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Rhetorical Analysis Essay

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example - Free Samples

11 min read

Good Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example

The step-by-step writing process of a rhetorical analysis essay is far more complicated than ordinary academic essays. This essay type critically analyzes the rhetorical means used to persuade the audience and their efficiency.

The example provided below is the best rhetorical analysis essay example:

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Sample

In this essay type, the author uses rhetorical approaches such as ethos, pathos, and logos . These approaches are then studied and analyzed deeply by the essay writers to weigh their effectiveness in delivering the message.

Let’s take a look at the following example to get a better idea;

The outline and structure of a rhetorical analysis essay are important.

According to the essay outline, the essay is divided into three sections:

Introduction
Ethos
Logos

A rhetorical analysis essay outline is the same as the traditional one. The different parts of the rhetorical analysis essay are written in the following way:

Rhetorical Analysis Introduction Example

The introductory paragraph of a rhetorical analysis essay is written for the following purpose:

To provide basic background information about the chosen author and the text.
Identify the target audience of the essay.

An introduction for a rhetorical essay is drafted by:

Stating an opening sentence known as the hook statement. This catchy sentence is prepared to grab the audience’s attention to the paper.
After the opening sentence, the background information of the author and the original text are provided.

For example, a rhetorical analysis essay written by Lee Jennings on“The Right Stuff” by David Suzuki. Lee started the essay by providing the introduction in the following way:

Analysis of the Example:

Suzuki stresses the importance of high school education. He prepares his readers for a proposal to make that education as valuable as possible.
A rhetorical analysis can show how successful Suzuki was in using logos, pathos, and ethos. He had a strong ethos because of his reputation.
He also used pathos to appeal to parents and educators. However, his use of logos could have been more successful.
Here Jennings stated the background information about the text and highlighted the rhetorical techniques used and their effectiveness.

Thesis Statement Example for Rhetorical Analysis Essay

A thesis statement of a rhetorical analysis essay is the writer’s stance on the original text. It is the argument that a writer holds and proves it using the evidence from the original text.

A thesis statement for a rhetorical essay is written by analyzing the following elements of the original text:

Diction - It refers to the author’s choice of words and the tone
Imagery - The visual descriptive language that the author used in the content.
Simile - The comparison of things and ideas

In Jennings's analysis of “The Right Stuff,” the thesis statement was:

Example For Rhetorical Analysis Thesis Statement

Rhetorical Analysis Body Paragraph Example

In the body paragraphs of your rhetorical analysis essay, you dissect the author's work, analyze their use of rhetorical techniques, and provide evidence to support your analysis.

Let's look at an example that analyzes the use of ethos in David Suzuki's essay:

Rhetorical Analysis Conclusion Example

All the body paragraphs lead the audience towards the conclusion.

For example, the conclusion of “The Right Stuff” is written in the following way by Jennings:

In the conclusion section, Jennings summarized the major points and restated the thesis statement to prove them.

Rhetorical Essay Example For The Right Stuff by David Suzuki

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example AP Lang 2023

Writing a rhetorical analysis for the AP Language and Composition course can be challenging. So drafting it correctly is important to earn good grades.

To make your essay effective and winning, follow the tips provided by professionals below:

Step #1: Understand the Prompt

Understanding the prompt is the first thing to produce an influential rhetorical paper. It is mandatory for this academic writing to read and understand the prompt to know what the task demands from you.

Step #2: Stick to the Format

The content for the rhetorical analysis should be appropriately organized and structured. For this purpose, a proper outline is drafted.

The rhetorical analysis essay outline divides all the information into different sections, such as the introduction, body, and conclusion. The introduction should explicitly state the background information and the thesis statement.

All the body paragraphs should start with a topic sentence to convey a claim to the readers. Provide a thorough analysis of these claims in the paragraph to support your topic sentence.

Step #3: Use Rhetorical Elements to Form an Argument

Analyze the following things in the text to form an argument for your essay:

Language (tone and words)
Organizational structure
Rhetorical Appeals ( ethos, pathos, and logos)

Once you have analyzed the rhetorical appeals and other devices like imagery and diction, you can form a strong thesis statement. The thesis statement will be the foundation on which your essay will be standing.

AP Language Rhetorical Essay Sample

AP Rhetorical Analysis Essay Template

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example AP Lang

AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Examples for Students

Here are a few more examples to help the students write a rhetorical analysis essay:

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example Ethos, Pathos, Logos

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example Outline

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example College

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example APA Format

Compare and Contrast Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example

Comparative Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example

How to Start Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example High School

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example APA Sample

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example Of a Song

Florence Kelley Speech Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example MLA

Writing a Visual Rhetorical Analysis Essay with Example

The visual rhetorical analysis essay determines how pictures and images communicate messages and persuade the audience.

Usually, visual rhetorical analysis papers are written for advertisements. This is because they use strong images to convince the audience to behave in a certain way.

