Rhetorical Analysis Notes

Rhetorical Analysis Review

Rhetorical Analysis

  • A rhetorical analysis essay addresses the following questions:

    • Given the rhetorical situation, what makes the writing persuasive?

    • What rhetorical choices does the writer make to convey his message or achieve her purpose?

    • How are those rhetorical choices functioning in the text?

    • What is the effect of those choices on the audience?

What a Rhetorical Analysis Essay Is and Is Not

  • A rhetorical analysis essay is not:

    • A summary of what the text says or an analysis of what it means.

    • A personal response or critique of the text.

    • A list of definitions of the rhetorical choices that occur in the text.

  • A rhetorical analysis essay is:

    • An analysis of how the writer’s rhetorical choices function in the text.

    • An analysis of how the writer’s rhetorical choices contribute to the effectiveness of his writing or help the writer achieve her purpose or aims.

Rhetorical Choices

  • Methods of Development or Rhetorical Modes:

    • Comparison/contrast

    • Description

    • Definition

    • Exemplification

    • Cause/Effect

    • Problem/solution

    • Narration

    • Classification/Division

    • Analogy

  • Ideas

  • Rhetorical Appeals: Ethos, Pathos, Logos

  • Claim/Evidence/Argument

  • Tone

  • Style:

    • Diction

    • Syntax

    • Repetition

    • Imagery

    • Allusion

    • Figurative language

Analysis of Rhetorical Choices

  • Essay overall answers the question:

    • Given the rhetorical situation, what makes the writing persuasive?

  • Your tasks:

    • Identify specific rhetorical choices.

    • Analyze the choices by answering:

      • How does the choice function in the essay?

      • What is the effect of the rhetorical choice on the audience?

      • How does the rhetorical choice help the writer achieve the purpose?

Example: Kubrin & Nielson

  • Rhetorical Choice: Evidence

    • The authors cite a psychological study.

  • Text: “To address this question Stuart Fischoff, a psychologist at California State University, Los Angeles, conducted a study in the late 1990s to measure the impact of gangsta rap lyrics on juries…Those who read the lyrics were significantly more likely to believe the man was capable of committing a murder than those who did not.”

  • Analysis: What is the function of the rhetorical choice? What is the effect of the rhetorical choice on the audience? How does the rhetorical choice help the writer convey the message/achieve the purpose?

    • The authors’ inclusion of a psychological study is convincing evidence that lyrics are prejudicial, especially for an audience who may not be familiar with the genre and who would likely trust the results of a study. The study helps the writers support their claim that rap lyrics should not be used as evidence in trials.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Content

  • A rhetorical analysis will address:

    • The rhetorical situation (SOAPS)

    • The development of the writing/argument

    • An analysis of the function of specific choices

    • An analysis of the reason the writer made those choices for the particular occasion, audience, and purpose

Introductions

  • Situate the reader in your writing

  • Provide information about your subject and your purpose for writing

  • Content:

    • Writer’s name and credentials

    • The type (speech, essay, article, letter) and title of text

    • When/why the piece was written

    • Subject of the piece

    • The intended audience

    • The purpose

  • Your thesis (rhetorical choices and purpose)

Rhetorical Analysis: Thesis

  • Thesis statement: A one or two sentence statement of the writer’s main idea or argument.

  • Your R.A. thesis will address the purpose of the text and the rhetorical choices you find most effective.

  • Example: In order to encourage teachers to adopt his natural method, Emerson includes an anecdote illustrating its success, uses figurative language to convey his criticism of the current system, and addresses the audience with an inspirational tone.

Rhetorical Analysis: Line of Reasoning

  • In addition to a defensible thesis, AP Readers are looking to see that you establish and develop a line of reasoning (LoR) in your essay.

  • LoR Definition:

    • Arrangement of claims, reasoning, and evidence leading to a conclusion.

  • To establish a LoR: In your thesis, list the rhetorical choices you will address.

  • To develop a LoR: In each body paragraph, analyze the effect of the choices from your thesis and explain the function of the choices: how the choices build or work together to allow the writer to achieve the purpose.

Thesis with Line of Reasoning

  • Templates:

    • By _ (strategies/devices), the writer (or name) ___ (purpose).

    • In order to ___ (purpose), the writer (or name) ___ (strategies/devices).

Sample Good Introduction

In the compilation of his mid-19th century speeches and essays, “Education,” writer and Transcendental thinker, Ralph Waldo Emerson advocates for reform of the mass education system of his day. He wants educators to implement his method of nurturing the innate interests and talents of individual students as much as they can. In order to encourage teachers to adopt this approach, he includes an anecdote illustrating its success, uses figurative language to convey his criticism of the current system, and addresses the audience with an inspirational tone.

