rhetorical analysis notes

7/29/2019 Rhetorical Analysis Notes

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Rhetorical Analysis

Skills needed to help you accurately analyze a text:1. Understand SOAPStone.2. Learn and Apply Rhetorical Strategies.

a. Classical Appeals (ethos, logos, pathos)b. Style (diction, syntax, imagery, tone, etc.)

3. Ask yourself these questions:a. WHAT is the authors purpose and/or thesis?b. HOW do the rhetorical strategies help the author achieve his/her purpose?c. WHY did the author choose those strategies for that particular audience and

for that particular occasion?

I. What is it?Rhetoric: The art of persuasionAnalysis: Examining the parts of the whole; breaking down into elements

Analysis is the close and careful inspection of literature or an event. It challenges you

to move beyond the initial appearances of an issue and to investigate it in detail toencourage you to see it from a different perspective that generates creativeinsights and understandings that were not at first apparent.

II. How do I begin?STARTwith an idea, an insight, a hunch, a theory, a shot in the dark

about the meaning of the work as a whole the authors purpose.CONTINUEwith a statement about meaning develop a thesis

statement. THEN, try to figure out how the author uses literary devices(i.e. metaphor) and other elements (diction and syntax) to lead you to that

interpretation and why the author chose to use them in that manner.

Anticipate the readers rude question: So what? ANSWER IT!

III. How do I figure out howand whythe author uses literary devices?When reading text closely, consider what it says and what it does. When you do this,

you are thinking about how language functions, a dimension thats distinct fromwhat language says.

Says statements (content)summarizes the content of the text. Does statements (form) describes construction, organization, and form

with as little reference to content as possible.

Ask yourself What is the authors thesis and what is he/she doing to get

it across to his/her audience?

IV. How do I improve my analysis?Texts must always be interpreted within a context being unfamiliar with the

appropriate contextual or background information will usually lead tomisinterpretation and misunderstanding. You may be able to

improve your analysis by making use of one or more of the followingtechniques:


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A. Pre-read or reconnoiter the text. Flip through it to get an initial sense of

what its about: its topic, purpose, main ideas, and the attitude/position of itsauthor. Afterwards, read it more thoroughly.

B. Skip past sections you dont understand. If you encounter a sentence or

paragraph you dont understand, try bouncing over the problematic sectionand continue reading. You may find that a later part of the text clarifies the

part you dont understand; if not, return to the puzzling section and see if youcan figure it out.

C. Read purposefully and actively. You are more likely to understand a text if

you engage it actively rather than passively. Annotated the text; write in themargins; highlight important points that you can use in your argument and/oressay.

D. Take concise notes of main points and key information. Try to record

brief notes on everything you read collect these notes in a centralized formso that you may review them from time to time (not just the night before anexam). This strategy will not only refresh your memory but will also help youdevelop the kind o f conceptual background or context that will make you abetter reader.

SOAPStone1. S PEAKER: Is someone identified as the speaker? Can you make some

assumptions about this person? Their class? Political party? Gender?NOTE: Does the speaker evoke God? a Nation? Liberty?

History? Hell? Does the speaker allude to classicalthemes? Why is the speaker using this type of language?

2. O CCASION: What prompted the author to write this piece? What event ledto its publication or development?

3. A UDIENCE: Does the speaker identify an audience? What assumptions canyou make about the audience? Mixed racial/gender group? Social class?

Political party?4. P URPOSE: What is the speakers purpose and how does he/she convey this

message? How would you perceive the speaker giving this speech? What isthe document saying? What is the emotional state of the speaker? How isthe speaker trying to spark a reaction in the audience? What words orphrases show the speakers tone? How is the document supposed to makethe reader feel?

5. S UBJECT: What is the subject of the piece? How do you know this? Howhas the subject been selected and presented by the author?

6. T ONE: What is the authors attitude toward the subject? What emotionalsense do you take from the piece?

Once you understand the information above, its timeto begin putting your thoughts and ideas into a

format that proves you have accurately analyzed thetext.

