Writing and Analyzing Rhetorical Analysis

How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis

Four Parts:Gathering InformationWriting the IntroductionWriting the BodyWriting the Conclusion

A rhetorical analysis can be written about other texts, television shows, films, collections of artwork, or a variety of other communicative mediums that attempt to make a statement to an intended audience. In order to write a rhetorical analysis, you need to be able to determine how the creator of the original work attempts to make his or her argument. You can also include information about whether or not that argument is successful. To learn more about the right way to write a rhetorical analysis, continue reading.

Part 1 of 4: Gathering Information

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   Identify the SOAPSTone. The SOAPSTone of a text include its Speaker, Occasion, Audience, Purpose, Subject and Tone.
   • The speaker refers to the first and last name of the writer. If the writer has any credentials that lend to his or her authority on the matter at hand, you should also briefly consider those. Note that if the narrator is different from the writer, though, it could also refer to the narrator.
   • The occasion mostly refers to the type of text and the context under which the text was written. For instance, there is a big difference between an essay written for a scholarly conference and a letter written to an associate in the field.
   • The audience is who the text was written for. This is related to the occasion, since the occasion can include details about the audience. In the example above, the audience would be a conference of scholars versus an associate in the field.
   • The purpose refers to what the writer wants to accomplish in the text. It usually includes selling a product or point of view.
   • The subject is simply the topic the writer discusses in the text.
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   Examine the appeals. Appeals are the first classification of rhetorical strategy and involve the ethos, logos, and pathos.^[1]
   • Ethos, or ethical appeals, rely on the writer's credibility and character in the garnering of approval. Mentions of a writer's character or qualifications usually qualify as ethos. For instance, if a family therapist with 20 years of practice writes an article on improving familial relations, mention of that experience would be using ethos.
   • Logos, or logical appeals, use reason to make an argument. Most academic discourse should make heavy use of logos. A writer who supports an argument with evidence, data, and undeniable facts uses logos.
   • Pathos, or pathetic appeals, seek to evoke emotion in order to gain approval. These emotions can include anything from sympathy and anger to the desire for love. If an article about violent crime provides personal, human details about victims of violent crime, the writer is likely using pathos.
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   Note style details. Style details are the second rhetorical strategy and include a wide variety of elements, such as imagery, tone, syntax, and diction.^[2]
   • Analogies and figurative language, including metaphors and similes, demonstrate an idea through comparison.
   • Repetition of a certain point or idea is used to make that point seem more memorable.
   • Imagery often affects pathos. The image of a starving child in a third-world country can be a powerful way of evoking compassion or anger.
   • Diction refers to word choice. Emotionally-charged words have greater impact, and rhythmic word patterns can establish a theme more effectively.
   • Tone basically means mood or attitude. A sarcastic essay is vastly different from a scientific one.
   • Addressing the opposition demonstrates that the writer is not afraid of the opposing viewpoint. It also allows the writer to strengthen his or her own argument by cutting down the opposing one. This is especially powerful when the author contrasts a strong viewpoint he or she holds with a weak viewpoint on the opposing side.
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   Form an analysis. Before you begin writing your analysis, determine what the information you gathered suggests to you.
   • Ask yourself how the rhetorical strategies of appeals and style help the author achieve his or her purpose. Determine if any of these strategies fail and hurt the author instead of helping.
   • Speculate on why the author may have chosen those rhetorical strategies for that audience and that occasion. Determine if the choice of strategies may have differed for a different audience or occasion.