How To Write a
Rhetorical Analysis
The effective use of words to persuade or
influence.
 Includes ethos, logos and pathos.
 Includes tone, diction, details, imagery,
figurative language, humor, syntax, etc,
etc, etc.
 Anything used to deliberately create
effect.

What are Rhetorical
Techniques?
Chose any text and answer the following questions:
- Who created this text?
- Who did they create this text for?
- Why did they create this text?
Author

Rhetorical Triangle
Audience
Purpose

What do we know about the writer,
speaker,
artist, designer, or creator?
◦ educational background
◦ political affiliations
◦ investment in message
◦ biases

Where do we look for information about the author?
Rhetorical Triangle: Author

Audience
◦ who is the message intended for?
◦ Age, gender, social/cultural group, political affiliation,
etc…

Where do we look for information about the
audience?
Rhetorical Triangle: Audience

What is the purpose of your text?
◦ To inform?
◦ To entertain?
◦ To call to action?
How can you infer the purpose of the text?
 What elements of the text do you refer to in order to
find information about its purpose?

Rhetorical Triangle: Purpose





Rhetorical Analysis = Why, How, So What
WHY = Are the choices effective and
appropriate for the intended audience?
HOW = What techniques doe the writer
choose to present the material?
SO WHAT = What is accomplished or
created?
If you don’t do this, you don’t have
analysis!!

Compose a thesis that states BOTH the
effect AND the techniques.

Be sure to avoid the trap of explaining
meaning; you are not being asked what a
passage means.

Focus on HOW a technique creates the
given effect.

Ethos- Credibility
- Ethics
- trustworthiness of the speaker/writer

Credibility based on audience’s view of author and
subject.

For Academic Argument, an author must:
- Exhibit good sense
- Demonstrate high moral character
- Good will
The Rhetorical Appeals: Ethos

Logos - Logic
◦ Attempt to appeal to the intellect
◦ Everyday arguments vs. academic arguments
◦ Common ways to appeal to logos?
The most valued appeal in academic argument.
Accomplished through inductive or deductive
reasoning, or specifically
 Definition,
 Evidence from other sources, or
 Expert testimony
The Rhetorical Appeals: Logos

Pathos – Pathetic, sympathy, empathy
◦
◦
◦
◦
Appeal to emotions;
Arguments in popular press;
Manipulative;
Effect?
Appeals to emotion are accomplished through
 Sensory description
 Value-laden diction
 Anecdotes
 Objects of emotions (peoples, abstract concepts,
etc.)
The Rhetorical Appeals: Pathos
Our job is to see how the rhetorical triangle and
rhetorical appeals work together to create a message
 These tools are not exclusive; all six should be
considered when evaluating a text

Author
Ethos
Logos
Audience
Purpose
Pathos
Rhetorical Triangle and Rhetorical Appeals
The author’s name
plus an adjective (sophisticated, carefully
crafted, flashy, inventive)
 plus the rhetoric strategies (three specific
rhetorical strategies used as topics of body
paragraphs)
 plus a strong verb (demonstrates, creates,
emphasizes, generates, fulfills)
 plus the function (what the rhetoric does for the
piece)
Example: Douglass’s sophisticated use of diction,
imagery and figurative language creates his
unfavorable attitude towards slavery.


How do I Write a Thesis for a
Rhetorical Analysis?
Diction:
 Author’s name
 plus adjective
 plus the term “diction”
 plus a strong verb
 plus the function
 plus examples from text.
Example: Andrist’s snazzy diction
recreates the dynamic personality of
General Custer with choices such as
“flamboyant” and “teetotaler”.
Use the SAME FORMULA to
create your analysis…
Tone:
 Author’s name
 plus an adjective
(informal, light,
impartial, simple)
 plus the term
“tone”
 plus strong verb
 plus the function
 plus examples.
Syntax:
 Author’s name
 plus an adjective
(short, simple,
varied, repetitive,
balanced)
 plus the term
“syntax”
 plus the function
 plus examples.