Analyzing a Text Analyzing a Text RhetoricallyRhetorically

Definition of a “Text”Definition of a “Text”

A set of symbols that communicates A set of symbols that communicates or means something. A text can be or means something. A text can be read and interpreted.read and interpreted.

From the Latin root, From the Latin root, texere, meaning “to weave”

The Red WheelbarrowThe Red Wheelbarrowby William Carlos Williamsby William Carlos Williams

so much dependsso much dependsuponupona red wheela red wheelbarrowbarrowglazed with rainglazed with rainwater water beside the whitebeside the whitechickens.chickens.

Significant Texts in our Lives – Can Significant Texts in our Lives – Can be Analyzedbe Analyzed

Religious textsReligious texts Political textsPolitical texts Legal textsLegal texts News articlesNews articles AdvertisementsAdvertisements SongsSongs PoetryPoetry PhotographyPhotography Personal experiencesPersonal experiences DreamsDreams

Student papersStudent papers Academic articlesAcademic articles MemoriesMemories SpeechesSpeeches FilmsFilms BooksBooks Video gamesVideo games PerformancesPerformances BodiesBodies ClothesClothes

What does the term “analysis” mean to What does the term “analysis” mean to you?you?

Textual Textual AnalysisAnalysis

AnalysisAnalysis Breaking something down into its essential Breaking something down into its essential

parts to understand how and why those parts to understand how and why those parts work together to accomplish parts work together to accomplish something (what + how and why)something (what + how and why)

Versus “summary” (what)Versus “summary” (what)

Importance of structureImportance of structure Looking at the Looking at the relationshiprelationship between the between the

parts – can only understand one part or parts – can only understand one part or term in relation to another (binaries, not term in relation to another (binaries, not opposites)opposites)

Step 1: Breaking down into essential parts

Step 2: Determining how parts work together

Step 3: Determining what is accomplished when parts work together

Analysis Involves Analysis Involves InterpretationInterpretation

Analyze: To break something down Analyze: To break something down into its essential parts to determine into its essential parts to determine how those parts work together to how those parts work together to accomplish something.accomplish something.

We can all see the same parts of the same text working together in the same way, yet we each see it accomplishing something different.

Or perhaps we all see a text accomplishing the same thing, but see it doing so in different ways.

There are no “wrong” or “right” interpretations of a text.

It’s a duck! It’s a bunny!

But there are supported and unsupported interpretations of a text (importance of quotes).It’s a tractor!

RhetoricRhetoric

What does the term “rhetoric” mean to What does the term “rhetoric” mean to you?you?

Defining “Rhetoric”Defining “Rhetoric” The language – both written and The language – both written and

visual – that speakers and writers visual – that speakers and writers use to communicate or persuadeuse to communicate or persuade

The The study of study of that language, human that language, human interaction, and communication interaction, and communication

Analyzing a Text Analyzing a Text RhetoricallyRhetorically

Breaking down a text into its Breaking down a text into its essential parts to understand how essential parts to understand how those parts work together to those parts work together to accomplish somethingaccomplish something

Rhetorical analysis involves looking Rhetorical analysis involves looking at the at the contextcontext, or the rhetorical , or the rhetorical situation, in which the situation, in which the communication takes place.communication takes place.

Parts of a Rhetorical Parts of a Rhetorical SituationSituation

Reading RhetoricallyReading Rhetorically Reading like a writer – reading the text Reading like a writer – reading the text

as a series of as a series of choiceschoices Understanding how the author(s) Understanding how the author(s)

constructed the text and why the constructed the text and why the author(s) made certain choices about author(s) made certain choices about the textthe text

Understanding the Understanding the contextcontext, as well as , as well as the contentthe content

Questions for Rhetorical Questions for Rhetorical AnalysisAnalysis Who is the author/speaker?Who is the author/speaker?

What is the purpose of writing? What is the What is the purpose of writing? What is the occasion that gives rise to the writing?occasion that gives rise to the writing?

Who is the intended audience? Who is the intended audience? What is the main argument? What is the main argument? What does the nature of the communication What does the nature of the communication

reveal about the culture(s) that produced it?reveal about the culture(s) that produced it? What What constructsconstructs are involved in this text? are involved in this text?

How are certain ideas or concepts being How are certain ideas or concepts being constructed within the text?constructed within the text?

Identifying ConstructsIdentifying Constructs

Construct (verb): to build or put togetherConstruct (verb): to build or put together Construct (noun): an idea that has been Construct (noun): an idea that has been

constructed over time and throughout constructed over time and throughout history (ex. love, beauty, truth, evidence, history (ex. love, beauty, truth, evidence, gender, race, evidence, plagiarism, gender, race, evidence, plagiarism, authenticity, originality, authority)authenticity, originality, authority)

Rhetorical analysis involves identifying the Rhetorical analysis involves identifying the constructs in a text and understanding constructs in a text and understanding how those ideas were constructedhow those ideas were constructed

Let’s Practice!

Different “Schools of Different “Schools of Thought” or TheoriesThought” or Theories

Formalists (symbols)Formalists (symbols) Gender theorists (gender, sexuality, sexual-Gender theorists (gender, sexuality, sexual-

orientation)orientation) Marxist theorists (social class)Marxist theorists (social class) Race-based theorists (race)Race-based theorists (race) Post-colonial theorists (nationality, empire)Post-colonial theorists (nationality, empire) Psychoanalytical theorists (unconscious)Psychoanalytical theorists (unconscious) Disability theorists (disability)Disability theorists (disability) Happiness theorists (happiness)Happiness theorists (happiness) Rhetoricians (rhetorical situations, language)Rhetoricians (rhetorical situations, language)

Different “Schools of Different “Schools of Thought” or TheoriesThought” or Theories

Importance of close reading, quoting, Importance of close reading, quoting, and explaining how you interpreted the and explaining how you interpreted the quotequote

Ex. “We hold these truths to be self-Ex. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness” (Declaration).Pursuit of Happiness” (Declaration).

Different “Schools of Different “Schools of Thought” or TheoriesThought” or Theories

Not mutually exclusive - no need to Not mutually exclusive - no need to choosechoose

Most constructs don’t fit into these Most constructs don’t fit into these traditional “schools” – potential for original traditional “schools” – potential for original argumentsarguments