Rhetoric Analysis/Presentation
As a class, we have been studying the power of rhetoric to inform, persuade, and motivate. Using traditional
rhetorical techniques, companies, charities, businessmen, leaders, speakers, and politicians are able to influence
their audiences to take action. These tactics can motivate people to take positive action in the name of poverty,
animal abuse, cancer research, and other such causes. But rhetoric (in the form of propaganda) has a sobering
dark side when we realize that it can also motivate groups of people to do unspeakable evil as in situations like
the Nazi movement, the terrorist organizations like Al Quada, and the rebel groups who use child soldiers. In
this project, you are going to get a chance to examine a persuasive text and analyze it according as outlined
below.
The Assignment
Note: You may work with a partner (that is to say – ONE partner – not 2, not 3). If you choose to do so, you
must make clear what each person’s role was in completing the project.
First, you must select ONE written piece of rhetoric to examine. Consider the following:
 Editorial or opinion piece (reputable source such as The New York Times or Newsweek)
 Political speech
 Press conference for athlete or celebrity (Statement, not just Q&A)
 Commencement address
Second, you must select ONE pieces of visual rhetoric, demonstrating at least one of the logical fallacies.
Consider the following:
 Political cartoons
 Print advertisement
 Commercial
 Meme
Third, you will create a Powerpoint or Google Docs Presentation in which you must identify and discuss the
following elements:
For the written piece:
 Purpose and context of the writing
 Rhetorical elements: speaker, audience, subject
 Rhetorical Appeals: Ethos, Logos, Pathos
 Address the effectiveness of the rhetoric
For the visual piece:
 Purpose and context of the visual media
 Rhetorical Appeals: Ethos, Logos, Pathos
 Identify and explain the use of the logical fallacies in each visual piece. (Name-calling, Bandwagon, Red
Herring, Emotional Appeal, Testimonial, Repetition, Sweeping Generalizations, Circular Argument,
Appeal to Numbers/Facts/Statistics)
 Address the effectiveness of the rhetoric
*** Be sure to include one or two specific examples (quotations) from the text for each rhetorical appeal.
Fourth, you will present your presentation to the class.
It should go without saying, but just in case, all materials you select must be school appropriate.
Due Date: