RHETORICAL ANALYSIS
ESSAY
Writing Workshop
Highlight your essay.

Include a “key” to show which colors you will use to
indicate the following:
 Thesis
 Topic
 Text
sentences (claims)
evidence
 Commentary
your claim)
(explanation of how the evidence proves
CONTENT
Your essay should include a clear introduction,
organized body paragraphs that directly prove
your thesis, and a conclusion that concisely
summarizes your ideas.
Introduction

Use some version of a rhetorical précis, but beware of verbosity!
Don’t be overly wordy.
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If you can’t get directly to your point, it may appear that you don’t have
one.
Include some contextual information, the rhetorical strategies you
intend to discuss, and an overview of why the author chose these
strategies for the particular audience, occasion, and/or purpose
Be sure your thesis is direct and clear.

Specify the rhetorical strategies (appeals and/or devices) you will
analyze

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No more than 2-3; discuss them in depth
Use the magic words “in order to”
Writing a Thesis

Try combining Sentences 2 and 3 from the précis
paragraph format.
Sentence 2 – explain how the author develops/supports
their major claim (techniques)
 Sentence 3 – state the author’s purpose, followed by an “in
order to” phrase
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If you get stuck, use this basic template:

In [category/title of work], [speaker] uses [2-3 strategies]
in order to [achieve purpose].
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In his 1962 speech regarding the hike in steel prices, President
Kennedy uses repetition, allusions, and appeals to authority in order
to publicly condemn the steel companies’ actions.
Thesis Examples
In his 1962 speech regarding a recent rise in steel
prices, Kennedy builds credibility by aligning
himself with the American people and his syntax
juxtaposes common citizens with the ruthless steel
industry in order to defend the interests of the
public and pressure the steel executives to rescind
the raise in prices.
Body
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Use C-E-C paragraph development to help you include the
following:
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Claim (Topic Sentence) – what is the purpose of your paragraph?
Evidence – what information, details, quotations, or examples will
you include to support your claim?
Commentary – explain, comment, and expand upon the evidence,
showing how it connects to and supports the idea you stated in
your claim.
All of your body paragraphs must connect back to your
thesis. (This should be achieved through specific commentary.)
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HOW do the rhetorical strategies you are discussing help to
achieve the author’s purpose?
WHY are those particular strategies effective?
Body Paragraph Examples
Conclusion
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This should be a holistic (overall) assessment of the
author’s impact on his audience – what does the author
want his audience to think or feel upon finishing the work?
Restate your thesis in a fresh way (try not repeat it in
the exact same words) by summarizing the combined
effect of the writer’s rhetorical strategies.
Do not introduce totally new ideas in your conclusion!
Don’t mention rhetorical strategies that weren’t
discussed in your essay, for example.
Conclusion Examples
Talking About Appeals

Speakers make appeals to ethos, logos, and pathos.
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Use this language to talk about appeals:
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ETHOS
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LOGOS
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The speaker appeals to ethos through…
The speaker establishes credibility by…
The speaker appeals to logos through…
The speaker proves his argument by…
PATHOS
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The speaker appeals to pathos through…
The speaker makes an emotional connection by…
Tips
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Outline your essay before writing! It takes 2-3 minutes
and will help you write an organized, purposeful essay.
Avoid simply praising the speaker or the work.
Be as specific as possible – try not to make
generalizations or use lots of clichés.
Use active voice.
Quickly read each paragraph to yourself after writing
it. If there’s anything you need to change, simply draw
a line through the words you wish to delete.

Try not to scratch out lines, draw arrows, etc.