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ENG105 - First Draft - Rhetorical Analysis Of A Public Document

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This essay is the First Draft- Rhetorical Analysis Of A Public Document. This is the assignment that is given in Topic 2 of the course.

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  • english composition 1
  • grand canyon university
  • rhetorical analysis of a public document
  • Institution Grand Canyon University
  • Course ENG 105 (ENG105)

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  • How to write a rhetorical analysis | Key concepts & examples

How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis | Key Concepts & Examples

Published on August 28, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.

A rhetorical analysis is a type of essay  that looks at a text in terms of rhetoric. This means it is less concerned with what the author is saying than with how they say it: their goals, techniques, and appeals to the audience.

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Table of contents

Key concepts in rhetoric, analyzing the text, introducing your rhetorical analysis, the body: doing the analysis, concluding a rhetorical analysis, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about rhetorical analysis.

Rhetoric, the art of effective speaking and writing, is a subject that trains you to look at texts, arguments and speeches in terms of how they are designed to persuade the audience. This section introduces a few of the key concepts of this field.

Appeals: Logos, ethos, pathos

Appeals are how the author convinces their audience. Three central appeals are discussed in rhetoric, established by the philosopher Aristotle and sometimes called the rhetorical triangle: logos, ethos, and pathos.

Logos , or the logical appeal, refers to the use of reasoned argument to persuade. This is the dominant approach in academic writing , where arguments are built up using reasoning and evidence.

Ethos , or the ethical appeal, involves the author presenting themselves as an authority on their subject. For example, someone making a moral argument might highlight their own morally admirable behavior; someone speaking about a technical subject might present themselves as an expert by mentioning their qualifications.

Pathos , or the pathetic appeal, evokes the audience’s emotions. This might involve speaking in a passionate way, employing vivid imagery, or trying to provoke anger, sympathy, or any other emotional response in the audience.

These three appeals are all treated as integral parts of rhetoric, and a given author may combine all three of them to convince their audience.

Text and context

In rhetoric, a text is not necessarily a piece of writing (though it may be this). A text is whatever piece of communication you are analyzing. This could be, for example, a speech, an advertisement, or a satirical image.

In these cases, your analysis would focus on more than just language—you might look at visual or sonic elements of the text too.

The context is everything surrounding the text: Who is the author (or speaker, designer, etc.)? Who is their (intended or actual) audience? When and where was the text produced, and for what purpose?

Looking at the context can help to inform your rhetorical analysis. For example, Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech has universal power, but the context of the civil rights movement is an important part of understanding why.

Claims, supports, and warrants

A piece of rhetoric is always making some sort of argument, whether it’s a very clearly defined and logical one (e.g. in a philosophy essay) or one that the reader has to infer (e.g. in a satirical article). These arguments are built up with claims, supports, and warrants.

A claim is the fact or idea the author wants to convince the reader of. An argument might center on a single claim, or be built up out of many. Claims are usually explicitly stated, but they may also just be implied in some kinds of text.

The author uses supports to back up each claim they make. These might range from hard evidence to emotional appeals—anything that is used to convince the reader to accept a claim.

The warrant is the logic or assumption that connects a support with a claim. Outside of quite formal argumentation, the warrant is often unstated—the author assumes their audience will understand the connection without it. But that doesn’t mean you can’t still explore the implicit warrant in these cases.

For example, look at the following statement:

We can see a claim and a support here, but the warrant is implicit. Here, the warrant is the assumption that more likeable candidates would have inspired greater turnout. We might be more or less convinced by the argument depending on whether we think this is a fair assumption.

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rhetorical analysis essay gcu

Rhetorical analysis isn’t a matter of choosing concepts in advance and applying them to a text. Instead, it starts with looking at the text in detail and asking the appropriate questions about how it works:

  • What is the author’s purpose?
  • Do they focus closely on their key claims, or do they discuss various topics?
  • What tone do they take—angry or sympathetic? Personal or authoritative? Formal or informal?
  • Who seems to be the intended audience? Is this audience likely to be successfully reached and convinced?
  • What kinds of evidence are presented?

By asking these questions, you’ll discover the various rhetorical devices the text uses. Don’t feel that you have to cram in every rhetorical term you know—focus on those that are most important to the text.

