How To Write a How To Write a Rhetorical AnalysisRhetorical Analysis

What are Rhetorical What are Rhetorical Techniques?Techniques?

The effective use of words to persuade or influence.

Includes ethos, logos and pathos.Includes tone, diction, details, imagery,

figurative language, humor, syntax, etc, etc, etc.

Anything used to deliberately create effect.

Rhetorical Triangle Rhetorical Triangle

Chose any text and answer the following questions:- Who created this text?- Who did they create this text for? - Why did they create this text? Author

AudiencePurpose

Rhetorical Triangle: Author Rhetorical Triangle: Author

What do we know about the writer, speaker, artist, designer, or creator? ◦educational background◦political affiliations◦investment in message◦biases

Where do we look for information about the author?

Rhetorical Triangle: Audience Rhetorical Triangle: Audience

Audience◦who is the message intended for? ◦Age, gender, social/cultural group, political affiliation,

etc…Where do we look for information about the

audience?

Rhetorical Triangle: Purpose Rhetorical Triangle: Purpose

What is the purpose of your text? ◦To inform? ◦To entertain?◦To call to action?

How can you infer the purpose of the text? What elements of the text do you refer to in order to

find information about its purpose?

Rhetorical Analysis = Why, How, So WhatWHY = Are the choices effective and

appropriate for the intended audience?HOW = What techniques doe the writer

choose to present the material?SO WHAT = What is accomplished or

created?If you don’t do this, you don’t have

analysis!!

Compose a thesis that states BOTH the effect AND the techniques.

Be sure to avoid the trap of explaining meaning; you are not being asked what a passage means.

Focus on HOW a technique creates the given effect.

The Rhetorical Appeals: EthosThe Rhetorical Appeals: Ethos

Ethos- Credibility- Ethics- trustworthiness of the speaker/writer

Credibility based on audience’s view of author and subject.

For Academic Argument, an author must: - Exhibit good sense- Demonstrate high moral character- Good will

The Rhetorical Appeals: LogosThe Rhetorical Appeals: Logos

Logos - Logic◦Attempt to appeal to the intellect◦Everyday arguments vs. academic arguments◦Common ways to appeal to logos?The most valued appeal in academic argument. Accomplished through inductive or deductive reasoning, or specifically

Definition,Evidence from other sources, or Expert testimony

The Rhetorical Appeals: PathosThe Rhetorical Appeals: Pathos

Pathos – Pathetic, sympathy, empathy◦Appeal to emotions;◦Arguments in popular press;◦Manipulative;◦Effect?

Appeals to emotion are accomplished throughSensory descriptionValue-laden dictionAnecdotesObjects of emotions (peoples, abstract concepts,

etc.)

Rhetorical Triangle and Rhetorical AppealsRhetorical Triangle and Rhetorical Appeals

Our job is to see how the rhetorical triangle and rhetorical appeals work together to create a message

These tools are not exclusive; all six should be considered when evaluating a text

Logos

Ethos

Pathos

Author

Audience Purpose

How do I Write a Thesis for a How do I Write a Thesis for a Rhetorical Analysis?Rhetorical Analysis?

The author’s nameplus an adjective (sophisticated, carefully

crafted, flashy, inventive)plus the rhetoric strategies (three specific

rhetorical strategies used as topics of body paragraphs)

plus a strong verb (demonstrates, creates, emphasizes, generates, fulfills)

plus the function (what the rhetoric does for the piece)

Example: Douglass’s sophisticated use of diction, imagery and figurative language creates his unfavorable attitude towards slavery.

Use the SAME FORMULA to Use the SAME FORMULA to create your analysis…create your analysis…

Diction: Author’s name plus adjective plus the term “diction”plus a strong verbplus the functionplus examples from text.Example: Andrist’s snazzy diction recreates

the dynamic personality of General Custer with choices such as “flamboyant” and “teetotaler”.

Tone:Author’s nameplus an adjective

(informal, light, impartial, simple)

plus the term “tone”

plus strong verbplus the functionplus examples.

Syntax:Author’s nameplus an adjective

(short, simple, varied, repetitive, balanced)

plus the term “syntax”

plus the functionplus examples.