Rhetorical Analysis
Prompt
A rhetorical analysisevaluateshow an author (or artist) attempts to reach or influence an audience. Locate a visual, oral, or written text that you deem interesting and analyze it according to the way the text uses rhetorical effects and strategies to make its argument. Use specific textual evidence to establish a general argument (your thesis) about how the text achieves its intended effect. You should not simply paraphrase or summarize what the rhetor says or writes. Rather, your goal is to provide a way of understanding the measure of persuasive effect by analyzing the rhetorical situation.
To do this, first identify the rhetor, intended audience, message, and intended purpose of the text. This information will set the foundation for the rest of your analysis. Next, explainhow(and how effectively) the text (1) appeals to its intended audience and (2) employs the available means (the rhetorical appeals of ethos, logos, pathos; resources and constraints; and visual and/or aural elements, if applicable)
You should go beyond description of the rhetorical elements of the text to look athowthose elements work to achieve the text’s purpose. Your ideas should be developed through textual evidence and analysis of that evidence. Finally, evaluate the measure of persuasive effect—decide whether or not the text constitutes a fitting response (of informing, explaining, motivating, identifying, etc.). Make an argument regarding the aspect of the text’s rhetoric that is most interesting, revealing, and/or important.
Process
As you are drafting, consider how you are supporting your claims about the text. Refer to specific moments in the text (using quotes and other concrete details) as evidence for your explanation of how the rhetor uses rhetorical strategies. At the same time, consider the balance between description and analysis in your writing. Describe moments in the text in order to make your argument, but remember that your job is not to summarize the text for your readers. Your job is to evaluate the text by analyzing these details and making an argument about their rhetorical effect. After drafting,revise and edit.Consider carefully the organization and coherence of your piece. Develop clear paragraphs that support your thesis organized around a definite topic.
Format
Your final draft should be900-1200 words(double-spaced, TNR font, 1” margins). When citing your outside source(s), follow MLA format (seeThe New Harbrace GuideCh. 19 or the PSU Libraries’ Citation Research Guide:http://guides.libraries.psu.edu/mlacitation(Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.).
Grading Criteria
Your essay should
- Include a thesis that states whether or not the text is rhetorically effective/a fitting response.
- Identify the rhetor, intended audience, message, and intended purpose of the text.
- Assess the text’s use of the available means of persuasion (rhetorical appeals, etc.).
- Use sufficient textual examples (evidence) and analysis to support your claims about the text’s effectiveness.
- Follow the formatting requirements described in this assignment sheet.