The following sections show how to write the different parts of a rhetorical analysis.

Like all essays, a rhetorical analysis begins with an introduction . The introduction tells readers what text you’ll be discussing, provides relevant background information, and presents your thesis statement .

Hover over different parts of the example below to see how an introduction works.

Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech is widely regarded as one of the most important pieces of oratory in American history. Delivered in 1963 to thousands of civil rights activists outside the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., the speech has come to symbolize the spirit of the civil rights movement and even to function as a major part of the American national myth. This rhetorical analysis argues that King’s assumption of the prophetic voice, amplified by the historic size of his audience, creates a powerful sense of ethos that has retained its inspirational power over the years.

The body of your rhetorical analysis is where you’ll tackle the text directly. It’s often divided into three paragraphs, although it may be more in a longer essay.

Each paragraph should focus on a different element of the text, and they should all contribute to your overall argument for your thesis statement.

Hover over the example to explore how a typical body paragraph is constructed.

King’s speech is infused with prophetic language throughout. Even before the famous “dream” part of the speech, King’s language consistently strikes a prophetic tone. He refers to the Lincoln Memorial as a “hallowed spot” and speaks of rising “from the dark and desolate valley of segregation” to “make justice a reality for all of God’s children.” The assumption of this prophetic voice constitutes the text’s strongest ethical appeal; after linking himself with political figures like Lincoln and the Founding Fathers, King’s ethos adopts a distinctly religious tone, recalling Biblical prophets and preachers of change from across history. This adds significant force to his words; standing before an audience of hundreds of thousands, he states not just what the future should be, but what it will be: “The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.” This warning is almost apocalyptic in tone, though it concludes with the positive image of the “bright day of justice.” The power of King’s rhetoric thus stems not only from the pathos of his vision of a brighter future, but from the ethos of the prophetic voice he adopts in expressing this vision.

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The conclusion of a rhetorical analysis wraps up the essay by restating the main argument and showing how it has been developed by your analysis. It may also try to link the text, and your analysis of it, with broader concerns.

Explore the example below to get a sense of the conclusion.

It is clear from this analysis that the effectiveness of King’s rhetoric stems less from the pathetic appeal of his utopian “dream” than it does from the ethos he carefully constructs to give force to his statements. By framing contemporary upheavals as part of a prophecy whose fulfillment will result in the better future he imagines, King ensures not only the effectiveness of his words in the moment but their continuing resonance today. Even if we have not yet achieved King’s dream, we cannot deny the role his words played in setting us on the path toward it.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

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The goal of a rhetorical analysis is to explain the effect a piece of writing or oratory has on its audience, how successful it is, and the devices and appeals it uses to achieve its goals.

Unlike a standard argumentative essay , it’s less about taking a position on the arguments presented, and more about exploring how they are constructed.

The term “text” in a rhetorical analysis essay refers to whatever object you’re analyzing. It’s frequently a piece of writing or a speech, but it doesn’t have to be. For example, you could also treat an advertisement or political cartoon as a text.

Logos appeals to the audience’s reason, building up logical arguments . Ethos appeals to the speaker’s status or authority, making the audience more likely to trust them. Pathos appeals to the emotions, trying to make the audience feel angry or sympathetic, for example.

Collectively, these three appeals are sometimes called the rhetorical triangle . They are central to rhetorical analysis , though a piece of rhetoric might not necessarily use all of them.

In rhetorical analysis , a claim is something the author wants the audience to believe. A support is the evidence or appeal they use to convince the reader to believe the claim. A warrant is the (often implicit) assumption that links the support with the claim.

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How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis: 6 Steps and an Outline for Your Next Essay

by Kaelyn Barron | 6 comments

how to write a rhetorical analysis blog post image

Students are often given the assignment of writing a rhetorical analysis, in which they must analyze how a speaker makes an argument, and evaluate whether or not they do so effectively.

However, this practice is useful not only for students, but for all of us who want to evaluate everyday arguments—whether they’re made by advertisers, politicians, or our friends—and learn to think more critically on our own.

What Is a Rhetorical Analysis?

A rhetorical analysis is an essay that examines and evaluates a text (or sometimes other types of media, such as video) based on its rhetoric . Rather than focusing on what the actual message is, a rhetorical analysis looks at how that message is created and delivered.

