Stutzman

AP Lang – National Exam Preparation

Directions Part 1:
First Read: After reading the piece, quickly identify these pieces SOAPSTone in the piece.
Teacher’s Note: This is not something you will literally do during your National Exam (you don’t have
time!), but understanding who the author is and his/her purpose, and the rhetorical situation are
critical to being able to successfully explain the essay’s rhetorical strategies!

REMEMBER THAT STRATEGIES ARE ALWAYS TIED TO THE AUTHOR”S UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR
AUDIENCE – REMEMBER THE RHETORICAL TRIANGLE!!!!

SOAPSTone Organizer

Textual Support
Your Response (Write line
numbers)

Subject:
The general topic,
content and ideas It is about Browning “praising” Napoleon, which is
Whole Essay
contained in the actually just criticizing him.
text. What is this
piece about?

Occasion:
The time and place This letter takes place during the reign of Napoleon. The
of the piece; the letter was never sent, however.
Intro section of
current situation or
piece
context which gave
rise to the writing or
speech.

Audience: The Whole essay (use

group of readers of You)
to whom this Originally Napoleon, but now it is being seen and
piece is directed. analyzed by people all around the world
The audience may
be one person, as
mall group or a
large group. What
qualities, beliefs or
values do the
audience members
have in common?
 Stutzman
AP Lang – National Exam Preparation

Purpose:
The reason behind
the text. What
does the speaker,
writer or Whole essay
filmmaker want The purpose was to criticize Napoleon and his methods of accusations
the audience to ruling.
do, feel, say or ex. 14 onword
choose? In
literature, we call
this the theme of
the piece.
Speaker:
The voice that
tells the story, or
in nonfiction, the Intro section of
author. What do Browning is an English poet, so she feels to defend Hugo
piece
we know about
the writer’s life
and views that
shape this text?
Tone:
What choice of
words and use of Juxtaposition and Exaggeration- comparing him to God
rhetorical devices
let you know the Exaggeration- further emphasize her point 56
speaker’s tone? Is
the tone light- Specific Diction- further emphasize her point 14
hearted or deadly
serious?
Mischievous or
ironic?
 Stutzman
AP Lang – National Exam Preparation

Directions Part 2:
Second Read: Now, go through the passage again and annotate for the stylistic elements we have been
working with all year. Examples include: Diction, Syntax, Tone, and Imagery.
Remember: All these stylistic devices aid the Rhetorical Appeals the Author is making – they do
not exist alone. What arguments are being made with and through these stylistic elements that aid the
author in appealing to Ethos, Pathos, Logos? How/What is the author doing to appeal to the audience?
- Find Two major examples you could talk about in an essay
- Now, use your reading to develop a block of analysis about that one strategy you noticed.
This would be the equivalent of one Body Paragraph in the actual essay you would write

First Example/Analysis:
Author’s Purpose: Compares Napoleon to God
What is the Author’s purpose
in his statement?
Your Claim: Juxtaposition
What stylistic “move” does the
Author make in order to fulfill
his purpose?
Significance
Textual Example Effect Why is this effect important to the
What in the text supports your What effect does this author’s overall argument? MAKE
claim? What is the author example have on this specific SURE YOU EXPLAIN WHY THIS
doing? audience? BE SPECIFIC HERE! SPECIFIC STRATEGY WOULD Work
ON THIS SPECIFIC AUDIENCE?!
This allows Napoleon to feel This leads the audience to trust the
Line 56
invincible, just to be broken author, but then immediately
down afterwards. breaks down that trust via an
The author is trying to have
accusation.
Napoleon listen to what she is
saying.

This allows Napoleon to feel It gives an indication that he is

Line 51
“Divine Love” - another
indication of God
invincible, just to be broken better than everyone else, when
down afterwards. however, the evidence shows
otherwise.
 Stutzman
AP Lang – National Exam Preparation

Second Example/Analysis:
Author’s Purpose: Exaggerate her point
What is the Author’s purpose in his
statement?
Your Claim: Appeals to Pathos
What stylistic “move” does the using Tone and
Author make in order to fulfill his Imagery
purpose?
Significance
Effect
Why is this effect important to the
Textual Example What effect does this
author’s overall argument? MAKE
What in the text supports your example have on the
SURE YOU EXPLAIN WHY THIS
claim? audience? BE
SPECIFIC STRATEGY WOULD Work
SPECIFIC HERE!
ON THIS SPECIFIC AUDIENCE?!
This allows the This is to prove a point that many
audience to feel people, including her, feel that his
Line 14 sympathy for the actions against an innocent man are
author. extremely unjust and wrong.
Describes the context in which she is
writing the letter, but is probably
exaggerating

This allows the This is to prove a point that many

audience to connect people, including her, feel that his
to the author and why actions against an innocent man are
Line 7 she feels this is extremely unjust and wrong.
wrong.
Uses personal experience to
emphasize her point
Stutzman
AP Lang – National Exam Preparation