The Liu MethodA Reading Strategy for Rhetorical Analysis

The Foundation

The Architecture

The Music

Agenda1. Goals for this Presentation2. Where in the world are you

from?3. Who is Eric Liu? What gives

him Ethos?4. DMA – Intro to the Liu Method5. Foundation Model – Feeble

Women and Poor Dumb Bastards6. Architecture Model – Why I

like/dislike Citizens United7. Music Model – “Riding into the

Jaws of Death…that the nation might live.”

8. Liu Method and the APLaC Exam

9. Self-Reflection and Questions or Comments

Goals To comprehend the steps of

the Liu Method to apply as a reading annotation technique.

• To be able to instruct students how to apply the Liu Method towards the Multiple-Choice section and the Rhetorical Analysis essay on the AP Language and Composition exam.• To reflect on how the Liu Method could be used in your classroom/work environment.

Where in the World are you from? What gives you Ethos?

Who is Eric Liu?Communications professor

at University of Washington.

Former speechwriter in the Clinton Administration.

Author of The Accidental Asian: Notes of a Native Speaker a New York Times Notable Book in 2002.

Founder of the Guiding Lights Network which promotes civic engagement.

DMA Read the following

passage to yourself.Jot down phrases, words,

sentences that stand out to you.

Consider the following:What is the author’s

thesis/claim?How does the author

structure his work?What strategies does the

writer use to make his writing sing?

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.

DISTINCTIO Distinctio (Rhetorical Device) Def: explicit references to various meanings

of a word--usually for the purpose of clarification.

Distinctio of:FoundationArchitectureMusic

What is the Foundation?

Foundation Def: The claim/thesis/main idea of a text.

How to Annotate The Foundation:Actively and critically read through the article underlying key passages and phrases.

How to Paraphrase The Foundation:Then, write a statement paraphrasing the claim or thesis beginning with a verb.

Examples:1. Liu persuades...2. Liu convinces... 3. Liu refutes.... 4. Liu mocks.... 5. Liu suggests...

What is the Architecture?Architecture Def: The logical

structure of a text OR how the author arranges her argument.

How to Annotate the Architecture: Read through the passage. Chunk the passage into categories.

Examples:1. Hook

2. Thesis

3. Reasons supporting issue

4. Counterargument

5. Call to Action

6. Etc.

What is the Music? Music Def: The techniques an

author uses to demonstrates his craft as a writer.

How to Annotate the Music: Look for words, phrases, sentences, paragraphs that stand out to you.

Examples:1. Diction

2. Syntax

3. Literary Devices

4. Poetic Devices

5. Rhetorical Devices

6. Etc.

The Foundation

Foundation Model #1- Feeble Women

Queen Elizabeth I – Tilbury speech

Foundation Model #2 – Poor Dumb Bastards

Gen. George Patton – Speech to the 3rd Army

The Architecture

ARCHITECTURE Model #1 Why EJ Dionne dislikes Citizens United

ARCHITECTURE Model #2 Why George Will likes Citizens United

The Music

Music Model #1 Tennyson’s “The Charge of the Light

Brigade”

Music Model #2Lincoln’s “Gettysburg

Address”

Liu and the AP Exam

Multiple – Choice ExamThe speaker's attitude is best

described as one of . . .The syntax of lines 27-29

serves to . . .Which of the following best

describes the author's purpose in the last sentence?

The speaker's mention of “opportunities" is appropriate to the development of her argument by . . .

The pattern of exposition exemplified in the passage can best be described as . .

Rhetorical Analysis Essay On April 10, 1962, as the United States was emerging from a recession, the nation’s largest steel companies raised steel prices by 3.5 percent. President John F. Kennedy, who had repeatedly called for stable prices and wages as part of a program of national sacrifice during a period of economic distress, held a news conference on April 11, 1962, which he opened with the following commentary regarding the hike in steel prices. Read Kennedy’s remarks carefully. Then write an essay in which you analyze the rhetorical strategies President Kennedy uses to achieve his purpose. Support your analysis with specific references to the text.

SummaryFoundation: identifying the author’s claim/thesis

with a verb statement.Architecture: Chunking paragraphs in categories

to determine how the author structures a text.Music: Identifying diction, syntax, or literary,

poetic, or rhetorical moves the author uses to make his music sing.

Consider employing the Liu Method to help students to annotate passages for the Multiple Choice Exam and Rhetorical Analysis Essay.

Self-ReflectionTake the next few minutes to self-reflect how you can apply the Liu Method for your classroom or work environment.

Questions or Comments