In life, there are changes that cannot be avoided. In the excerpt’s case, graduating college. Although a scary time, Rita Dove gives sounding, impactful advice to this graduating class by implementing several personal historical appeals, as well as advanced vocabulary and diction to make a meaningful commencement address.
Dove makes several personal historical appeals that cite her wishes as meaningful.
She recalls winning the Pulitzer Prize and being named Poet Laureate of the US as moments in her life when she needed to be “Always 150% prepared.”
These past personal achievements give Dove’s wishes a credible backing, as the strategies they suggest have been seen to work in Dove’s personal experience.
Also, given that Dove had been teaching at U of V for “...the past twenty-seven years”, her experience only further validates the points on “Hard Work” that are given.
Rather than being a random person giving advice on a podium, Dove’s words carrying so much more weight because of her 27 years as a teacher in tandem with her Pulitzer and National Laureate achievements.
These combined aids realte to her message of empowerment through stating her high position and explaining how she got their
Further recognizing the excellence of her situation, Dove uses advanced vocabulary and diction to validate her position, and the people she’s talking to. Using phrases such as “... a cloud of gossamer” and citing known poets such as Percy Bysshe Shelly, Dove accredits herself. In doing this, she also is showing respect towards the graduating college students she is talking to. Dove doesn’t talk down to them, rather relates to them, letting the students choose their own path. This recognition of autonomy allows Dove to reinforce her position through shared respect and demonstrated wisdom in interpreting her place in the world. These choices fortify her words, making her delivery of her speech lasting and impactful.
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Your thesis does a good job pinpointing key rhetorical choices Rita Dove makes, such as personal historical appeals and diction, to give impactful advice to graduates. You successfully support this claim by discussing how Dove’s achievements and vocabulary bolster her message, aligning with the goal of your rhetorical analysis.
However, to enhance your analysis, consider more explicitly connecting each rhetorical choice you discuss to Dove’s overall purpose and the impact on her audience. For instance, while you highlight the credibility aimed through personal anecdotes, ensure you’re connecting how these anecdotes specifically empower or inspire her audience.
Also, when addressing her diction and references, you might delve deeper into how these create ethos or resonate with her audience.
Think about where else you might take your analysis! You could further explore contrast and definitions Dove uses, examine additional rhetorical appeals like pathos or logos, or discuss the speech’s organizational pattern.
Intrigued? Let’s dive in!
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You’ve laid a solid foundation by identifying Rita Dove’s personal anecdotes and advanced diction as key rhetorical choices. Your analysis of Dove’s personal stories, like her Pulitzer Prize win and tenure as a professor, effectively highlights how they bolster her credibility. Consider diving deeper into the “150% prepared” anecdote to show how it directly imparts a lesson to the graduates on preparedness and resilience. Additionally, your mention of advanced vocabulary lends itself well to discussing how Dove’s language respects and elevates her audience, bridging a connection between speaker and listener. However, probing into how these combined choices contribute to Dove’s overarching message of empowerment could deepen your analysis.
What insights or connections about Dove’s rhetorical strategies do you seek to explore further? Would you like to discuss the role of ethos in her speech, extend your analysis to include more examples, or explore another rhetorical device used by Dove? Let’s dive in!
Please Note: Everything in this comment is AI-generated. It is made up to sound like your helpful AP English Language teacher in room 126.
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You’ve laid a solid foundation by identifying Rita Dove’s personal anecdotes and advanced diction as key rhetorical choices. Your analysis of Dove’s personal stories, like her Pulitzer Prize win and tenure as a professor, effectively highlights how they bolster her credibility. Consider diving deeper into the “150% prepared” anecdote to show how it directly imparts a lesson to the graduates on preparedness and resilience. Additionally, your mention of advanced vocabulary lends itself well to discussing how Dove’s language respects and elevates her audience, bridging a connection between speaker and listener. However, probing into how these combined choices contribute to Dove’s overarching message of empowerment could deepen your analysis.
What insights or connections about Dove’s rhetorical strategies do you seek to explore further? Would you like to discuss the role of ethos in her speech, extend your analysis to include more examples, or explore another rhetorical device used by Dove? Let’s dive in!
Please Note: Everything in this comment is AI-generated. It is made up to sound like your helpful AP English Language teacher in room 126.
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Your essay demonstrates a good understanding of the rhetorical situation by highlighting Rita Dove’s strategic use of personal historical anecdotes and sophisticated diction to connect with her audience. You effectively illustrate how her achievements, such as the Pulitzer Prize, add credibility and weight to her wishes for success and hard work. Your analysis of Dove’s advanced vocabulary and references, like “a cloud of gossamer” and Percy Bysshe Shelley, showcases her respect for the graduates’ intellect, fostering a shared respect and mutual understanding. To further enrich your analysis, consider more deeply examining how Dove’s use of personal stories empowers graduates with a sense of agency. You could also explore how the specific rhetorical choices align with the themes of uncertainty and perseverance.
Would you like to delve into how Dove’s humorous approach affects tone, discuss more on ethos, or explore the nuance of her “wishes”? Let me know your path, or blaze a new trail!
Please Note: Everything in this comment is AI-generated. It is made up to sound like your helpful AP English Language teacher in room 126.
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