{"id":247,"date":"2014-07-25T20:09:54","date_gmt":"2014-07-25T20:09:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.candelalearning.com\/writershandbook\/?post_type=chapter&p=247"},"modified":"2017-01-04T22:50:01","modified_gmt":"2017-01-04T22:50:01","slug":"4-4-developing-a-rhetorical-habit-of-mind","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-mcc-styleguide\/chapter\/4-4-developing-a-rhetorical-habit-of-mind\/","title":{"raw":"4.4 Developing a Rhetorical Habit of Mind","rendered":"4.4 Developing a Rhetorical Habit of Mind"},"content":{"raw":" \r\n
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4.4<\/span> Developing a Rhetorical Habit of Mind<\/h2>\r\n
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Learning Objectives<\/h3>\r\n
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  1. Get into the habit of thinking about the all texts in rhetorical terms.<\/li>\r\n \t
  2. Learn about the statement of purpose and how it can be used as a tool for your future academic and professional writing.<\/li>\r\n \t
  3. Develop a rhetorical habit of mind by enhancing your awareness of how language works.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/div>\r\nThe habit of thinking rhetorically starts with being comfortable enough with the rhetorical triangle to see it in practically every form of communication you produce and consume\u2014not only those you encounter in academic settings but also those you encounter in everyday life. In several other chapters, you will make use of the elements (corners) and relationships (sides) of the rhetorical triangle, as well as the appeals associated with it. In Chapter 5 \"Planning,\"<\/a> you\u2019ll see how to use the triangle in more detail to build a statement of purpose<\/span><\/span> for specific writing projects by completing the following statements and returning to them as circumstances in your writing process change:\r\n
    \"\"<\/a><\/div>\r\nIn Chapter 7 \"Researching\"<\/a> and Chapter 8 \"Revising,\"<\/a> you\u2019ll learn how to use the rhetorical triangle and the statement of purpose to plan and refine your research agenda, and in Chapter 12 \"Professional Writing,\"<\/a> you\u2019ll even see how to apply these rhetorical tools to a job search.\r\n\r\nBesides familiarizing yourself with the elements of the triangle and how they function, you\u2019ll also need to consider the rhetorical moves<\/span><\/span> writers make so you can begin to use language more creatively in your writing. Good writers learn to improvise with the language, to make it work both as a tool for thinking and as a vehicle for communication. Here are four categories of rhetorical moves you will encounter and begin to use as you develop a rhetorical habit of mind.\r\n
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    Rhetorical Move and Definition<\/th>\r\nExamples<\/th>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/thead>\r\n
    Connotative language<\/span><\/span>: Using a word beyond its denotation<\/span><\/span> (or primary definition) to suggest or incite a desired response in readers. Sometimes a connotation can be a euphemism<\/span><\/span> designed to make something sound better than it really is; at other times, a connotation can put a negative spin on something.<\/td>\r\n\u201cwelfare\u201d (or \u201centitlement\u201d)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    \u201ceconomic stimulus\u201d (or \u201crecovery\u201d)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    \u201cdeath panel\u201d (or \u201cmanaged care\u201d)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    \u201cpro-choice\u201d (or \u201cpro-abortion\u201d)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    \u201cestate tax\u201d (or \u201cdeath tax\u201d)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    \u201cglobal warming\u201d (or \u201cgreenhouse effect\u201d)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    Figurative language<\/span><\/span>: Using metaphors, similes, and analogies can help you and your readers uncover previously unseen connections between different categories of things (also discussed in Chapter 17 \"Word Choice,\" Section 17.3.3 \"Enhancing Writing with Figurative Language\").<\/td>\r\n\u201cThat professor\u2019s lecture was like<\/em> a metronome.\u201d (Similes use like<\/em> or as<\/em>.)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    \u201cThat test was a bear.\u201d (Metaphors don\u2019t.)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    \u201cThe current panic in education about students\u2019 addiction to texting and video games is reminiscent of concerns in earlier eras about other kinds of emerging technology.\u201d (Analogies can lead to entire essay topics.)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    Humorous language<\/span><\/span>: Audiences who are entertained are more likely to receive your message. Within reason and boundaries of taste, there\u2019s nothing wrong with using wit to help you make your points. Examples include plays on words (like puns, slang, neologisms, or \u201cnew words\u201d), as well as more elaborate kinds of humor (such as parody and satire).<\/td>\r\nRecent additions to the dictionary (like \u201ctelecommuting,\u201d \u201csexting,\u201d and \u201ccrowdsourcing\u201d) usually began as plays on words.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    Parody and satire are ironic ways of imitating a subject or style through caricature and exaggeration.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    Note: These kinds of humor require precise knowledge of your audience\u2019s readiness to be entertained in this way. They can easily backfire and turn sour, but when used carefully, they can be extremely effective.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    Metacognitive language<\/span><\/span>: Thinking about your thinking (metacognition) can help you step outside yourself to reflect on your writing (the equivalent of \u201cshowing your work\u201d in math).<\/td>\r\n\u201cAt this point, I\u2019d like to be clear about my intentions for this essay\u2026\u201d<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    \u201cBefore I began this research project, I thought\u2026but now I\u2019ve come to believe\u2026\u201d<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/div>\r\nAs you survey this table, remember that clear, simple, direct communication is still your primary goal, so don\u2019t try all these techniques in the same piece of writing. Just know that you have them at your disposal and begin to develop them as part of your toolkit of rhetorical moves.\r\n
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    Key Takeaways<\/h3>\r\n