Summer 2017, Post #8

The nine rhetorical modes are methods of presenting and structuring information.  For writers, managing these rhetorical modes ensures that both individual paragraphs and the essay as a whole are focused and coherent.  Here are the rhetorical modes in no particular order . . .

Description: this refers both to literal description (based on sensory imagery) and figurative description (based on association).  Thus, a description could provide visual details (literal description) and a simile (figurative description) in order to depict an object, idea, or scene.

Definition: elaborating the essential qualities of a thing.  For example, if I were to define "dog," I couldn't just say a "four-legged animal" since that would include cats and would exclude a dog that might be missing a leg.  Thus, writing an effective definition requires in-depth critical analysis.

Exemplification: providing examples to illustrate or "exemplify" a concept.

Cause/Effect: describing the causes or effects.  In practice, a writer could do either or both: in other words, a   writer could focus on the causes of an event, the effects of an event, or both the causes and effects of an event.

Division/Classification: breaking a concept down into categories (division) and then providing labels for each category (classification).  For example, a writer could discuss types of music (genres) and define the essential qualities of each genre.

Compare/Contrast: analyzing the similarities and differences between two topics.

Argument: making a claim and then supporting that claim with reasons and evidence.

Narration: telling a story in order to illustrate a point.

Process Analysis: detailing the steps involved in a process.  For example, a writer could discuss how to do something, or a writer could detail the steps leading up to a historical event.

There are two disclaimers:

1.  An essay does not need to use all nine rhetorical modes to be effective.
2.  These rhetorical modes work in conjunction with each other.  An effective definition may also describe and divide/classify.

For this post, read Harrison Candelaria Fletcher's "White" (p. 62), and pay attention to how he uses the various rhetorical modes.  

Then, read Tool 28 in Writing Tools in which Roy Peter Clark explores how to learn from contrast.

Finally, make (and post) a list of the rhetorical modes you plan to use in your personal essay; if you do this well, this list should function as a rough outline for your essay.