There are many ways to write an effective rhetorical analysisessay. We will look at a possible format to begin your essay.


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The Introductory Paragraph

Sample Introduction.

1)Toni Morrison, a well-known scholar in the humanities, in heressay, Disturbing Nurses and the Kindness of Sharks, impliesTHATracism in the United States has affected the craft and process of

American novelists. 2) Her purpose is to make her readers aware ofthe cruel reality of racism underlying some of the greatest works ofAmerican literature IN ORDER TO help them examine the far-reachingeffects racism has not only on those discriminated against but also on

The INTRODUCTION should be a Rhetorical Precis format. The Rhetorical Preciscontains four sentences that will set up your Rhetorical Essay.

1 __________________, _______________________, in his/her ______________________, (authors credentials) (authors first & last name) (type of text)

arguesthat___________________________________________________________(strong verb followed by a that clause) (state the writers subject after that)

2 _________________s purpose is to ___________________________________________ (authors last name) (state what the author does in the text)

in order to ___________________________________________________________ (state what the author wants the audience to do after reading the text)

3 He/she adopts a(n) __________________________ tone for______________________.

4 He/she supports this claim by first ______________________________, then

______________________________, and finally ______________________________ .


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those who discriminate. 3) She establishes a formal and highlyanalytical tone with her audience of racially-mixed, theoretically-sophisticated readers and critical interpreters of American literature.

4) Morrison supports her implication by first describing how ErnestHemingway writes about black characters and then by illustrating his

strategies for plot development seen within his novels and shortstories.

Body ParagraphsThe body paragraphs are the analysis part!

The detailed explanation of strategies used by the writer is known asCONCRETE DETAILS.

When writing an analysis, it is crucial that you work chronologicallythroughthe text start at the beginning of the text and work your way through it by

discussing what the writer is saying and the effectiveness of the strategieshe/she is using at the beginning, middle, and end of the text.

Sometimes this means that you will discuss each paragraph (one at a time),and sometimes this means that you will divide the text into sections anddiscuss the beginning, middle, and end of the text. Whether you discusseach paragraph or each section depends on the length and organization ofthe text itself.

To help you move chronologically through the text, there are transitionwords you can use. A few of them are listed below as well as many more inthis packet:

shifts to juxtaposes contrasts moves to

Your paragraph should include COMMENTARY your interpretation,analysis, insight, feelings, reflection, etc. You need more commentarythan concrete details.

Remember to: Identify the part of the text you are analyzing by using transition

words and strong verbs to explain what is being said. Identify the strongest rhetorical strategies used in that

particular section. This includes incorporating specific textexamples (exact words from the text) in your words and/or citing

direct quotes. DO NOT try to discuss every strategy thewriter uses pick the strongest!

Clearly and specifically explain how the rhetorical strategies areused to help the writer achieve his purpose and reach hisaudience.


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We will work on a Pearl Necklace activity to reinforce thesepoints.

Sample Body Paragraph.

1) The first sentence identifies which section of the text you are

discussing and the main idea of that section.(Writers last name) (transition word) his/her(type of text) by (strong verb) that (main idea of thissection of the text).

President Reagan begins his tribute to the Challenger astronauts by acknowledging thatthe shuttle accident has appropriately postponed his planned State of the Union addressand by expressing the depth of his and his wifes personal grief.

2) The second sentence conveys the writers support for the mainidea by identifying and providing CONCRETE EXAMPLES for ONEstrategy used by the writer. This sentence is repeated if more than one

rhetorical strategy is used.

He appeals to the mournful emotions of the audience by admitting that he and Nancy arepained to the core (3), that today is rightfully a day for mourning and remembering

3) and 4) The third and fourth sentences should containCOMMENTARY your interpretation, analysis, insight, feelings,

REPEAT #2, 3, and 4 above.

5) A CONCLUDING SENTENCE THAT TRANSITIONS INTO YOURNEXT BODY PARAGRAPH.

Concluding Paragraph The concluding paragraph should all be commentary. DO NOT repeat key words from anywhere in the essay.

Leave your reader with a statement that is satisfying

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