Four Basic Learning Goals

Rhetorical Knowledge

Critical Thinking

Writing Process

Knowledge of Conventions

Rhetorical Knowledge

There are FIVE main points of Rhetorical Knowledge:– Audience- what expectations and needs do your

potential readers have?– Purpose- to entertain, to inform, to persuade– Writer’s Voice and Tone- Writer’s personality or

voice; writer’s attitude toward the subject or tone– Context, Medium, Genre- circumstances for writing,

physical method for writing, and form of writing.

Rhetorical Knowledge

The Rhetorical Situation:– There are five points to the rhetorical situation

Who is the writer? What is the purpose? Who is the audience? What is the topic? What is the context or occasion?

Rhetorical Knowledge

The Rhetorical Triangle– There are three basic ways to reach your

audience. They can be used together. Ethos- An appeal to the ethical nature of the author. Logos- An appeal of logic. Pathos- An emotional appeal.

Critical Thinking

Engaging in critical thinking means examining an idea from many different angles.

Prewriting techniques help authors use critical thinking skills when creating a document.

Another type of critical thinking is critical reading.

Critical Thinking

Critical Reading– Reading is a basic skill for research. Critical

readers follow these steps: Preview the material

– Subject– Fact of publication– Author– Preliminary ideas

Critical Thinking

Critical Reading- Step Two Reading

– Read through once.– Go back over the reading making notes to grasp the

major ideas and the connections as well as asking questions.

Critical Thinking

Critical Reading- Step Three Summarizing

– Summarize the article in your own words.– Check the original to be sure you have all the major

points in your summary.

The Writing Process

In order to write effectively, writers follow a process. The basic steps are:

Generating a topic Creating a thesis Research Organizing ideas/ drafting Revising/ redrafting Editing and proofreading

Knowledge of Conventions

These are the basics of writing. Spelling Grammar Formatting (MLA) Word choice Use of white space

Expository Essay Topic

Before you begin the writing process, you must select a topic that is interesting to you and your readers.

Inexperienced writers sometimes make the mistake of attempting to write about a topic that is too broad.

Ask yourself the following questions: Which aspect of this topic is most interesting to me? What do I want to know more about? Chances are your readers will feel the same way.

Possible Topics

Healthful eating Oil and gas prices Education Media in the courtroom Cosmetic surgery Tattoos or body piercing Language in the United States A topic of your choice, approved by your instructor