Technique – Effect – Purpose Paragraph
1. In “Title of Essay,” [author] uses
[rhetorical strategy] to [achieve his purpose – do not use the word
purpose in your paragraph; in your topic sentence, you should directly
state what the author hopes to achieve.]
2. Establish the context of the first quotation.
3. Quote the text. Never use a quotation
as its own sentence. When writing about diction, you might want to
quote a “series” of “Words” or “phrases” instead of a complete sentence (Kline 22).
Follow the quotation with the author’s name and the page number in
parentheses. Artful writers might combine steps two and three
in a single sentence. If you are not confident in your ability to
properly format a quotation, visit this link for some excellent advice: http://www.virtualsalt.com/quotehlp.htm
4. Analyze the quotation. How does this help you prove the author’s technique achieves her purpose? Focus on the effect on the reader. NO MORE than two sentences of analysis.
5. Repeat steps two through four with a second example. The second example should show how the author develops or elaborates on the argument. When possible, use quotations from different parts of the essay. Use your examples in chronological order, unless there is a very clear reason not to.
6. Close your paragraph.
General Notes:
- Strive for a formal tone.
- No first person.
- Don't evaluate the text. You just need to explain how it works.
- Authors establish ethos, employ logos, and appeal to pathos.
