“Sis! Boom! Bah! Humbug!” by Rick Reilly—An Introduction to Rhetorical Analysis
Initial Analysis
Who is Reilly’s audience? Who is he talking to? What does this audience value? How do you know?
How would you describe Reilly’s tone? Explain and provide some examples from the editorial to support your answer.
What is the purpose of Reilly’s editorial? What is he trying to accomplish?—inform, define, persuade, describe, explain, narrate,
entertain, etc.? Explain your answer.
Argument Analysis
What is Reilly’s main point?
Examine the kinds of evidence Reilly uses to make his point. Be specific in your answers and identify examples from the editorial to
support your answers.
a. Is he logical or rational? For example, does he present facts, statistics, expert opinions?
b. Does he appeal to his audience’s emotions? Where? How?
Does Reilly balance his use of logical and emotional evidence well? Why or why not?
What is your impression of Reilly himself? Does he seem knowledgeable or fair? Does he personally involve himself in the subject?
Does he seem like a trustworthy person? Like an authority on the subject? Why or why not?
How well is Reilly’s editorial organized? Do his ideas follow a clear, logical progression? Does he jump around? What is the effect of
his organization on the reader?
Evaluate Reilly’s use of language, examples, and references. Does he overgeneralize? Use formal or informal wording? Is he
diplomatic or offensive? Explain your evaluation.
Overall Analysis
Overall, does Reilly make a good, sound argument in his editorial? Why or why not?
How might his message change if he were writing for a different audience?
Does the author effectively fit his message to the circumstances, times, purpose, and audience?