By
Scott Russell Sanders

• What is the genre?
– Profile of a Person/ Mini-Biography
Sanders makes the observation interesting by finding an interesting angle from which to present the subject… he includes engaging details and dialogue to enliven the portrait…remember …these are some special features of the biographical profile.

• Scott Russell Sanders
– Educated at Brown and Cambridge Universities
– Teaches English at Indiana University in
Bloomington
– Best known for his nature writings

• Who is telling the story…

• For whom did the author write?
• What readers does the author hope to reach?
• What readers did he or she actually reach?
– Originally published in Harper’s Magazine (Nov.
1989)
• A monthly magazine dedicated to discussing American politics, literature, and culture.
• Norton Reader

• What is the context in which the writing takes place…
– Social, political, biographical, historical,etc.
– How does Sanders “get our attention”?
• He begins -My father drank. ( He is very blunt.)
• He starts with the end.

• What goals did Sanders have in composing and publishing the essay?
• What effect did he wish to have on the audience?
• What is the purpose of this piece?

• What is Sander’s message for “Under the
Influence”?
– What rhetorical devices are used?
• Parallelism
• Contrast
• Allusions
• Simile
• Analogies
• Adjectives/ Connotation
• Lists
• Dialogue
• Personal Examples

• Why start the essay in this way?
• Why start at the end?
• What is the effect of lists?
• When looking at the adjectives used to describe
Sander’s father, what connotation is associated with them?
• What is the effect of the allusions?
• How are the statistics used to convey the message?
• How is the child’s anger/ perspective used to support the message?

• Write a Rhetorical Analysis Essay
– At least 800 words
– Identify at least four rhetorical devices and how they are used to support the message.
– At least 5 college words (underlined).
– Due Wednesday Nov. 23 rd
– Sample: Rhetorical Essay