The document discusses various tools for analyzing and summarizing texts, including analogy, allusion, imagery, overstatement, understatement, personification, rhetorical questions, irony, and diction. For each tool, it provides a brief definition and example to illustrate how that tool works and the rhetorical effects it can achieve. The document asks questions about the purpose and effectiveness of using different tools.

1. How to read: Tools for reading and analyzing

2. Analogy Comparison “For some time now, people have rightly argued that ignoring black history and women’s literature […] has been anything but neutral. Rather, it betrays a prejudice; it is discriminatory. And so it is with religion.” How does this work? What appeals might it be tied to?

3. Allusion Reference to historical or literary event or person. “Five score years ago, a great American…”-MLK How does this work? What appeals might it be tied to?

4. Imagery Vivid language that evokes a mental image of what’s being described. “The visitor must proceed on a catwalk; a misstep will plunge him into a slow river of entrails and blood.” Why is imagery effective?

5. Overstatement (Hyperbole) Exaggeration to make a point. “I haven’t seen you in ages!” Why does this work? Is this fair?

6. Understatement To downplay something for effect “Florida State? They aren’t my favorite team.” How does this tool compare to overstatement?

7. Personification Giving human characteristics to animals, abstract ideas, and inanimate objects. Can be a long section: D&C 88:87 For not many days hence and the aearth shall btremble and reel to and fro as a drunken man; and the csun shall dhide his face, and shall refuse to give light; and the moon shall be bathed in eblood; and the stars shall become exceedingly angry, and shall fcast themselves down as a fig that falleth from off a fig-tree. Can be as small as a word: “These cruel shoes…”

8. Rhetorical Question A question that doesn’t require an answer. Moroni 7:40 “ And again, my beloved brethren, I would speak unto you concerning ahope. How is it that ye can attain unto faith, save ye shall have hope? If they aren’t supposed to answer, how should the audience react?

9. Irony Saying one thing and meaning another. A Modest Proposal by Jonathon Swift “No, I’ve love to be hit in the face again.” How do we know if someone’s being ironic is we can’t see or hear them?

10. Diction Word choice. Diction can be used for any of the tools we’ve already discussed it also affects: Tone: is it serious, funny, condescending, respectful? Find 5 ways to say “she is not pretty” in different tones.