In writing your rhetorical analysis, you’ll examine the author or creator’s goals, techniques, and appeals to their audience (which you’ll summarize in your essay’s thesis).

How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis

Follow these 6 steps to write a rhetorical analysis that’s clear and insightful.

1. Identify the 4 elements of rhetoric.

elements of rhetoric audience image

Start your analysis by taking note of the following rhetorical elements:

Audience : Who is the piece intended for? Depending on the medium being used, the audience might consist of readers, spectators, listeners, or viewers. What might you infer about this audience and their backgrounds (age group, political preferences, etc.)?

Purpose : What is the speaker’s purpose? What is the outcome that they wish or intend to incite? What are they trying to convince their audience of?

Medium : How is the message being delivered? Through writing, video, images, audio, or some other medium?

Context : Consider the time, place, and social climate of when the material was originally produced. What else was going on during that time?

2. Describe the rhetorical appeals.

Identify and describe the rhetorical appeals used by the speaker, as well as other devices, such as tone , syntax , imagery , etc.

The 3 main rhetorical appeals, established by Aristotle, are ethos , pathos , and logos . They describe how the speaker appeals to an audience’s ethics, emotions, and logic, respectively. This can be done in a number of ways, including imagery, anecdotes, examples, or specific data.

3. Analyze.

Next, it’s time to analyze how and why the speaker uses those devices to appeal to their audience.

As noted above, there are many ways for a speaker to use these devices and appeals. Analyze which methods they chose, how they applied them, and why you think they chose them.

4. Evaluate.

Finally, evaluate the author’s success in using these techniques to reach their goals. Do you think they were effective? Why or why not?

If you don’t think they were effective, what effect do you think they will have instead on the audience? Your evaluation is important because it will become your main argument, or thesis.

5. State your thesis.

Now that you’ve completed your analysis of the material, try to summarize it into one clear, concise thesis statement that will form the foundation of your essay.

Your thesis statement should summarize: 1) the argument or purpose of the speaker; 2) the methods the speaker uses; and 3) the effectiveness of those methods.

For example: In [Title of the Work], the author convincingly argues in favor of education reform by using specific data, compelling anecdotes, and her experience as a teacher.

6. Organize your ideas and evidence.

writing a rhetorical analysis image

Next, using your thesis statement as a foundation, organize your ideas and evidence into a coherent outline.

For example, you might organize your body paragraphs into 3 categories: one paragraph for each of the rhetorical appeals (ethos, pathos, and logos), with specific examples of how the speaker makes those appeals.

How Do You Write a Rhetorical Analysis Introduction?

The introduction to your rhetorical analysis essay doesn’t need to be too lengthy or detailed. However, there are a few things you should introduce before jumping into your analysis.

You should start with some contextual information, so your reader can understand what kind of material you’ll be analyzing. Be sure to reference the title, the writer/speaker, and any other relevant details about the work (this can include the year it was published, or background information about what was going on at that time).

Then, you should state your thesis, which will explain what you’ll be arguing in your essay. From there, you can transition into the main body of your analysis.

Rhetorical Analysis Outline

The following outline is an example of how you could structure your rhetorical analysis. To make planning your essay easier, you can simply copy and paste this outline and fill it in with your thesis and supporting examples.

  • Describe the 4 elements of rhetoric (audience, purpose, medium, and context), and identify the speaker
  • State your thesis
  • Describe how the speaker makes an appeal to ethos (the audience’s sense of ethical responsibility)
  • Use specific examples, referring to word choice, tone, anecdotes, and other devices
  • Describe how the speaker makes an appeal to pathos (the audience’s emotions)
  • Describe how the speaker makes an appeal to logos (logic)
  • Rephrase your thesis
  • Leave your audience with a call to action, or something to think about (this could be a question, or a parting thought

How Many Words Should a Rhetorical Analysis Be?

There’s no strict rule for how many words your rhetorical analysis should be, although you might be given specific guidelines by your instructor.

In general, however, these essays aren’t very long, ranging anywhere from 500–1,000 words. The important thing is that your analysis is complete and you adequately support your thesis.

Analyzing Rhetoric

Analyzing rhetoric is one way to evaluate the work of other writers and creators, and it can also show you new strategies for making your own arguments more effectively.

Next time you read an article or listen to a speech, don’t just pay attention to what the author or speaker says, but how they say it. This is an important step in critical thinking that will help you to draw your own conclusions and evaluate different forms of media more critically.

Did you find this post helpful? Let us know in the comments below!

If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:

  • How to Write a Literary Analysis: 6 Tips for the Perfect Essay
  • How to Write a Reflection Paper in 5 Steps (plus Template and Sample Essay)
  • What Is Rhetoric? Definitions and Examples to Make Your Writing More Effective
  • 17 of the Most Common Literary Devices Every Reader and Writer Should Know

Kaelyn Barron

As a blog writer for TCK Publishing, Kaelyn loves crafting fun and helpful content for writers, readers, and creative minds alike. She has a degree in International Affairs with a minor in Italian Studies, but her true passion has always been writing. Working remotely allows her to do even more of the things she loves, like traveling, cooking, and spending time with her family.

Returning Student to USF

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! This was so helpful, and I have been anxious about this paper I must write. I just could not figure out how to get started or which way I should put it in order. Your guidelines and suggestions have really eased my mind. If I did not say it before, THANK YOU!

Lollie

I have taken a few years of English and comp classes, but this article helped me more than any of those! Breaking it down helped me immensely. Thank you!!

Ronald Walker

Ms. Barron, thank you so much for your post, which is clearly written, comprehensive, and succinct. I am a teacher, and I thought that I would introduce students to rhetorical analysis by asking them (actually we will write together) to write a rhetorical analysis of the Pledge of Allegiance. Your post provides an EXCELLENT overview of the process and (different) parts. We will just write a one-page-paragraph, to begin. Thank you, again.

Kaelyn Barron

Thank you Ronald, I am so happy to hear that you found the post helpful for your class! :)

Naveed

Kaelyn, thank you for your post. I am given a book to write the Rhetorical analysis. I hope your guidelines will serve the purpose. God bless you. Prayers.

I hope you found the post helpful for writing your rhetorical analysis! :)

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Rhetorical Analysis

PROF. PETTY'S ENG-105

  • Welcome to Class! Materials, Office Hours, & Remind
  • Welcome Letter Checklist
  • Topic 1 Checklist
  • Topic 2 Checklist
  • Topic 3 Checklist
  • Topic 4 Checklist
  • Topic 5 Checklist
  • Topic 6 Checklist
  • Topic 7 Checklist
  • Participation Requirements
  • Curriculum, Essays, & Topic Choices
  • Plagiarism Policies
  • Rhetorical Analysis Essay Instructions
  • Rhetorical Appeal Videos
  • APA Citations Help for RA
  • Review Essay Instructions
  • APA Citation Help for RE
  • Commentary Essay Instructions
  • APA Citation Help for CE
  • APA Style Resources
  • Body Paragraph Organization
  • Transitions/Signal Phrases
  • Academic Writing Tips

Topic 6-7 ​Commentary Essay Instructions

A Commentary is "an expression of opinion." Therefore, the Commentary essay should express a view point on a social issue or trend! 


The third person narrative is required to create an objective opinion that does not have bias. The third-person narrative is considered a more academic form of writing where the writer examines an issue, creates a stance, and distances themselves from the piece to express their point of view.  👉🏻
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Picture

  • ❌ Weak Thesis:  I think people should limit their usage of mobile devices because it causes distractions at work.
  • ✅ Stronger Thesis:  Employees should limit their usage of mobile devices to avoid distractions in the workplace because it will help them to complete tasks on time, produce higher quality work, and improve their ability to focus.

Step 1 Intro to the Commentary Essay and Brainstorming

Step 2 choosing a topic and ​narrowing it down .




👉🏻Remember, you need to advocate and/or argue about a specific method, theory, or policy related to the topic. 











(choose one type of technology)  (adult, teen, or child ) ?
​ (adult, teen,  or child) (choose one type of technology)?


Which is better for a person (college, high school, elementary student, or adult learner) online learning or face-to-face learning?​​

Are smartphones a great educational tool for students (college, secondary school, or elementary students)?

Step 3 Use Keywords To Learn More/Collect Evidence/Required Sources/APA Format

  • Do a search under the "Journals." This will help you start understanding your topic through your searches.
  • Keep in mind, you do not need all sources gathered before you create a thesis statement.
  • Find a better understanding of some topics that might come from your brainstorm. Then choose the final sources after your thesis argument has been developed . See Step 4 Part 1 below on how to develop your thesis.
5 Scholarly (journals and books).   for your essay and copy/paste the APA citations at the end of your document.  

Step 4 Part 1 Create a Thesis Statement

by Petty

Thesis Statement Examples:

  • ​Children diagnosed with ADHD are often over-medicated due to the glamorizing, over-publicizing, and misconceptions about the disorder, which leads to unnecessary and harmful use of medication.​
  • Elementary school students with ADHD, who are treated with medication, have better time management skills as adults because they are taught how to follow a set schedule at an early age, recognize time and sequencing, and make boring activities more fun, which makes them successful in life and their careers.  
  • Young teens should limit their social media usage by engaging in extracurricular activities because it improves their self-esteem, promotes confidence in themselves, and provides a sense of fulfillment that leads to a healthier self-image. 
  • To avoid distractions in the workplace, employees should limit their usage of mobile devices because it will help them to complete tasks on time, produce higher quality work, and improve their ability to focus so they can get more done in less time for their organization.
  • Smartphones should be required in elementary school math classes because students can experience personalized lessons, immediate feedback, and interactive learning that will improve their academic performance.
  • Parents of children with ADHD should utilize medication as a primary source of treatment because it improves concentration, increases self-esteem, and promotes good behavior, which leads them to make better decisions as an adult. 

Step 4 Part 2  ​Introduction: Hook, Summary, and Thesis

hook at the beginning by choosing a surprising statistic 😮from of the 5 GCU Library Sources for your essay. See slides that go over in-text citation formatting:  that will relate to your thesis. should be in your intro summary, nor should you tell the audience how to do something. by Professor Petty

Step 5 Incorporate Opinion and Evidence and Apply Persuasion

from from

Step 6 Organize Your Essay Using This Outline

  • Choose a signal phrase (of your own words to introduce) a quote (for more info, go to https://pettyeng105.weebly.com/transitionssignal-phrases.html ), add a quote from that source with quotation marks “_”, and an APA in-text citation ( https://pettyeng105.weebly.com/apa-citation-help-for-ce.html ).
  • It should be related to the narrowed-down topic . 
  • The introduction should be in your writing and not contain outside resource information or basic facts taken from a source.  Therefore, ❌no quotes or paraphrases should be used in this summary background (after the hook).
  • Make sure you are focused, and your topic is narrowed to that subject rather than an overview of the whole topic choice, such as basic technology or ADHD.
  • It should only be about 4-5 sentences in length before expressing your thesis.
  • Create a  thesis statement that expresses a side or stance on your narrowed-down social issue/trend that you brainstormed. ​ ** For example, you can focus on addressing what should or should not be done about an issue, what is better to improve the issue or a policy, what will you advocate for to solve the problem, etc.**
  • Include the following in your thesis:
  • Choose who is affected by incorporating an audience (elementary children, young adults, etc.)
  • Choose your argument/stance and
  • Select 3 supporting reasons for your thesis. ( These three reasons have about 4 or more words each in length.) These are your own reasons why.   These supporting reasons must be your own and not factual information, such as proven statistics, symptoms, side effects, etc. These three sub-topics will help you build create topic sentences for each body paragraph.
  • Create Topic Sentence #1  to expand on the subtopics and reinforce the thesis statement argument. Therefore, include judgment expressed and an expansion of REASON #1 from the thesis. Connect key phrases from the thesis  judgment statement and REASON #1  in your topic sentence. ❌No quotes or paraphrases should be used in the topic sentence or replace any. 
  • Add a point about your topic sentence REASON #1 .
  • Add evidence to support that point with   quotes and/or paraphrases  ( from any of the 5 📚GCU Library sources you selected) to  convince your audience of your opinion and argument stance expressed in the thesis statement and REASON #1 .    
  • Explain how your evidence (quote/paraphrase) supports your thesis statement argument.
  • Use the  quote sandwich method info to help organize and provide focus in your body paragraphs. You can do this by using a  point, quote, and explanation  method as described above. To learn more about this topic, go to the  Body Paragraph Organization  webpage.
  • Create Topic Sentence #2  to expand on the subtopics and reinforce the thesis statement argument. Therefore, include judgment expressed and an expansion of  REASON #2  from the thesis. Connect key phrases from the thesis  judgment statement  and  REASON #2  in your topic sentence. ❌No quotes or paraphrases should be used in the topic sentence or replace any. 
  • Add a point  about your topic sentence  REASON #2 .
  • Add evidence  to support that point with   quotes and/or paraphrases  ( from any of the  5 📚GCU Library sources  you selected) to  convince your audience of your opinion and argument stance expressed in the thesis statement and REASON #2 .    
  • Explain how your evidence  (quote/paraphrase) supports your thesis statement argument.
  • Use the  quote sandwich method  info to help organize and provide focus in your body paragraphs. You can do this by using a  point, quote, and explanation  method as described above. To learn more about this topic, go to the  Body Paragraph Organization   webpage.
  • Create Topic Sentence #3  to expand on the subtopics and reinforce the thesis statement argument. Therefore, include judgment expressed and an expansion of  REASON #3  from the thesis. Connect key phrases from the thesis  judgment statement  and  REASON #3  in your topic sentence. ❌No quotes or paraphrases should be used in the topic sentence or replace any. 
  • Add a point  about your topic sentence  REASON #3 .
  • Add evidence  to support that point with   quotes and/or paraphrases  ( from any of the  5 📚GCU Library sources  you selected) to  convince your audience of your opinion and argument stance expressed in the thesis statement and  REASON #3 .    
  • Use the  quote sandwich method  info to help organize and provide focus in your body paragraphs. You can do this by using a  point, quote, and explanation  method as described above. To learn more about this topic, go to the  Body Paragraph Organization   webpage. ​
  • Include a transition word or phrase. To locate some of these, go to the  Transitions/Signal Phrases  page.
  • Reiterate your thesis argument using different words.
  • Close the three reasonings you discussed in the essay.
  • Write it in your own words. ❌No quotes or paraphrases should be used.
  • It should be only about 4-5 sentences.

rhetorical analysis essay gcu

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What Is a Rhetorical Analysis and How to Write a Great One

Helly Douglas

By Helly Douglas

Cover image for article

Do you have to write a rhetorical analysis essay? Fear not! We’re here to explain exactly what rhetorical analysis means, how you should structure your essay, and give you some essential “dos and don’ts.”

What is a Rhetorical Analysis Essay?

How do you write a rhetorical analysis, what are the three rhetorical strategies, what are the five rhetorical situations, how to plan a rhetorical analysis essay, creating a rhetorical analysis essay, examples of great rhetorical analysis essays, final thoughts.

A rhetorical analysis essay studies how writers and speakers have used words to influence their audience. Think less about the words the author has used and more about the techniques they employ, their goals, and the effect this has on the audience.

Image showing definitions

In your analysis essay, you break a piece of text (including cartoons, adverts, and speeches) into sections and explain how each part works to persuade, inform, or entertain. You’ll explore the effectiveness of the techniques used, how the argument has been constructed, and give examples from the text.

A strong rhetorical analysis evaluates a text rather than just describes the techniques used. You don’t include whether you personally agree or disagree with the argument.

Structure a rhetorical analysis in the same way as most other types of academic essays . You’ll have an introduction to present your thesis, a main body where you analyze the text, which then leads to a conclusion.

Think about how the writer (also known as a rhetor) considers the situation that frames their communication:

  • Topic: the overall purpose of the rhetoric
  • Audience: this includes primary, secondary, and tertiary audiences
  • Purpose: there are often more than one to consider
  • Context and culture: the wider situation within which the rhetoric is placed

Back in the 4th century BC, Aristotle was talking about how language can be used as a means of persuasion. He described three principal forms —Ethos, Logos, and Pathos—often referred to as the Rhetorical Triangle . These persuasive techniques are still used today.

Image showing rhetorical strategies

Rhetorical Strategy 1: Ethos

Are you more likely to buy a car from an established company that’s been an important part of your community for 50 years, or someone new who just started their business?

Reputation matters. Ethos explores how the character, disposition, and fundamental values of the author create appeal, along with their expertise and knowledge in the subject area.

Aristotle breaks ethos down into three further categories:

  • Phronesis: skills and practical wisdom
  • Arete: virtue
  • Eunoia: goodwill towards the audience

Ethos-driven speeches and text rely on the reputation of the author. In your analysis, you can look at how the writer establishes ethos through both direct and indirect means.

Rhetorical Strategy 2: Pathos

Pathos-driven rhetoric hooks into our emotions. You’ll often see it used in advertisements, particularly by charities wanting you to donate money towards an appeal.

Common use of pathos includes:

  • Vivid description so the reader can imagine themselves in the situation
  • Personal stories to create feelings of empathy
  • Emotional vocabulary that evokes a response

By using pathos to make the audience feel a particular emotion, the author can persuade them that the argument they’re making is compelling.

Rhetorical Strategy 3: Logos

Logos uses logic or reason. It’s commonly used in academic writing when arguments are created using evidence and reasoning rather than an emotional response. It’s constructed in a step-by-step approach that builds methodically to create a powerful effect upon the reader.

Rhetoric can use any one of these three techniques, but effective arguments often appeal to all three elements.

The rhetorical situation explains the circumstances behind and around a piece of rhetoric. It helps you think about why a text exists, its purpose, and how it’s carried out.

Image showing 5 rhetorical situations

The rhetorical situations are:

  • 1) Purpose: Why is this being written? (It could be trying to inform, persuade, instruct, or entertain.)
  • 2) Audience: Which groups or individuals will read and take action (or have done so in the past)?
  • 3) Genre: What type of writing is this?
  • 4) Stance: What is the tone of the text? What position are they taking?
  • 5) Media/Visuals: What means of communication are used?

Understanding and analyzing the rhetorical situation is essential for building a strong essay. Also think about any rhetoric restraints on the text, such as beliefs, attitudes, and traditions that could affect the author's decisions.

Before leaping into your essay, it’s worth taking time to explore the text at a deeper level and considering the rhetorical situations we looked at before. Throw away your assumptions and use these simple questions to help you unpick how and why the text is having an effect on the audience.

Image showing what to consider when planning a rhetorical essay

1: What is the Rhetorical Situation?

  • Why is there a need or opportunity for persuasion?
  • How do words and references help you identify the time and location?
  • What are the rhetoric restraints?
  • What historical occasions would lead to this text being created?

2: Who is the Author?

  • How do they position themselves as an expert worth listening to?
  • What is their ethos?
  • Do they have a reputation that gives them authority?
  • What is their intention?
  • What values or customs do they have?

3: Who is it Written For?

  • Who is the intended audience?
  • How is this appealing to this particular audience?
  • Who are the possible secondary and tertiary audiences?

4: What is the Central Idea?

  • Can you summarize the key point of this rhetoric?
  • What arguments are used?
  • How has it developed a line of reasoning?

5: How is it Structured?

  • What structure is used?
  • How is the content arranged within the structure?

6: What Form is Used?

  • Does this follow a specific literary genre?
  • What type of style and tone is used, and why is this?
  • Does the form used complement the content?
  • What effect could this form have on the audience?

7: Is the Rhetoric Effective?

  • Does the content fulfil the author’s intentions?
  • Does the message effectively fit the audience, location, and time period?

Once you’ve fully explored the text, you’ll have a better understanding of the impact it’s having on the audience and feel more confident about writing your essay outline.

A great essay starts with an interesting topic. Choose carefully so you’re personally invested in the subject and familiar with it rather than just following trending topics. There are lots of great ideas on this blog post by My Perfect Words if you need some inspiration. Take some time to do background research to ensure your topic offers good analysis opportunities.

Image showing considerations for a rhetorical analysis topic

Remember to check the information given to you by your professor so you follow their preferred style guidelines. This outline example gives you a general idea of a format to follow, but there will likely be specific requests about layout and content in your course handbook. It’s always worth asking your institution if you’re unsure.

Make notes for each section of your essay before you write. This makes it easy for you to write a well-structured text that flows naturally to a conclusion. You will develop each note into a paragraph. Look at this example by College Essay for useful ideas about the structure.

Image showing how to structure an essay

1: Introduction

This is a short, informative section that shows you understand the purpose of the text. It tempts the reader to find out more by mentioning what will come in the main body of your essay.

