Rhetorical Analysis
How and why a text is - or is not - effective or persuasive.
Examines use of proofs - or appeals:
reasoning (logos): appeals to logic, reasoning, common sense, examples that support
credibility (ethos): the credibility or reliability of author or authorities cited
emotion (pathos): "joy, acceptance, fear, surprise, sadness, disgust, anger, anticipation" (149)
The Basics:
Provide summary of text (an objective statement of the thesis/main idea and key points), demonstrating an understanding of the text being analyzed.
.
Define rhetorical terms: Let the reader know how the rhetorial term is being used
Provide historical context: The historical context places the text in a historical context for the purpose of evaluation.
“Historical context”: the political, social, cultural, and economic environment related to historical moments, events, and trends . Historical artifacts and sources were created within particular worlds and are tied to the political, social, and economic conditions of those worlds (teachinghistory.org).
“historical context.” Glossary of Commonly Used Terms. Teachinghistory.org. Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media at George Mason University. 2012. Web. 20 Dec. 2012.
Link: teachinghistory.org/outreach/glossary
Analysis of text
The thesis of the analysis identifies the main idea of the text and addresses:
addresses the use of rhetorical concepts (appeals and devices)
how the text seeks to persuade: evaluates its effectiveness or ineffectiveness
Note that the purpose is not to agree or disagree with the text being analyzed but to analyze or evaluate its use of appeals. -
Johnson-Sheehan, Richard and Charles Paine. Writing Today. 2nd ed. Boston: Pearson, 2013. Print.
The rhetorical analysis should
focus on one [or more] of the strategies used by the writer: e.g., content, organization, expression (or some more defined area within one of these categories)
analyze rather than [just] summarize the essay
“Rhetorical Analysis.” Iowa State. 2011. Web. 20 Sept. 2012.
Planning and Drafting. Reflecting. Sample. Questions to Help You Focus.
For more information, click on the Resources page below: