October 28, 2015

The Rhetorical Analysis Essay

Rhetorical AppealsRhetorical Style

Rhetorical Strategies

EthosPathosLogos

Rhetorical Appeals

DictionSyntaxTropesJuxtapositionParallelismImageryToneSymbolismHyperboleBasically any literary device the author uses

Style

You read the prompt asking you to analyze the Rhetorical Strategies used by the author.

You read the given essay (annotate?)You decide which of the appeals and

stylistic approaches to focus on (chart work)

You write your analysis essay (more on that in a bit)

The Process

You take your car to a mechanic to get it fixed.

The mechanic looks at your car and goes to work fixing it.

Would you want a mechanic who only knows how to use one or two tools? Or a mechanic who can use the entire toolbox?

What if your car NEEDS a repair that requires a 5/16 flitterwidgit wrench? You hope your mechanic has one and knows how to use it.

An Analogy

If you’re writing an essay and only understand ethos, tone, and syntax, you have a VERY LIMITED amount of tools to use.

You have to train yourself using ALL the tools in the toolbox.

That is what we’re in the middle of right now. We’re just practicing using our tools.

What that means

Diagnosis of the car’s problemSame as looking at the essay and deciding

which appeals or stylistic maneuvers to write about.

To do that, you need to be fairly well-versed in all of it.

The tough part

It’s just not that difficultYou start with the introduction where you

discuss author’s purpose, tone, and context if needed.

Then you go chronologically through the subject essay and identify and analyze the strategies (appeals and style) the author uses.

If you just identify them, that is only half of it. You must state what they help accomplish. How does each strategy impact the author’s purpose or help the tone?

The Rhetorical Analysis Writing Process

Besides the rhetorical appeals, there are other things you can mention.

If there is an “a-ha” moment, please discuss it. Anything that stands out in the essay is fair game. Your voice is key.Write like an expert!NO PERSONAL PRONOUNS (I, we, my, you, or any

reference to yourself.)“It makes you really think.” becomes “It makes one

really think” or “It makes the reader really think”

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There is a handout you will receive shortly that lists ten tips (a couple are mentioned here) but make sure you follow the tip sheet.

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THAT’S IT