  • Name the author of the text and the title of their work followed by the date in parentheses
  • Use a verb to describe what the author does, e.g. “implies,” “asserts,” or “claims”
  • Briefly summarize the text in your own words
  • Mention the persuasive techniques used by the rhetor and its effect

Create a thesis statement to come at the end of your introduction.

After your introduction, move on to your critical analysis. This is the principal part of your essay.

  • Explain the methods used by the author to inform, entertain, and/or persuade the audience using Aristotle's rhetorical triangle
  • Use quotations to prove the statements you make
  • Explain why the writer used this approach and how successful it is
  • Consider how it makes the audience feel and react

Make each strategy a new paragraph rather than cramming them together, and always use proper citations. Check back to your course handbook if you’re unsure which citation style is preferred.

3: Conclusion

Your conclusion should summarize the points you’ve made in the main body of your essay. While you will draw the points together, this is not the place to introduce new information you’ve not previously mentioned.

Use your last sentence to share a powerful concluding statement that talks about the impact the text has on the audience(s) and wider society. How have its strategies helped to shape history?

Before You Submit

Poor spelling and grammatical errors ruin a great essay. Use ProWritingAid to check through your finished essay before you submit. It will pick up all the minor errors you’ve missed and help you give your essay a final polish. Look at this useful ProWritingAid webinar for further ideas to help you significantly improve your essays. Sign up for a free trial today and start editing your essays!

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You’ll find countless examples of rhetorical analysis online, but they range widely in quality. Your institution may have example essays they can share with you to show you exactly what they’re looking for.

The following links should give you a good starting point if you’re looking for ideas:

Pearson Canada has a range of good examples. Look at how embedded quotations are used to prove the points being made. The end questions help you unpick how successful each essay is.

Excelsior College has an excellent sample essay complete with useful comments highlighting the techniques used.

Brighton Online has a selection of interesting essays to look at. In this specific example, consider how wider reading has deepened the exploration of the text.

Image showing tips when reading a sample essay

Writing a rhetorical analysis essay can seem daunting, but spending significant time deeply analyzing the text before you write will make it far more achievable and result in a better-quality essay overall.

It can take some time to write a good essay. Aim to complete it well before the deadline so you don’t feel rushed. Use ProWritingAid’s comprehensive checks to find any errors and make changes to improve readability. Then you’ll be ready to submit your finished essay, knowing it’s as good as you can possibly make it.

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Helly Douglas

Helly Douglas is a UK writer and teacher, specialising in education, children, and parenting. She loves making the complex seem simple through blogs, articles, and curriculum content. You can check out her work at hellydouglas.com or connect on Twitter @hellydouglas. When she’s not writing, you will find her in a classroom, being a mum or battling against the wilderness of her garden—the garden is winning!

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    Rhetorical Analysis on The CDC' s W ebpage for ADHD. Paige Herring. Grand Canyon University. ENG-105-0502: English Composition 1. Jennifer Chinn. October 3, 2021.

  3. First Draft of a Rhetorical Analysis

    This essay will examine the clever use of ethos, pathos, and logos by the CDC in its article on ADHD to educate and engage readers while upholding its authority. We will demonstrate how the CDC effectively uses these rhetorical techniques to inform the public about this neurodevelopmental illness through a study of reliable references ...

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    What is Rhetorical Analysis? Rhetoric is how we communicate with with words, and an analysis is looking closely at something to notice specific details. ... Use the GCU Style Template This essay needs to be in a standard 5 paragraph essay format: Introduction, Three Body Paragraphs, Conclusion Write your essay: Open the GCU Style Template and ...

  6. Rhetorical Analysis Essay

    What is Rhetorical Analysis? Rhetoric is how we communicate with with words, and an analysis is looking closely at something to notice. specific details. A rhetorical analysis is looking closely at a document to see how the author used words to communicate its message. The idea of rhetoric is broken down into three main categories or "appeals".

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    Rhetorical Analysis Angela Williams-Tourreau. College of Education-Grand Canyon University. ENG-105: English Composition 1 Professor Petty 02/09/ Rhetorical Analysis There is an estimate of 6 million children that possess attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) according to the National Survey of Children's Health (CDC, 2021a). ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects ...

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  11. How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis

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