Practical Writing Tip—Rhetorical Modes

What is rhetoric? The word “rhetoric” refers to the use of the available modes, or “idea patterns” to inform and perhaps persuade your audience. The basic types of academic writing are referred to as rhetorical modes.

What are common rhetorical modes? 1. Description 2. Narration 3. Process Analysis 4. Division and Classification 5. Definition 6. Exemplification 7. Cause/Effect (Causal analysis) 8. Argumentation 9. Comparison/contrast 10. Problem-solving

1. What is Description? Giving a verbal picture using sensory and/or spatial (place) details. The purpose of description is to recreate, invent, or visually present a person, place, event, or action so that the reader can picture that which is being described. It is heavily based on sensory details: what we experience through our senses. In academic writing, description almost always requires the support of other rhetorical modes.

2. What is Narration? Telling about an event using time order, The purpose of narration is to tell a story or relate an event. Narration is an especially useful tool for sequencing or putting details and information into some kind of logical order, usually chronological. Literature uses narration heavily, but it also can be useful in non- fiction, academic writing for strong impact. In short academic essays, avoid narration unless it is extremely brief and being used to provide a summary.

3. What is Process Analysis? Analyzing a process can also be thought of as “how-to” instruction. Technical writing includes a lot of process analysis, for instance. Academic writing can incorporate process analysis to show how an existing problem came to be, or how it might be solved, by following a clear series of steps. Writers who are attempting process analysis should clearly understand their purpose and audience (is the audience expected to be able to actually perform the process, or merely to understand better how the process happens?) and also to possibly provide a list of ingredients, tools, and/or warnings.

4. What is Division and Classification? Division takes one large concept, and divides it into individual pieces. A nice result from this type of writing is that it helps the reader to understand a complex topic by focusing on its smaller parts. This is particularly useful when an author has a unique way of dividing up the concepts, to provide new insight into the ways it might be viewed. Classification, similar to comparison/contrast, takes one large group and divides it into logical and smaller subgroups (genres, for example) in order to present the similarities or differences between the groups. Classification may be used to show that one subgroup is “better” than the others, or merely to illustrate the differences and similarities between the groups.

5. What is Definition? A definition essay takes the concept of “definition” more broadly, moving beyond a dictionary definition to deeply examine a word or concept as we actually use and understand it more clearly, or even to possibly suggest a “new” definition.

6. What is Exemplification? It’s common to see examples used in all kinds of situations—an idea can be considered too general or abstract until we see it in action. An exemplification essay extends this idea even further: it carries one or more examples into great detail, in order to show the details of a complex problem in a way that’s easy for readers to understand.

7. What is Cause/Effect? If narration offers a sequence of events, cause/effect essays offer an explanation about why that sequence matters. Cause/effect writing is particularly powerful when the author can provide a cause/effect relationship that the reader wasn’t expecting, and as a result see the situation in a new light. Cause/effect writers must be careful to clearly show the causal relationship, not merely to state it.

8. What is Argumentation? Academic argumentation is used to defend a position or to challenge an assumption. Academic argumentation relies heavily on the proper use of logic and providing “proper” information that the academic reader will accept. Argumentation also may use counter argumentation, refutation, and qualification.

9. What is Comparison/Contrast? Comparison focuses on similarities between things, and contrast focuses on their differences. We innately make comparisons all the time, and they appear in many kinds of writings. The goal of comparison and contrast in academic essays is generally to show that one item is superior to another, based on a set of evaluations included as part of the writing.

10. What is problem solving? This type of academic writing, also known as a “problem/solution essay,” has two equally important tasks: clearly identifying a problem, and then providing a logical, practical solution for that problem. Establishing that a particular situation IS a problem can sometimes be a challenge—many readers might assume that a given situation is “just the way it is,” and not actually a “problem” that needs to be solved. Problem solving essays often use cause/effect. process analysis. and argumentation in their approach.

How are these rhetorical modes used? Are they used together or alone? Rhetorical modes are often used in a “hybrid” approach, but many modes can stand alone. However, in academic writing, an entire essay based upon “narration,” “description” or “exemplification” would probably be unacceptable to the academic audience.

What are the 5 elements of Style? 1. Syntax (sentence patterns) 2. Language (overall language ability) 3. Diction (specific word choices or phrasing) 4. Punctuation 5. Tone

What is syntax concerned with? The effective use of sentence patterns (including “sentence variety” or using a blend of grammatical structures). Is the syntax purely “natural,” or has the writer intentionally altered normal syntax to create some effect upon the audience? Personal tip—when I catch students cheating on their essays, “style” and especially “syntax” is often my first clue!