Unit Checkpoint
Unit Review
This checkpoint assesses your mastery of the Advanced Rhetoric unit. Before beginning the assessment, review the key concepts from each lesson.
Key Concepts Summary
Lesson 1: Rhetorical Situation
- The rhetorical triangle: speaker/writer, audience, subject/message
- Purpose, context, and constraints in communication
- How rhetorical situations shape choices and effectiveness
Lesson 2: Appeals and Evidence
- Ethos (credibility), pathos (emotion), logos (logic)
- Types of evidence: facts, statistics, expert testimony, examples, anecdotes
- Evaluating the effectiveness and appropriateness of evidence
Lesson 3: Text Practice
- Analyzing rhetoric across genres (speeches, editorials, scientific writing, advertisements)
- Context-dependent interpretation of rhetorical strategies
- Comparing rhetorical approaches across multiple texts
Lesson 4: Writing Application
- Adapting arguments for different audiences
- Strategic choices in openings, organization, evidence, and conclusions
- Balancing ethos, pathos, and logos in your own writing
Lesson 5: Editing Workshop
- Levels of revision: global, paragraph, sentence, word
- Editing for concision, emphasis, variety, and clarity
- Common issues in persuasive writing and how to fix them
Sample Assessment Items
Review these examples to understand the types of questions you will encounter in the assessment.
Example: Multiple Choice (Analysis)
Read the following excerpt:
"As a physician with thirty years of experience treating adolescents, I can tell you that the evidence is overwhelming: sleep deprivation is destroying our students' health, academic performance, and emotional well-being."
Which rhetorical appeal does the speaker primarily rely on in this statement?
Answer: Ethos. The speaker establishes credibility through professional experience and expertise before making a claim.
Example: Short Response (Application)
Revise the following sentence to be more concise and rhetorically effective:
"It is important to understand that there are many different reasons why students should be required to take physical education classes."
Sample Answer: "Students should be required to take physical education for several compelling reasons." (Eliminates throat-clearing, uses active voice, maintains meaning in fewer words.)
Assessment
Complete all items below to demonstrate your mastery of advanced rhetoric concepts.
Part A: Rhetorical Analysis (Items 1-4)
Item 1
Read the following excerpt from a speech:
"Every child in this nation deserves access to quality education—not as a privilege, but as a right. Not as a gift from politicians, but as a birthright guaranteed by our founding principles."
Identify two rhetorical devices used in this excerpt and explain how each contributes to the speaker's purpose.
Item 2
An editorial argues for increased funding for public libraries. Which of the following would be the MOST effective evidence for an audience of city council members focused on budget concerns?
- A. Personal stories from library patrons about how much they love their local library
- B. Data showing that every dollar invested in libraries generates $5 in economic return to the community
- C. A quotation from a famous author about the importance of reading
- D. A description of the library's summer reading program
Explain your choice and why the other options would be less effective for this specific audience.
Item 3
Compare the rhetorical approaches of these two openings on the topic of renewable energy:
Text A: "By 2050, we will have exhausted the world's oil reserves. The time to transition to renewable energy is not someday—it is today."
Text B: "Solar panel installations have increased 400% in the past decade, creating 250,000 new jobs and reducing household energy costs by an average of 30%."
Analyze how each opening establishes its argument differently. Which appeals does each emphasize, and what type of audience might each be more effective for?
Item 4
Identify the logical fallacy or weakness in the following argument and explain why it undermines the speaker's credibility:
"Everyone knows that violent video games cause aggressive behavior in children. My neighbor's son plays those games constantly, and he's always getting into trouble at school."
Part B: Writing Application (Items 5-8)
Item 5
Write a thesis statement for an argumentative essay on one of the following topics. Your thesis must be specific, arguable, and rhetorically effective:
- School dress codes
- Required community service for graduation
- Year-round schooling
Item 6
You are writing a persuasive letter advocating for a new after-school program. Draft two different opening paragraphs:
- Version A: For an audience of parents
- Version B: For an audience of school administrators
After writing both versions, briefly explain how you adapted your approach for each audience.
Item 7
Write a paragraph that uses the concession-rebuttal structure to address the following counterargument:
Your position: Schools should eliminate letter grades in favor of narrative feedback.
Counterargument to address: Colleges need grades to compare applicants fairly.
Item 8
Write a compelling conclusion for an essay arguing that all students should learn a second language. Your conclusion should avoid simply restating the thesis and should include a call to action or memorable final thought.
Part C: Editing and Revision (Items 9-12)
Item 9
Revise the following paragraph to eliminate wordiness, strengthen weak verbs, and improve clarity:
"There are many people who believe that the implementation of stricter regulations on the use of social media platforms by minors is something that would be beneficial for society as a whole. These regulations would be helpful in terms of protecting young people from the various dangers that exist online."
Item 10
The following sentences lack effective transitions. Revise them into a coherent paragraph with appropriate transitions that show the logical relationships between ideas:
"Physical education improves student health. It reduces stress and anxiety. Students who exercise regularly perform better academically. Many schools have cut PE programs due to budget constraints. This is a mistake that will have long-term consequences."
Item 11
Revise this sentence to place the most important information in a position of emphasis:
"According to a recent study by Harvard researchers, which was published in a major scientific journal, screen time before bed reduces sleep quality by 40%, which many people find surprising."
Item 12
Identify and correct all issues in the following paragraph. Then explain what changes you made and why:
"I think that maybe homework should possibly be reduced. It is a source of stress for students. There is research that shows this. Students are tired and homework is a problem. Changes need to be made by teachers and schools in order to address this issue that affects many students."
Self-Assessment Rubric
Use this rubric to evaluate your responses before moving on.
| Skill | Proficient | Developing | Beginning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhetorical Analysis | Accurately identifies strategies, explains effects, and connects to purpose/audience | Identifies strategies but explanation of effects is incomplete | Struggles to identify or explain rhetorical strategies |
| Audience Adaptation | Clearly adjusts tone, evidence, and framing for different audiences | Shows some adaptation but differences are not fully developed | Writing does not reflect awareness of audience differences |
| Persuasive Writing | Uses effective claims, evidence, and rhetorical techniques | Arguments present but techniques not fully developed | Arguments unclear or unsupported |
| Editing Skills | Revisions significantly improve clarity, concision, and impact | Some improvements made but issues remain | Revisions do not address key issues |
Next Steps
- Review any areas where you scored "Developing" or "Beginning"
- Revisit specific lessons as needed before moving on
- Apply these skills in your upcoming writing assignments
- Continue to the next ELA unit when ready