What does 'layering evidence' mean and why is it important?

Layering evidence means combining evidence and commentary in a balanced manner rather than presenting long chunks of evidence or analysis. This makes the argument more coherent and keeps the essay engaging.

What should you do if you don’t have time for a conclusion in a timed essay?

If time is short, focus on writing a strong introduction and body paragraphs. The conclusion is less critical, but if you have time, you can reflect on broader concepts, the effectiveness of the speech, or the implications of the speaker’s message.