“SPACE CAT!” is a mnemonic acronym used in
AP English Language and other rhetorical analysis classes to break down the components of a text. It stands for Speaker, Purpose, Audience, Context, Exigence, and Choices, and Tone, helping students understand the rhetorical situation and the author’s choices. This framework provides a structured way to analyze why a text is written, who it’s for, and how it is constructed to persuade or inform the audience.
The SPACE CAT acronym
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Speaker: Who is the speaker or author? What are their experiences, biases, or authority on the subject?
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Purpose: What is the author’s goal? What do they want the audience to think, feel, or do?
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Audience: Who is the intended audience? How do the author’s choices relate to their assumptions about this audience?
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Context: What is the historical, social, or political setting in which the text was created?
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Exigence: What is the “spark” or catalyst that prompted the author to create the text? What specific event or problem inspired the message?
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Choices: What are the specific rhetorical choices the author makes? This includes things like word choice, syntax, organization, imagery, and figurative language.
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Tone: What is the author’s attitude toward the subject? How is this attitude conveyed, and does it shift throughout the text?