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ap english language - rhetorical analysis essay tips

originally streamed in 2019 with Kevin SteinhauserTeacher
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Learn how to identify writing trends and strengthen your rhetorical analysis essays for AP Lang. This review focuses on analyzing author choices across different texts, avoiding common pitfalls, and building essays that connect evidence to your thesi ...more

curriculum note

This video references a 1–9 scoring scale for the rhetorical analysis essay. The current AP English Language rubric uses a 6-point scale (1 pt thesis + 4 pts evidence/commentary + 1 pt sophistication), so score references in this video may not reflect the current rubric.

covered in this stream

units
The Rhetorical Analysis EssayExam Skills
topics
10.0 Understanding the Rhetorical Analysis Essay10.1 Understanding the Rhetorical Analysis Essay10.2 Selecting and Analyzing Evidence for Rhetorical Analysis Essay10.4 Writing the Complete Rhetorical Analysis EssayRhetorical Analysis - Identifying What's Worth AnalyzingRhetorical Analysis, Part III - This is not a matching game!How to Find Rhetorical Strategies

timestamps

  • 0:00

    Introduction and Overview

  • 0:32

    Tips for Rhetorical Analysis

  • 1:03

    Answering Student Question

  • 1:34

    Recap of Previous Sessions

  • 2:04

    Mastering Thesis Statements

  • 2:35

    Future Sessions Preview

  • 3:06

    AP Reader Insights

  • 3:37

    Launching PowerPoint

  • 4:09

    Not a Matching Game

  • 4:41

    Author's Purpose Explanation

  • 5:13

    Rhetorical Triangle Review

  • 5:44

    Audience Perspective Shift

  • 6:15

    Impact on Target Audience

  • 6:46

    Identifying Writing Trends

  • 7:16

    Bigger Picture Analysis

  • 7:46

    Smaller Strategies Integration

  • 8:17

    Beginning and Ending Strategies

  • 8:48

    Practice Rounds Introduction

  • 9:20

    Organizing Body Paragraphs

  • 9:51

    Avoiding AP Terminology Pitfalls

  • 10:21

    Identifying Important Trends

  • 10:52

    Practice in Class

  • 11:22

    Writing Trend Specificity

  • 11:52

    Applying to Specific Work

  • 12:23

    Testing Writing Trends

  • 12:56

    Practice Round One: Gehrig

  • 13:27

    Lou Gehrig Speech Analysis

  • 13:57

    Gehrig's Audience Context

  • 14:28

    Blessings in Gehrig's Life

  • 14:58

    Emotional Appeal and Repetition

  • 15:28

    Anaphora in Gehrig

  • 16:01

    Highlighting Blessings Trend

  • 16:31

    Fitting Strategies Together

  • 17:01

    Emotional Appeal Integration

  • 17:32

    No Need for Terminology

  • 18:02

    Gehrig's Audience Mindset

  • 18:32

    Practice Round Two: Chavez

  • 19:03

    Chavez's Audience Context

  • 19:34

    Non-Violence Benefits

  • 20:07

    Allusion to Gandhi

  • 20:37

    Repetitive and Limited Analysis

  • 21:07

    Over-Quoting Issues

  • 21:37

    Metaphors in Chavez

  • 22:09

    Emphasizing Non-Violence

  • 22:40

    Diction and Figurative Language

  • 23:11

    Tying Strategies Together

  • 23:41

    Practice Round Three: Kelly

  • 24:12

    Kelly's Audience Context

  • 24:44

    Child Labor National Problem

  • 25:14

    New Jersey vs Alabama

  • 25:45

    Alliteration and Diction

  • 26:15

    Juxtaposition Recommendation

  • 26:46

    Emotional Appeal in Kelly

  • 27:18

    Strategies Working Together

  • 27:48

    National Problem Emphasis

  • 28:19

    Strong Verbs Importance

  • 28:49

    Avoiding "Uses" Verb

  • 29:20

    High-Level Audience Analysis

  • 29:50

    Challenging Preconceptions

  • 30:21

    North-South Juxtaposition

  • 30:52

    Addressing Beliefs Head-On

  • 31:22

    Changing Mindset Analysis

  • 31:55

    Practice Round Four: Obama

  • 32:25

    Obama-McCain Differences

  • 32:57

    Political Traditions Contrast

  • 33:29

    Juxtaposition and Repetition

  • 34:01

    Detailing Differences Trend

  • 34:31

    Audience Focus Reminder

  • 35:02

    Body Paragraph Strategy

  • 35:32

    Similarities After Differences

  • 36:03

    Practice Round Five: Reagan

  • 36:34

    Reagan's Audience Context

  • 37:05

    Uniqueness of Tragedy

  • 37:36

    Recommitting to Exploration

  • 38:07

    Highlighting Tragedy Uniqueness

  • 38:39

    Strategies for Purpose

  • 39:09

    Final Reminders

  • 39:40

    Difference Maker in Essays

  • 40:10

    Writing Trend Specificity Test

  • 40:41

    Introductions Next Week

  • 41:11

    Effective Introductions Stand Out

  • 41:42

    Common Questions on Structure

  • 42:13

    Holistic Scoring Explanation

  • 42:45

    No Need for Conclusions

  • 43:16

    Wrap-Up and Thanks

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Company

What's New?PricingBulk DiscountsTestimonialsFAQsEmail us

Resources

AP Exam Schedule 2027AP ClassesAP ClassroomEasiest AP ClassesHardest AP ClassesAP vs IBAP vs Dual EnrollmentAP vs Honors ClassesAP Scholar Awards

history

🌎 ap world history🇺🇸 ap us history🇪🇺 ap european history

social science

✊🏿 ap african american studies🗳️ ap comparative government🚜 ap human geography💶 ap macroeconomics🤑 ap microeconomics🧠 ap psychology👩🏾‍⚖️ ap us government

english & capstone

✍🏽 ap english language📚 ap english literature🔍 ap research💬 ap seminar

arts

🎨 ap art & design🖼️ ap art history🎵 ap music theory

science

🧬 ap biology🧪 ap chemistry♻️ ap environmental science🎡 ap physics 1🧲 ap physics 2💡 ap physics c: e&m⚙️ ap physics c: mechanics

math & computer science

🧮 ap calculus ab♾️ ap calculus bc📐 ap precalculus📊 ap statistics💻 ap computer science a⌨️ ap computer science p

world languages

🇨🇳 ap chinese🇫🇷 ap french🇩🇪 ap german🇮🇹 ap italian🇯🇵 ap japanese🏛️ ap latin🇪🇸 ap spanish language💃🏽 ap spanish literature

career kickstart

💼 ap business with personal finance🔒 ap cybersecurity

go beyond AP

high school exams

✏️ PSAT🎓 Digital SAT🎒 ACT

honors classes

🍬 honors algebra II🫀 honors anatomy🐇 honors biology👩🏽‍🔬 honors chemistry💲 honors economics📐 honors geometry⚾️ honors physics📏 honors pre-calculus📊 honors statistics🗳️ honors us government🇺🇸 honors us history🌎 honors world history

college classes

👩🏽‍🎤 arts👔 business🎤 communications🏗️ engineering📓 humanities➗ math🧑🏽‍🔬 science💶 social science

hs classes

🏛️ alabama history⛰️ appalachian studies🌴 california history🌍 earth science🌐 ethnic studies🐊 florida history🍑 georgia history🌎 global studies🌺 hawaiian studies📰 journalism🪶 native american studies🌵 new mexico history🤠 oklahoma history⚗️ physical science🎙️ speech and debate🤝 texas government🤠 texas history🌲 washington state history🕊️ world religions
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© 2026 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.