Rhetorical Analysis - Structure and Rhetorical Devices

Introduction Structure

• In the (title of work), (author) offers a heartfelt (or other adjective) _______ to emphasize (1) and (2) in the (specific time)

• During a time of ______ (more description toward context), (the author) advocates/frames for ________

• Through the use of a variety of rhetorical choices, (the author) prompts/urges/inspires (the audience) to (CTA).

Body paragraph

• Topic sentence: In his/her (genre of work), (author) employs/utilizes RD #1 to highlight/accentuate ________ (whatever author’s goal is).

• Evidence #1:

  • Introduce evidence using context

  • Quote example

  • Your claim about the evidence (What the evidence does related to the passage)

• Commentary:

  • Explain the effect of evidence #1 in relation to either credibility (ethos), passion or emotion (pathos), or logic (logos)

  • While doing this, tie the specific use of the strategy in to your claim and the theme/main idea of the work

  • Don’t summarize what type of rhetorical device it is, but say “by using ____, he/she is able to appeal to the audience’s emotion/logical reasoning/credibility in order to (CTA).”

• Evidence #2:

  • Advance your idea by providing more evidence

  • Format: [Tie in previous evidence and its effect] [start talking about second piece of evidence, continuing your claim about the strategy named in the topic sentence] [textual evidence]

• Commentary:

  • Explain the effect of evidence #2 (should be the same strategy as evidence #1) in relation to either credibility (ethos), passion or emotion (pathos), or logic (logos)

  • While doing this, tie the specific use of the strategy in to your claim and the theme/main idea of the work

• Closing sentence:

  • Ultimately, through the use of ____, the author is able to convince the audience to _______

  • Explain how your examples of the specific rhetorical device connect and are effective in conveying your thesis and the theme of the work

  • For sophistication, try to tie in audience. Say how rhetorical device coveys thesis/theme to “x audience” and/or why this device is good for x purpose for x audience.

Conclusion

• In conclusion, in order to move readers to ____ (state MAIN goal of author and what they are overall trying to achieve and want they want to happen as a result)

• Say move readers to not only (do this), but to also (do this) → State overarching goal

• By using RD #1/2, the author is able to effectively convey the importance of____ to his/her audience.

• Briefly explain how it is relevant and important given the context

• (Author last name:)’s (title of work) demonstrates how carefully chosen language can move a (adj; like divided) people toward ___________.

Alliteration

• Identify: Is the repetition of the same consonant sounds at the beginning of closely connected words.

• Explain: the repeated _ sound depicts the author’s descent into (specific emotion), which captivates the audience and brings them with him on this journey.

Allusion

• Identify: An indirect or passion reference to a person, place, or literary work.

• Explain: Alludes to _____, to deepen the meaning of ______ and allow to the audience to relate spiritually/emotionally/religiously/physically to his/her words.

Analogy

• Identify: A comparison between 2 things for the purpose of explanation or clarification

• Explain: By analogy, (author) equates this to that in order to build connections that will linger with the audience and appeal to their (emotion/logic)

Anaphora

• Deliberate repetition of a word/phrase at the start of successive clauses

• Uses anaphora to highlight/remind the audience ____.

Antithesis

• Identify: The juxtaposition of contrasing ideas in balanced phrases

• Stark opposition emphasizes______, reinforcing ___

Parallelism

• The repetition of grammatical structures in successive clauses or phrases.

• Creates rhythm and balance, highlighting the ____ of _____