Posts on Fridays (Grades 9-12)

Course Objective
The Rhetorical Analysis Course introduces students to analytical writing focused on evaluating an author’s style, techniques, and effectiveness. Learners will develop critical thinking and writing skills necessary for college-level analysis. By the end of the course, students will be able to:

• • Analyze primary source writings using the SOAPSTone technique

  • Evaluate the effectiveness of author’s appeals to logos, pathos, and ethos

  • Critique the overall success of a piece in informing, persuading, or entertaining

  • Apply advanced vocabulary, including Latin and Greek roots, to improve comprehension

  • Build analytical skills as a bridge to collegiate writing

Course Description
This rhetorical analysis course equips students with the skills to dissect and evaluate academic writing. Learners will study primary sources to understand how authors present information and achieve their purpose.

Students will practice:

• • Using SOAPSTone (Speaker, Occasion, Audience, Purpose, Subject, Tone) to evaluate writing effectiveness

  • Identifying and analyzing appeals to logos, pathos, and ethos

  • Critically assessing author style, structure, and use of devices

  • Strengthening vocabulary through Latin and Greek roots for better comprehension

  • Developing a formal critique in written responses, building a foundation for college-level analysis

By completing this course, students will gain confidence in rhetorical analysis, able to formally critique texts, understand persuasive and informative strategies, and enhance their analytical writing skills for advanced academic work.