Better Introduction

  • To improve a good introduction, provide more context

  • Address what is significant or important about the rhetorical situation

  • You may bring in some of your own knowledge (context, writer, etc)

Sample Better Introduction

During the 19th century compulsory education became more widespread as scholars and leaders concluded an educated electorate and workforce would be helpful for the young American democracy. Some schools became crowded, resulting in teaching methods that focused on managing rather than inspiring or developing young minds. In the compilation of his speeches and essays, “Education,” writer and Transcendental thinker, Ralph Waldo Emerson advocates for reform of the mass education system. He wants educators to implement his method of nurturing the innate interests and talents of individual students as much as they can. In order to encourage teachers to adopt this approach, he includes an anecdote illustrating its success, uses figurative language to convey his criticism of the current system, and addresses the audience with an inspirational tone, hoping they will take any opportunity that arises to follow his natural method.

Body Paragraphs

  • AP Readers are looking for evidence and well-developed commentary in your body paragraphs.

  • Evidence is the text example (containing a rhetorical choice).

  • Commentary is the analysis of the text example: your explanation of why it is persuasive given the rhetorical situation (Effect on the audience and How it functions to serve the writer’s purpose/message).

Body Paragraphs

  • Analyze choices made by writers

  • Work chronologically through the text (paragraph by paragraph; section by section), discussing what the writer is doing/choices the writer is making at beginning, middle, end and how they build on each other/work together to achieve the writer’s aim

  • Use transition words to indicate where in the text you are analyzing and how choices build on each other: begins, opens, moves to, contrasts, shifts to, closes, ends, etc.

  • Incorporate specific text examples

  • Clearly and specifically explain how the choices are used to help the writer achieve the purpose and reach the audience

Opening Sentence of Body Paragraph

  • Contextualize your analysis - explain what the writer is doing/writer’s purpose in the section of text you are analyzing

  • Indicate the aspect of your thesis & line of reasoning you will analyze in the paragraph - the rhetorical choice

  • Thesis & Line of reasoning: In order to encourage teachers to adopt this approach, he [Emerson] includes an anecdote illustrating its success, uses figurative language to convey his criticism of the current system, and addresses the audience with an inspirational tone, hoping they will take any opportunity that arises to follow his natural method.

  • Opening sentence of body paragraph: Emerson opens his essay by presenting his natural method: nurturing the innate talents and interests of individual students. He argues that implementing this method will allow students to be well-educated and reach their full potential. He includes an anecdote of Sir Charles Fellowes to support his claim…

Body Paragraphs

  • Structure:

    • Opening sentence(s): contextualize your analysis (indicate where in the text you are focusing)

    • State the example (text passage with rhetorical choice)

    • Explain the example (interpret, explain the function)

    • Analyze function, purpose, audience

Sample Body Paragraph

Emerson opens his essay by presenting his natural method: nurturing the innate talents and interests of individual students. He argues that implementing this method will allow students to be well-educated and reach their full potential. He includes an anecdote of Sir Charles Fellowes to support his claim: “Sir Charles Fellowes, who, being in Xanthos… was struck with the beauty of the sculptured ornaments… He went back to England, bought a Greek grammar and learned the language; he read history and studied ancient art… But mark that in the task he had achieved an excellent education.” By illustrating that following his interests allowed Fellowes to educate himself, Emerson shows that his method works. This may convince the audience that it could work for them as well. The audience of teachers likely want to use the most effective methods and want to see their students learn and thrive and may be encouraged to adopt Emerson’s approach after hearing Fellowes’ experience.

Transitions Between Body Paragraphs

  • Use transitions between body paragraphs to show how choices build or work together to develop the argument/achieve the purpose/convey the message:

  • Transition from first to second body paragraph: Emerson moves from arguing the strengths of the natural method to criticizing the current system, while also recognizing that implementing his approach may be difficult. He illustrates he understands the methods teachers are forced to use to manage students through metaphor…

Transitions Between Body Paragraphs

  • Transition from second body paragraph to third: After empathizing with the difficulties posed by the current system, Emerson addresses the audience of teachers with an inspirational tone and encourages them to find opportunities to follow his methods whenever they can. He illustrates that they can balance the rules and regulations they must follow with moments of natural method teaching. His parallel sentence structure reflects this balance and helps him convey an encouraging tone to teachers…

Conclusion

  • Be brief.

  • Remind your reader of the rhetorical situation and your line of reasoning.

  • Also address what is significant about the text.

Conclusion Example

Emerson’s effective use of anecdote, metaphor, and tone allow him to convince the audience to adopt the natural method whenever possible. He persuades them that, although the system they are working in forces them to teach in a militaristic way that is discouraging to both them and students, they can find opportunities to inspire students to follow their passions and reach their potential. Emerson’s essay illustrates that teaching and learning can be rewarding to teachers and students alike provided students’ individuality is taken into account.