By: Leanna
Tamburello
Rhetorical
Analysis
ENC 1101
Purpose:
• To raise and support breast cancer awareness.
Keith Grant-Davie
Precedence…
(Rosie’s
Employment
Badge)
Exigence??
Women are not
only beautiful but
STRONG, women
can do anything,
especially when
men say they
can’t...
Obviously, a female to emphasize feminism.
Context??
 Patriotic colors
 Movement of muscle
to show strength
 Bold white text
 Rolled up sleeves and
bandana for “down
and dirty”
“The often complex interaction of these multiple
rhetors and audiences should be considered. What
follows, then, are definitions and discussions of
the four constituents I see in rhetorical situations:
exigence, rhetors, audiences, and constraints.”
-Grant-Davie
Context
Rosie The Riveter
Saying “we” instead of “you” gives
sense of unity.
Gives hope and
faith for those and
their families
fighting cancer.
‘We Can Cure It!’
is bolded, and in
white, when the
rest of the poster
is in pink, which
adds emphasis to
the purpose.
Pink breast cancer
awareness ribbon
on collar
She has a very stern
and serious face.
Her eyebrow is
raised which leads
us to think “this is
serious!”
Showing her ‘muscle’ to
symbolize strength and power.
Rolled up sleeves:to
show willingness to
get a little messy and
take whatever life
throws at her.
What Is Exigence All About?
“…in my scheme I propose that this question be the second of three that
[one should] ask, respectively, what the discourse is about, why it is
needed, and what it should accomplish.”
-Grant-Davie
Exigence
• women are strong, hence the showing of the
muscle in the picture, and that women can be
strong enough to beat breast cancer and cure
it.
Achievement of
Rhetorical Objectives
-Grant-Davie
Audience
• Primary: women who have breast cancer and
provides motivation that women are strong
and can beat anything.
• Secondary: Anyone and everyone! To raise
awareness of the situation and makes sure
that other people contribute to the awareness
and give motivation to those battling it.
• People of all ages, everyone is affected by cancer
no matter how old, whether you or someone you
know or even do not know, is battling it.
“Working either
for or against the
rhetor’s
objectives.”
“All factors in the situation,
aside from the rhetor and
the audience, that may lead
the audience to be either
more or less sympathetic to
the discourse, and that may
therefore influence the
rhetor’s response to the
situation.”
-Grant-Davie
Positive
Constraints
Fighting breast cancer is one of the
hardest experiences a woman could go
through. A positive constraint could be
other’s seeing there is hope and that
having a positive attitude is the key to a
successful recovery. Which this photo
shows.
Some people need the extra boost and
need to remember, they are strong, and
that CAN make it and are NOT alone.
Hope, Faith, and Positive
Energy
(Positive Constraint)
Negative Constraints
 The biggest negative
constraint against this
poster would be if a
someone is anti-feminist.
Today our society can treat  Also, some people may
women so harshly and not
be upset that there is a
believe they can be so
woman on the poster,
superior and fight.
when both men and
women can get breast
cancer.
 Not only for
the breast
cancer poster,
but also the
original, a
negative
constraint
could be that
Rosie is white.
Anti-Feminism
How our society treats women…
-Unknown
Ethos…
• People tend to read and listen to ads that catch
their attention, or if it is a remake of an old ad,
they may have respect for it. The historic patriotic
ad was huge for women back in the day and today
I am sure many women have respect for it and
would give it a second look. Then, due to the trust
people have towards the history of the original,
‘We Can Cure It’ will give people hope for the
future of breast cancer awareness.
Pathos…
• This situation is something that definitely emotionally affects people in a
huge way. It is very hopeful, and persuading to people because of its history
and its exigence.
• The fact that the logo says “We Can Do It!” as opposed to “You Can Do It!”
shows pathos in the audience because the women feel like they aren’t alone.
They feel like they are part of something greater than themselves. It incites a
feeling of unity because they believe that there are strong women in their
midst who will guide and help them through these hardships.
Reading “We Can
Cure It” can
emotionally help
someone through
their tuff battle.
Logos…
• Women who are happier and have a better,
more positive mind-set while fighting breast
cancer have a higher percentage rate of
surviving than those who feel depressed and
sad.
People with hopeful
mindsets and helpful
families have a higher
% of fighting!
This poster has become famous all over the world in many ways…it’s precedence has
influenced many lives…
Can Rosie effectively get her point across to the
audience with the tough girl attitude, pink outfit, breast
cancer awareness ribbons and most importantly,
rhetorical appeal???