Rhetorical Analysis
The Magic of understanding Language
What is Rhetoric?
• “Rhetoric writings the study of effective
speaking and the art of persuasion” (Silva
Rhetoricae).
“Finding Rhetoric." Finding Rhetoric. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 June
2012. <http://findingrhetoric.blogspot.com/>.
What is Rhetoric ? Cont..
• The fundamental character
of Rhetoric as a discipline is
to train students “1) to
perceive how language is at
work orally and in writing,
and 2) to become proficient
in applying the resources of
language in their own
speaking and writing” (Silva
Rhetoricae).
"Transmedia Me." Visual Rhetoric «. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 June 2012.
<http://transmediame.wordpress.com/tag/visual-rhetoric/>.
What is Rhetoric? Cont.
Persuasion, according to
Aristotle and other
authorities is only brought
about through three kinds
of proof (persuasive
appeals)
Logos = the appeal to
reason.
Pathos = the appeal to
emotion
Ethos = the persuasive
appeal to one’s character
(Silva Rhetoricae).
"Larval Subjects ." Larval Subjects . N.p., n.d. Web. 20 June 2012.
<http://larvalsubjects.wordpress.com/2012/06/10/rhetoric-ideologyand-the-ecology-of-ideas-hasana-sharps-spinoza/>.
What is Logos?
• “Logos names the appeal to reason. Aristotle
wished that all communication could be
transacted only through this appeal, but given
the weaknesses of humanity, he laments, we
must resort to the use of the other two
appeals” (Silva Rhetoricae).
What is Pathos?
• “Pathos names the appeal to emotion”. (Silva
Rhetoricae).
• Pathos includes a wide array of emotions from
the mild to the intense.
• Basically, all emotions either draw you toward
the subject being discussed or make you want
to distance yourself from it.
What is Ethos?
• “Ethos names the persuasive appeal of one's
character, especially how this character is
established by means of the speech or
discourse. Aristotle claimed that one needs to
appear both knowledgeable about one's
subject and benevolent” (Silva Rhetoricae).
Also important…
Kairos
• The term kairos has a rich and varied history,
but generally refers to the way a given context
for communication both calls for and
constrains one's speech. Thus, sensitive to
kairos, a speaker or writer takes into account
the contingencies of a given place and time,
and considers the opportunities within this
specific context for words to be effective and
appropriate to that moment (Silva
Rhetoricae).
What are the components of rhetoric?
• As a review form English 1301, rhetoric is
quite often divided into the following general
areas”
1. Purpose: What is the author attempting to do
with his/her work? Understanding the intended
purpose of a text first (and crucial) step in a
deeper understanding of the text and author.
Components of rhetoric cont..
• 2. Audience: Who is the text written for?
Obviously, an author’s intended reader plays a
large role in how the author appeals to theh
audience.
• 3. The Appeals: Aristotle, when referring to
the strategies that writers use in their texts,
discusses three main groups: Logos, Pathos
and Ethos.
Rhetorical Analysis is NOT
• A summary of a literary work or scholarly
article.
• In times past you may have analyzed a novel’s
plot line or taken apart the meaning of a
certain poem however this is NOT the goal of
Rhetorical analysis.
Rhetorical Analysis Defined
• An RA (rhetorical
• The goal of a RA is for
analysis) requires you to
you (the writer) to
apply your critical
articulate HOW the
reading skills in order to
author writes, rather
break down a text.
than WHAT they wrote.
• So, think of it, as
• This is where you
breaking a text into
critical thinking skills
pieces and analyzing it.
will come into play.
RA defined cont.
• You will need to analyze
the strategies the
author uses to achieve
his/her goal or purpose
in writing their piece.
• Something to
remember is that
writers of different
disciplines often use
varying strategies to
accomplish their goals.
• This simply means if
you would use different
strategies to analyze a
historical article vs. a
scientific one.
RA Review
• Rhetoric = the art of persuasion
• Analysis = the breaking down of something
into its parts and interpreting how those parts
fit together.
• In rhetorical analysis, we examine how
authors attempt to persuade their audience
by looking at various components that makeup the art of persuasion.
Where to start for this paper?
Leonard, Sue. "Committed to the Writing Process." All things Fulfilling. Cornerstone Fulfillment Service, LLC, 19 2012. Web. Web. 19 Dec. 2012.
<http://allthingsfulfilling.com/2012/07/09/committed-to-the-writingprocess/>.
So now you start the pre-writing
process.
• So you need to read the complete Rhetorical
Analysis Essay assignment.
• Then start brainstorming about possible texts to
analyze.
• You are given several examples and suggestion in
the assignment.
• We will continue to work together, demonstrating
how to analyze using commercials and
advertisements.
•
Works Cited.
•
•
•
•
"Ethos." Silva Rhetoricae. Bringham Young
University. Web. 19 Dec 2012.
<http://rhetoric.byu.edu/>.
“Finding Rhetoric." Finding Rhetoric. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 20 June 2012.
<http://findingrhetoric.blogspot.com/>.
"Larval Subjects ." Larval Subjects . N.p., n.d.
Web. 20 June 2012.
<http://larvalsubjects.wordpress.com/2012/
06/10/rhetoric-ideology-and-the-ecology-ofideas-hasana-sharps-spinoza/>.
Leonard, Sue. "Committed to the Writing
Process." All things Fulfilling. Cornerstone
Fulfillment Service, LLC, 19 2012. Web. Web.
19 Dec. 2012.
<http://allthingsfulfilling.com/2012/07/09/co
mmitted-to-the-writingprocess/>.
•
•
•
•
•
"Logos." Silva Rhetoricae. Bringham
Young University. Web. 19 Dec 2012.
<http://rhetoric.byu.edu/>.
"Pathos." Silva Rhetoricae. Bringham
Young University. Web. 19 Dec 2012.
<http://rhetoric.byu.edu/>.
"Persuasive Appeals." Silva Rhetoricae.
Bringham Young University. Web. 19
Dec 2012. <http://rhetoric.byu.edu/>.
"Transmedia Me." Visual Rhetoric «.
N.p., n.d. Web. 20 June 2012.
<http://transmediame.wordpress.com/
tag/visual-rhetoric/>.
"What is Rhetoric." Silva Rhetoricae.
Bringham Young University. Web. 19
Dec 2012. <http://rhetoric.byu.edu/>.