Independent reading Language lodestar & Rhetorical rudder
for your effective Text evaluation aka IRLLRRETE
Name: ______Period: ______
Complete and upload to by the assigned deadline for each independent reading book.
You may type into this form, OR, create a separate document – be sure to number your sections and responses.
1 / Title: ______Author: ______
Original date of publication (time period): ______
Genre (type of non-fiction, type of fiction, literary genre or time period): ______
2 / Historical context – how does this book connect to the “goings on” of the time period – what is the “zeitgeist” of this moment? (Include location and pertinent author background in your discussion)
100 word minimum / 2
3 / Extended plot summary (fiction) OR development of topic/issues (non-fiction) – include a beginning, middle, and end. Be sure to tie this to a theme/purpose (fiction, story driven non-fiction) OR argument (topic, issue driven non-fiction, but could be fiction as well) for the text.
250 word minimum / 3
4 / Choose two passages (can be as short as you’d like, but try to limit it to four paragraphs for longer excerpts)
Comment on two rhetorical devices, working together, in your chosen passages – choose rhetorical devices unique to each passage. Meaning, choose a different combination for each passage. For topic and issue driven non-fiction, you can focus on appeals and use of fallacies to develop argument and discussion. You are not limited to simple literary devices. Be aware and insightful in discovering how the author crafts this text.
200 word minimum for each analysis / 4. Passage #1 – from text / 4. Passage #2 – from text
4. Discussion of passage #1 / 4. Discussion of passage #2
5 / Memorable quotes – choose four different significant quotes from your text (does not have to be dialogue; anytime you pull from the text you are QUOTING the text)
Explain the premise and why these moments are significant – attempt to connect each quote to the theme (purpose) outlined in section 3.
200 words for each discussion / 5. Quote #1 / 5. Quote #2
5. Quote #3 / 5. Quote #4
5. Discussion quote #1 / 5. Discussion quote #2
5. Discussion quote #3 / 5. Discussion quote #4
6 / Modes – choose two sections and discuss a dominant mode and its purpose from that section. Try to limit your sections to one page or less. Insert copies of the sections as appendices, OR, bring hard copies to class.
100 word minimum for each mode / 6. Section #1 / 6. Section #2
6. Discussion of mode #1 / 6. Discussion of mode #2
Answer the following question: How do the modes you’ve chosen to discuss connect to the overall structure of the text? Why do they matter?
200 word minimum / 6.
7 / YOUR ARGUMENT:
Ending commentary – Why is this text significant to our study? In what ways is it a piece worthy of rhetorical and cultural analysis?
300 word minimum / 7.
8 / Cite it! Instead of a works cited page, cite your outside sources here. DO useMLA formatted, parenthetical citations in your writing, where appropriate.
8.
9 / Additional commentary – thoughts on the books – do you recommend it? Did it change or offer depth to any perspective or ideas you had previously? / 9.