The intent and style of an author are the more important elements we examine in rhetorical analysis.
This is an AP English Language and Composition Exam task that professionals, scholars, and students all over the world use to analyze texts.
If you are to take this exam, it is important to understand how to write a rhetorical analysis. The 10 steps to write a rhetorical analysis have been laid out in this article.
What is Rhetorical Analysis Essay?
It’s not enough to just report or summarize facts when you write analytically. In rhetorical analysis, you use rhetorical devices or critical reading methods to break down a text through certain contextual lenses in a rhetorical analysis. In a rhetorical analysis, you should say if and how the author met the main goal of the work, which could be to teach, inspire, persuade, etc.
You will write a thesis statement that talks about how well or poorly the author uses rhetorical devices like pathos, ethos, logos, and other tactics to get the reader to agree with their point of view. This suggests that you will make a claim, and then back it up with specific examples from the text and your knowledge of rhetorical strategies to demonstrate how and why it achieves its goal.
Remember that you do not have to agree with the idea being stated. You are not giving an analysis of the topic, an argument for or against the writer’s position or problem, or an explanation of the issue. Rather, you are analyzing the writer’s arguing technique and how successful it is.
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Steps in Creating a Rhetorical Analysis
Step 1 Analyze text
Select your text and carefully read it.
Step 2. Determine the speaker, audience, purpose, & genre
Use the SOAPS Tone technique to plan your analysis and find the components of the work. The acronym SOAPSTone, which stands for Speaker, Occasion, Audience, Purpose, Subject, and Tone, is widely used in literary analysis.
The speaker is the writer’s first and last name. Consider the writer’s qualifications, which add to their authority on the subject.
The text was written keeping the viewers in mind. The audience has an impact on what is said, how much is said, and how it is presented. Is the work, for example, available in an online public magazine or a peer-reviewed academic journal? An article’s evaluation may fluctuate based on where it is published.
The goal refers to the writer’s aims for the work. What is the author trying to accomplish with this piece? Tell? Win over? There may be several reasons, but the principal purpose is what leads our writing, determines our genre and target demographic, and informs our choices about what to say and how to say it.
A writing’s genre describes the type of work it is—letter, report, poem, instruction, parody, and so on. How does genre change the content? Does it require a certain method or structure? Does it change the language’s informality or tone?
Step 3. Examine the use of rhetorical appeals
Rhetorical appeals are ethos, logos, and pathos.
Ethos, or ethical appeals, describe the author’s stance and moral attributes. A family therapist, for example, with twenty years of experience has an ethos on the topic. Conversely, someone with those same credentials wouldn’t have as much ethos when talking about ecology.
Logos, or logical appeals, is an argument built on the use of reason and logic. A writer uses logos to back his thesis with data, proof, and undisputed facts.
Pathos, or emotional appeals: elicit feelings in the listener to persuade them to back or agree with your position. Fear, fury, sympathy, and the desire for love are all appropriate feelings, positive and negative. When an author of a violent crime piece includes detailed, human information about the victims of their crimes, they are most likely using pathos.
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Step 4. Note the style details—imagery, tone, syntax, diction, etc.
These are tools that an author can use to evoke a specific reaction from the reader. Examples include word choice, word order, tone, repetition, images, analogies, and figurative language.
Step 5. Form your analysis
Review the data received and make sense of what it tells you. In addition, consider how the author gets their goals using rhetorical arguments.
Are the strategies effective? Do they work or fail?
Why did the author choose those approaches for that unique audience and situation?
Consider whether the methods used would have differed for a different audience or situation. Do these components work together to serve the author’s core goal?
Recognize that a rhetorical analysis includes two voices: yours and the authors’.
Using phrases such as “The author states,” “The author thinks,” or “The article states” might help you stand out. Next, express your own opinion, making sure not to use the pronoun “I.”
Step 6. Write your introduction.
The important ideas you will address in your essay should be written in one brief line in the start. Your introduction should be brief and concise. Give a brief description of the author’s background, the text’s significance, and the message they plan to express.
