How to analyze a text
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Transcript of How to analyze a text
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THINGS YOU MUST KNOW
HOW TO ANALYZE A TEXT
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SOAPSSpeakerOccassionAudiencePurposeSubject
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SOAPSSpeaker
Who is the speaker?
• Name
• Writer’s Credentials
SpeakerOccasionAudiencePurposeSubject
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SOAPSOccasion
What is the occasion?
• When was the piece
written?
• Where was the piece published?
• What is the context or situation that surrounds or affects this argument?
• What is the genre of the text?
SpeakerOccasionAudiencePurposeSubject
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SOAPSAudience
Who is the intended audience?
SpeakerOccasionAudiencePurposeSubject
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SOAPSPurpose
What is the
speaker trying to do
with this argument?
SpeakerOccasionAudiencePurposeSubject
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SOAPSSubject
What is the
speaker writing
about? What is the
overall topic of the
argument?
SpeakerOccasionAudiencePurposeSubject
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TIME TO ANALYZE• Using “The Language Police” analyze to
determine the SOAPS of the argument.
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USING SOAPS IN YOUR INTRO:THE FORMAT -1. Speaker, Occasion Subject
(Writer's Credentials), (Writer's first and last name), in his/her (Type of Text), (Title of Text), (strong verb) (writer's subject).
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STRONG VS. WEAK VERBS
STRONG VERBS (Analysis)
• Implies
• Suggests
• Compares
• Emphasizes
• Defines
• Trivializes
• Denigrates
• Vilifies
• Demonizes
WEAK VERBS(Summary)• says
• this quote shows
• relates
• explains
• goes on to say
• states
• tells
• shows
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USING SOAPS IN YOUR INTRO:THE FORMAT -1. Speaker, Occasion Subject
(Writer's Credentials), (Writer's first and last name), in his/her (Type of Text), (Title of Text), (strong verb) (writer's subject).
2. Purpose
(Writer's Last Name)'s purpose is to (What the writer does in the text).
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USING SOAPS IN YOUR INTRO:THE FORMAT -1. Speaker, Occasion Subject
(Writer's Credentials), (Writer's first and last name), in his/her (Type of Text), (Title of Text), (strong verb) (writer's subject).
2. Purpose
(Writer's Last Name)'s purpose is to (What the writer does in the text).
3. Audience
He/she adopts (or equivalent verb) a(n) (adjective describing the attitude/feeling conveyed by the writer) tone in order to (verb phrase describing what the writer wants readers to do/think)in his/her (intended audience).
NOTE: This would be followed by your thesis.
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SOAPS IN THE INTRO EXAMPLE:Novelist, Amy Tan, in her narrative essay, “Fish Cheeks,”
recounts an embarrassing Christmas Eve dinner when she was 14 years old. Tan’s purpose is to convey the idea that, at fourteen, she wasn’t able to recognize the love her mother had for her or the sacrifices she made. She adopts a sentimental tone in order to appeal to similar feelings and experiences in her adult readers.
Use your SOAPS information to try to write the intro for “The Language Police.”
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ANALYZE FOR USE OF APPEALSLogos
Hard Evidence• Facts• Polls/Surveys• Testimonies• Statistics
Common Sense• Enthymemes• Syllogisms• Cultural
Vaules/Assumptions
Pathos Who is the audience? Is the use of
emotion appropriate to the audience?
What emotion is evoked? Are specific kinds of emotion evoked such as sentimental or nostalgic appeals?• How does it work to connect the
argument with the reader?
• How does it work to show the reader that the author understands them?
Ethos Authority Credibility Motives
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“THE LANGUAGE POLICE”Intro
I. Logos – A. “Censors on the political right . . . behavior.” (276 -277) AND “Censors from the political left . . . being.” (277)
i. This reflects differing cultural values or assumptions.B. Definition of censorship (276)
i. Fact, even though the source is not given (negative ethos)
C. Censorship vs. selection (276)
i. Logical - Syllogism
II. Ethos A. “Censors on the political right . . .” (276) and “Censors from the political left . . .” (277)
i. This shows that she is knowledgable and that she is addressing all sides of the issue which makes her argument more credible.
III. Pathos A. “The word censorship refers to the deliberate removal of language, ideas, and books from the classroom or library because they are deemed offensive and contraversial.” (276)i. B. “. . . Delete words, ideas, and topics from textbooks and tests for no other reason that their fear of controversy.” (276)i. C. “Arcadia . . .intruded. (276-277)
i. Great example of nostalgic appeal – may work with older educators but could go against the argument with younger educators or readers
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COMPONENTS OF STYLE
ANALYZE FOR THE AUTHOR’S USE OF STYLE
1. Diction
2. Syntax
3. Details
4. Imagery
5. Tone
6. Etc.
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DICTION
1. Look for SPECIFIC WORDS or WORD PHRASES that seem stronger than others. Diction is NEVER the entire sentence.
2. Look for a PATTERN (or similarity) in the words the writer chooses.
3. The pattern could include REPETITION of the same words or phrases.
The words a writer chooses to convey a particular meaning
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DICTION
His adventures allowed him to slingshot around the world.
VS
His adventures allowed him to travel around the world.
1. Look for SPECIFIC WORDS or WORD PHRASES that seem stronger than others.
Diction is NEVER the entire sentence.
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DICTIONDo the words used imply a
certain feeling?
Sadness?
Happiness?
Etc?
This pattern helps to create a particular kind of diction.
2. Look for a PATTERN (or similarity) in the words the writer chooses.
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DICTIONRepetition helps the speaker
emphasize a point, feeling, etc.
2. The pattern could include REPETITION of the same words or phrases.
Be watchful of REPETITION in the argument.
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OK WORDS VS. GREAT WORDS
•A coat isn't torn; it is tattered.•The US Army does not want
revenge; it is thirsting for revenge.•A door does not shut; it thuds.
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SYNTAX
1. SCHEMES
A variance in the normal subject- verb- object pattern
2. SENTENCE LENGTH
Look at how the writer varies the length of sentences – What is the effect?
3. SENTENCE TYPE
Look at the types of sentences the author uses – What is the effect?
4. PUNCTUATION
Look at or for a variety in the punctuation – What does this change do to the meaning of the text?
The way words are arranged within sentences
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SYNTAX
SENTENCE TYPE
look at the types of sentences the author uses – What is the effect?
• Simple: Subject - Verb (I went to the store.)
• Compound: two independent clauses joined by a conjunction (I went to the store, and I bought candy.)
• Complex: Independent clause and dependent clause (While traveling to the store, I saw my friend.)
• Compound-Complex: Two indepedent clauses and one or more dependent clauses (While traveling to the store, I saw my friend, and she gave me money for candy.)
• Declarative: a statement ( I went to the store.)
• Exclamatory: strong feeling (What a wonderful candy store!)
• Interrogative: question (Is this a store?)
• Imperative: command (Go to the store.)
The way words are arranged within sentences
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SYNTAX
2. PUNCTUATION
Look at or for a variety in the punctuation – What does this change do to the meaning of the text?
• SEMICOLON: (;) gives equal weight to two or more independent clauses in a sentence. Writers use this to reinforce parallel ideas and show how both ideas are equally important
• COLON: (:) directs the reader's attention to the words that follow. Writers use this to show the reader that the information after the colon is important
• DASH: (-) marks a sudden change in thought or tone or sets off a brief summary
The way words are arranged within sentences
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TONE
It is a special kind of rhetorical strategy because tone is created by the writer's use of all of the other rhetorical strategies:
• Diction and Tropes
• Syntax and Schemes
• Details and Lack of Details
t
the teller's attitude or feeling about the subject of his text