10/24/13
● Declaration of Independence
● “Consider the Lobster”
● Rhetorical Analysis Intro
Rhetorical Analysis
Rhetoric is the use of language to
create meaning.
Writing or speaking to an audience
is essentially controlled
manipulation.
Rhetorical Analysis
The point of rhetorical analysis is
to deconstruct this manipulation.
If we analyze effectively, we
should be able to answer two
questions:
● What does the author mean?
● How do we know?
Rhetorical Analysis
In this case, we define meaning as
● the concepts or points most
significant to the author
● that which he or she most wants
the audience to consider, think
differently about, or be
convinced of.
Rhetorical Analysis
To start, consider these two
principles:
● Everything is an argument
● Every argument, at least in its
creator’s mind, has a reason
for being.
Rhetorical Analysis
That reason for being is called
exigence.
Exigence is the circumstance that
calls the writer into action and
compels them to speak out.
Rhetorical Analysis
Before meaningfully analyzing any
argument, we have to consider the
context in which it appears,
including factors like:
● time period
● country of origin
● moral, social, and economic
position of the speaker
● cultural climate
10/25/13
Rhetorical Analysis
Rhetorical Analysis
The first question is “Why does
this piece exist?”
Declaration of Independence
When one people needs to cut
political ties with another and claim
equal status (as Nature and God
intend) they must explain their
reasons.
God has granted all men equal rights,
and government’s job is to ensure
those. Britain has trampled ours, so
we must revolt. Here’s why:
The Rhetorical Triangle
Speaker / Writer
Audience
Subject / Topic
Rhetorical Analysis
Speaker / Writer
Intention / Purpose
Audience
Subject / Topic
Rhetorical Analysis
Speaker / Writer
Context
Context
Intention / Purpose
Subject / Topic
Audience
Context