Rhetorical Grammar: Grammatical Choices, Rhetorical Effects

Rhetorical Grammar encourages writers to recognize and use the grammatical and stylistic choices available to them and to understand the rhetorical effects those choices can have on their readers.

 Rhetorical Grammar is a writer's grammar - a text that presents grammar as a rhetorical tool, avoiding the do's and don'ts so long associated with the study of grammar. It reveals to  writers the system of grammar that they know subconsciously and encourages them to use that knowledge to understand their choices as writers and the effects of those choices on their readers. Besides providing key strategies for revision, Rhetorical Grammar presents systematic discussions of reader expectation, sentence rhythm and cohesion, subordination and coordination, punctuation, modification, diction, and other principles.

This detailed guide encourages writers to recognize and use the grammatical and stylistic choices available to them and to understand the rhetorical effects those choices can have on their readers.

This detailed guide encourages writers to recognize and use the grammatical and stylistic choices available to them and to understand the rhetorical effects those choices can have on their readers.

Helps to improve writing style.  1. The Structure of Sentences. 2. The Basic Sentences in Prose 3.  Coordination  4. Cohesion 5. Sentence Rhythm. 6. The Writer's Voice. 7. Choosing Verbs. 8. Choosing Adverbials. 9. Choosing Adjectivals. 10. Choosing Stylistic Variations. 11. Word Classes. 12. Pronouns. 13. Punctuation: Its Purposes, Its Hierarchy, and Its Rhetorical Effects.  Anyone interested in improving their writing style.

Note: Each chapter begins with a Chapter Preview and ends with Key Terms, Rhetorical Reminders, and Punctuation Reminders

Preface.

Introduction.

I. UNDERSTANDING SENTENCES.

1. The Structure of Sentences.

The Two-Part Sentence.

Questions and Commands.

The Expanded Verb.

Sentence Patterns.

The Optional Slot.

The Passive Voice.

"Clause" and "Sentence".

Punctuation and the Sentence Patterns.

2. The Basic Sentences in Prose

Topic Sentences.

Special Effects.

The Short Paragraph.

A Sentence Survey.

3. Coordination

Coordination Within the Sentence.

Compound Sentences.

The Compound Sentence: Punctuation Review.

Parallel Structure.

II. CONNECTING WITH THE READER

4. Cohesion

Reader Expectation.

Repetition.

The Known-New Contract.

Metadiscourse.

Parallelism.

Levels of Generality.

5. Sentence Rhythm.

Intonation: The Peaks and Valleys.

End Focus.

Controlling Rhythm.

Rhythm and the Comma.

Power Words.

6. The Writer's Voice.

Tone.

Diction.

Metaphor.

Metadiscourse.

Point of View.

III. MAKING CHOICES

7. Choosing Verbs.

Our Versatile Verbs.

The Abstract Subject.

Showing, Not Telling.

The Overuse of Be.

8. Choosing Adverbials.

The Opening Adverbial.

The Prepositional Phrase.

The Subordinate Clause.

Infinitive (Verb) Phrases.

Movability and Closure.

The Qualifiers.

9. Choosing Adjectivals.

Determiners.

Adjectives and Nouns.

Prepositional Phrases.

Participial Phrases.

Relative Clauses.

Punctuation of Phrases and Clauses

The Broad-Reference Clause.

Other Nominals.

Appositives

Punctuation Revisited.

10. Choosing Stylistic Variations.

The Coordinate Series.

Repetition.

Word-Order Variation.

Ellipsis.

Antithesis.

The Deliberate Fragment.

IV. A WAY WITH WORDS.

11. Word Classes.

Lexical Rules.

Parts of Speech.

The Form Classes.

12. Pronouns.

Personal Pronouns.

Personal Pronoun Errors.

Reflexive Pronouns.

Reciprocal Pronouns.

Demonstrative Pronouns.

Indefinite Pronouns.

V. PUNCTUATION.

13. Punctuation: Its Purposes, Its Hierarchy, and Its Rhetorical Effects.

The Purposes of Punctuation Marks.

The Hierarchy of Punctuation.

The Rhetorical Effects of Punctuation.

Glossary of Punctuation.

Glossary of Terms.

Bibliography.

Answers to the Exercises.

Index.