Rhetorical Analysis. The Basics

Transcription

1 Rhetorical Analysis The Basics

2 Today, we are going to take the first step in developing a similar skill: rhetorical analysis. You will use rhetorical analysis in both academic settings and in your everyday life. You probably already use it without thinking I just did rhetorical analysis.

3 What do we mean by analysis? Miriam-Webster provides the following definition: a careful study of something to learn about its parts, what they do, and how they are related to each other an explanation of the nature and meaning of something so, when we analyze writing, we are examining its parts, what they do, and how they are related to each other in order to explain its meaning

4 Ok, then what do we mean by rhetoric? Back to M iriam-webster: : language that is intended to influence people and that may not be honest or reasonable : the art or skill of speaking or writing formally and effectively especially as a way to persuade or influence people Yikes! T hey sound a little cynical, but. Yes. R hetoric is language that is intended to influence people. U nfortunately, sometimes people use it dishonestly or unreasonably, but that is why we need good critical thinking skills.

5 Rhetorical analysis is easiest when you have a system. We will first identify the rhetorical situation. We will then consider how the author chooses form, organization, appeals, and surface features based on the rhetorical situation. So. Let s define these ideas. Then we ll practice with them.

6 The rhetorical situation is, overall, what is on the author s mind while he or she is composing the message. We will use the acronym CAPP when determining the rhetorical situation: Context Audience Persona Purpose

7 Context The situation in which the rhetoric is composed. Who/what/when/where/why/how was it written? Audience The immediate audience is to whom the piece of rhetoric is addressed. For example, M LK Jr. s I have a dream speech was given to people who had participated in the march on Washington The mediated audience is the other audiences likely to encounter the writing. For M LK Jr., he had an idea the speech would be televised, so this would be his mediated audience.

8 Persona Purpose The way the writer hopes to come across in the message. Attitude, tone, expertise, etc. What the writer wants to accomplish with the rhetoric. Stated as an infinitive phrase ( To inspire the nation toward racial unity ). Should be as specific as possible (never show, tell, write, say, etc.)

9 Any discussion of rhetorical analysis must focus on the rhetorical situation. Your job in rhetorical analysis is to discuss how the author s choices related to the context, audience, purpose, and plan.

10 Author s choices to achieve his or her purpose include: Form Organization Appeals Surface features Warning: Weak rhetorical analysis tends to discuss these choices without clear connections back to the rhetorical purpose.

11 Form The type of composition the writer chooses (speech, letter, editorial, article, essay, etc.) Organization Arrangement of ideas and appeals within the composition What the author puts first, in the middle, last, together, etc.

12 Appeals Appeals to ethos (establishing trust either with the author or his/her sources) Appeals to pathos (engaging the audience s emotions-- happiness, sadness, anger, irritation, etc.) Appeals to logos (explaining what makes sense by using data, comparisons, evidence, etc.)

13 Surface features Diction (word choice) Syntax (language structure) Figurative language (non-literal language like metaphors, similes, etc.) Imagery (language that appeals to the senses)

14 Practice time! See the reverse of your paper for our first rhetorical analysis task.