Rhetorical Strategies for Composition: Cracking an Academic Code

Rhetorical Strategies is a worktext for composition students to apply rhetorical theory in their writing. The exercises interconnect rhetorical skill work for students to practice thinking on paper in style (rhetorical figures, emphasis, arrangement); language (audience appropriate, diction, syntax); and conventions (MLA style, format, source handling). Content includes: Aristotle’s Six Parts of an Argument, Rhetorical Situations, Appeals and Fallacies, Thesis Statements, Topic Sentences, Voice, Stylistics, Revision, Documenting Sources, Grammar/Punctuation/Usage, and Visual Arguments. All skills are reflected in a sample student research paper. Content is relevant for AP Composition and Language courses as well as college composition and seminar courses with an emphasis on rhetorical principles.