Rhetorical Analysis

What are you analyzing in the rhetorical analysis essay?

• whether the author is effective at persuading the audience

• whether you agree or disagree with the author

• the author's theme or purpose

• the tools/strategies the author uses to present his/her message to the audience

A writer generally has two purposes in the persuasive text presented on the rhetorical analysis essay. These two purposes are

• the 1st has to do presenting the audience with background information on the topic and the 2nd has to do with persuading the audience to agree with him/her

• the 1st has to do with informing and the 2nd has to do with a "call to action" as the writer presents something he wishes the audience to do or believe

• the 1st has to do with persuading an audience, the 2nd has to do with informing them of the problem

What is literally meant by a “rhetorical analysis” essay?

• Read and annotate a persuasive text

• Breaking an effective persuasive text into parts

• Being able to identify rhetorical strategies

• Creating a 2.4 essay to analyze the writer’s theme

What's the difference in a rhetorical strategy and a rhetorical device?

• a strategy is the choices a writer makes in his/her argument, whereas a device is the evidence the writer uses to back up his/her point

• a strategy is what a writer does (verb) and is a broad category, whereas a device is things a writer uses (noun) that fall under the category of the strategy

• a strategy is the purpose behind a persuasive text, whereas a device is anything the writer does to win over the audience

Rhetorical analysis is the examination of...

• testing procedures for the AP exam

• written ​texts to determine how the ​author shaped the content ​in order to achieve an ​identifiable purpose for a given audience

• architecture and history of the Rostra in Rome

Which element of persuasion involves the strategic use of language to achieve a specific purpose?

• Ethos

• Logos

• Pathos

• Rhetoric

Interpreting an argument's "logos" involves examining:

• The emotional impact of the argument

• The ethical stance of the speaker

• The logical structure and evidence presented

• The audience's pre-existing opinions

What type of rhetorical strategy is used here?

• Idiom

• Allusion

• Rhetorical Question

• Juxtaposition

Which of the following best defines "ethos" in persuasive writing?

• The logical appeal of an argument

• The emotional appeal to the audience

• The credibility and ethical appeal of the speaker

• The use of counterclaims to strengthen an argument

What is the primary purpose of using "logos" in an argument?

• To appeal to the audience's sense of right and wrong

• To evoke an emotional response from the audience

• To present logical and factual evidence to support a claim

• To discredit the opposing viewpoint