Rhetorical Writing/Analysis
An Overview
Identifying techniques
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TO
n
e
S- speaker -voice that tells story)
O- occasion -context that prompted writing
A- audience- to whom piece is directed
P- purpose- reason behind the text
S- Subject
attitude of author
Traditional elements of rhetorical
composition
 Invention- art of generating material
 Arrangement- placement of ideas for
effect
 Style- choices the writer makes in
language for effect
 Memory- access to info. and collective
knowledge- (readers cultural assoc.)
 Delivery- presentation and format
Terms
 Logos- Appeals to reason
 Pathos- Appeals to emotion
 Ethos- Appeals to ethics (credibility of
writer
 Hyperbole- Exaggeration for effect
 Parallelism- set of similarly structured
words, phrases or clauses that
appears in a sentence or paragraph
Terms
 Anecdote-a brief narrative offered in
text to capture audience attention
 Causal Relationship- if x is the cause,
y is the effect
 Aim-goal of speaker or writerintention or purpose
Terms
 Syllogism- logical reasoning from
inarguable premise ex: John is an AP
student; All AP students are
dedicated; John is dedicated
Techniques
 Anticipated Objection- technique
writer or speaker uses in an
argumentative text to address and
answer objections, even though the
audience has not had the opportunity
to voice objections (ex: some of you
may feel…, but let me assure you…)
Techniques
 Inductive Reasoning- Reasoning that
begins by citing a number of specific
instances or examples, and then
shows how collectively they constitute
a general principle
 Deductive Reasoning- Reasoning that
begins with general principle and
concludes with specific instance
How to write a rhetorical analysis
essay
 Start by identifying SOAPS, appeals
(logos, ethos and pathos) and style
(diction, syntax, imagery, details)
 Examine- WHY did the author use
these strategies and HOW did they
help achieve his purpose
Introduction
 Include: speaker, occasion, subject,
purpose and audience
 For example: Journalist, Barbara
Ehrenreich, in her non- fiction work
Nickel and Dimed: On Not Getting By
in America, recounts her experiences
as a minimum wage worker to convey
the idea… she uses a…tone in order to
appeal to…readers
Body Paragraphs
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Work chronologically through the text
Identify the part of the text
Use specific examples from text
Identify rhetorical strategies , explain
how strategies elucidate the aim
Writing style
 Use strong transitions (begins, shifts
to, opens, contrasts)
 Strong verbs- Implies, ridicules,
establishes, enumerates
 Weak verbs- Says, relates, states
 Avoid summary and focus on analysis
Paraphrased from auburnschools.org