Final answer:
Authors use rhetorical strategies such as analogy, cause and effect, comparison and contrast, and rhythm to emphasize and connect ideas and support claims in a passage. These strategies also guide the reader through the author's reasoning and enhance the text's coherence.
Step-by-step explanation:
To emphasize ideas in a passage, an author may employ various rhetorical strategies such as analogy, cause and effect, comparison and contrast, and rhythm. These strategies help connect ideas, support claims, and enhance the textual coherence. For example, an analogy compares two unlike subjects to clarify an unfamiliar concept by highlighting similarities, while rhythm can affect the emotional response of the reader and underline key points.
When analyzing a text paragraph by paragraph, it is essential to note how each rhetorical strategy supports the writer's thesis statement. Transitions within and between paragraphs serve as cues that guide the reader through the author's reasoning. These methods are a part of the critical thinking process that is expected in college-level writing.
A focus on rhythm, for instance, can be seen in poetry where it enhances the emotional impact or in prose where it draws attention to specific areas within the text, such as a concept or a place. Similarly, employing comparison provides a rational framework for readers to comprehend and be persuaded by the writer's arguments.