Identify the text you’re studying clearly. If it is a speech, name the author, title, and occasion. Give a concise summary of it. A summary should be no more than one or two lines.
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Step 7. Write your rhetorical analysis thesis
Your thesis statement in rhetorical analysis, which should be a single line summarizing your case about the writer’s choices and tactics, should be at the end of the introduction. The thesis is one of your essay’s most important parts.
Create a short claim regarding the article (your thesis statement). It should not be a restatement of the original author’s argument, but rather what you learned during your study. The thesis statement should define your case and outline a clear way forward.
Step 8. Write the body
Provide proof to back up your claim. You should spend the majority of your paper analyzing and verifying facts. Make your claim, then give evidence to back it up. Instead, then focusing on “good” or “bad,” try using “effective” or “ineffective.”
Provide plenty of information to back up your claims. Trust empirical facts over supposition or emotion. This needs the usage of paraphrases and quotes.
Maintain a neutral tone. Because this is a scholarly work, you must write in the third person and use proper academic language. Thus, words such as “I” and “we” should be avoided.
Step 9. Write the conclusion
Your paper’s conclusion should summarize your main ideas and what you have accomplished with the paper. It is a reflection on how you met your goals rather than a reiteration of your case.
Summarize your main points and briefly explain their significance in light of your thesis. Short because you addressed it in the big body of your report previously.
Avoid including new information in your conclusion.
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Step 9 Format Correctly
A rhetorical analysis should be written in the third-person point of view (he, she, they) rather than first person (I, we), and use present tense (“… the speech examines social issues,” rather than “… the speech examined social issues.”) Make sure that at least half of your essay is your commentary.
Step 10 Choose your words wisely
Use strong verbs (describes, establishes, supports) that suggest analysis rather than weak verbs (tells, illustrates, explains) that appear to be summarizing while doing a full examination. Keep your personal views and points of view aside; this type of examination is meant to be objective.
Make use of facts, pictures, direct quotes, and paraphrases. However, be careful about using too many quotes in your essay, and avoid using quotes to start a paragraph.
Rhetorical Analysis Essay Tips
Follow these tips to create a rhetorical analysis that is engaging, clear, and concise.
- Be well prepared. To gain experience, write a rhetorical analysis of your favorite books, television shows, movies, or blogs. Furthermore, choose a subject that interests you so your excitement shines through in your writing.
- Finish strong. Avoid starting your conclusion with redundant or weak phrases such as “In conclusion” or “In summary.” Instead, say, “The research indicates that…” or “Recognize that…” Rather than disputing your main point, analyze it. Avoid sharing new information in your conclusion. The conclusion should only summarize the ideas covered in the body of the paper.
- Last but not least. In your analysis, make sure to properly reference the sources or examples you used. Proofread your finished work multiple times, paying great attention to spelling, grammar, and punctuation, and remove any typos or formatting mistakes.
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How To Write A Rhetorical Analysis Essay FAQS
You can provide a brief introduction to your rhetorical analysis. Include the following information in this paragraph to introduce readers to the topic of your essay and explain your motivation for writing it:
The creator or author’s name, and the work’s title.
The purpose of the creator’s work
Target audience the creator wanted to reach
Your thesis statement
A rhetorical analysis can be made in one to two pages or five paragraphs. Use one paragraph for each of the introduction, conclusion, and body parts. If you want to go into greater depth in your rhetorical analysis, you can. If you are writing an analysis for school, the teacher may require a specific length.
A summary varies from a rhetorical analysis. You provide a review of the text or work. You might also include your personal thoughts on the creator’s case in the summary. In comparison, a rhetorical analysis explains the author’s arguing method.
Conclusion
To write an essay on rhetorical analysis thesis is organized similarly to other writings. The introduction, body, and conclusion should all be included. The introduction should include your thesis statement, important background information, and a summary of what the essay will be about for the readers.
References
- Purdue University – How To Write A Rhetorical Analysis thesis
- Indeed – How To Write A Rhetorical Analysis essay