To draft a perfect visual rhetorical analysis essay, follow the tips below:

Analyze the advertisement deeply and note every minor detail.
Notice objects and colors used in the image to gather every detail.
Determine the importance of the colors and objects and analyze why the advertiser chose the particular picture.
See what you feel about the image.
Consider the objective of the image. Identify the message that the image is portraying.
Identify the targeted audience and how they respond to the picture.

An example is provided below to give students a better idea of the concept.

Simplicity Breeds Clarity Visual Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Writing Tips

Follow the tips provided below to make your rhetorical writing compelling.

Choose an engaging topic for your essay. The rhetorical analysis essay topic should be engaging to grab the reader’s attention.
Thoroughly read the original text.
Identify the SOAPSTone. From the text, determine the speaker, occasions, audience, purpose, subject, and tone.
Develop a thesis statement to state your claim over the text.
Draft a rhetorical analysis essay outline.
Write an engaging essay introduction by giving a hook statement and background information. At the end of the introductory paragraph, state the thesis statement.
The body paragraphs of the rhetorical essay should have a topic sentence. Also, in the paragraph, a thorough analysis should be presented.
For writing a satisfactory rhetorical essay conclusion, restate the thesis statement and summarize the main points.
Proofread your essay to check for mistakes in the content. Make your edits before submitting the draft.

Following the tips and the essay's correct writing procedure will guarantee success in your academics.

We have given you plenty of examples of a rhetorical analysis essay. But if you are still struggling to draft a great rhetorical analysis essay, it is suggested to take a professional’s help.

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How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis Essay–Examples & Template

What is a Rhetorical Analysis Essay?

A rhetorical analysis essay is, as the name suggests, an analysis of someone else’s writing (or speech, or advert, or even cartoon) and how they use not only words but also rhetorical techniques to influence their audience in a certain way. A rhetorical analysis is less interested in what the author is saying and more in how they present it, what effect this has on their readers, whether they achieve their goals, and what approach they use to get there.

Its structure is similar to that of most essays: An Introduction presents your thesis, a Body analyzes the text you have chosen, breaks it down into sections and explains how arguments have been constructed and how each part persuades, informs, or entertains the reader, and a Conclusion section sums up your evaluation.

Note that your personal opinion on the matter is not relevant for your analysis and that you don’t state anywhere in your essay whether you agree or disagree with the stance the author takes.

In the following, we will define the key rhetorical concepts you need to write a good rhetorical analysis and give you some practical tips on where to start.

Key Rhetorical Concepts

Your goal when writing a rhetorical analysis is to think about and then carefully describe how the author has designed their text so that it has the intended effect on their audience. To do that, you need to consider a number of key rhetorical strategies: Rhetorical appeals (“Ethos”, “Logos”, and “Pathos”), context, as well as claims, supports, and warrants.

Ethos, Logos, and Pathos were introduced by Aristotle, way back in the 4th century BC, as the main ways in which language can be used to persuade an audience. They still represent the basis of any rhetorical analysis and are often referred to as the “rhetorical triangle”.

These and other rhetorical techniques can all be combined to create the intended effect, and your job as the one analyzing a text is to break the writer’s arguments down and identify the concepts they are based on.

Rhetorical Appeals

Rhetorical appeal #1: ethos.

Ethos refers to the reputation or authority of the writer regarding the topic of their essay or speech and to how they use this to appeal to their audience. Just like we are more likely to buy a product from a brand or vendor we have confidence in than one we don’t know or have reason to distrust, Ethos-driven texts or speeches rely on the reputation of the author to persuade the reader or listener. When you analyze an essay, you should therefore look at how the writer establishes Ethos through rhetorical devices.

Does the author present themselves as an authority on their subject? If so, how?

Do they highlight how impeccable their own behavior is to make a moral argument?

Do they present themselves as an expert by listing their qualifications or experience to convince the reader of their opinion on something?

Rhetorical appeal #2: Pathos

The purpose of Pathos-driven rhetoric is to appeal to the reader’s emotions. A common example of pathos as a rhetorical means is adverts by charities that try to make you donate money to a “good cause”. To evoke the intended emotions in the reader, an author may use passionate language, tell personal stories, and employ vivid imagery so that the reader can imagine themselves in a certain situation and feel empathy with or anger towards others.

Rhetorical appeal #3: Logos

Logos, the “logical” appeal, uses reason to persuade. Reason and logic, supported by data, evidence, clearly defined methodology, and well-constructed arguments, are what most academic writing is based on. Emotions, those of the researcher/writer as well as those of the reader, should stay out of such academic texts, as should anyone’s reputation, beliefs, or personal opinions.

Text and Context

To analyze a piece of writing, a speech, an advertisement, or even a satirical drawing, you need to look beyond the piece of communication and take the context in which it was created and/or published into account.

Who is the person who wrote the text/drew the cartoon/designed the ad..? What audience are they trying to reach? Where was the piece published and what was happening there around that time?

A political speech, for example, can be powerful even when read decades later, but the historical context surrounding it is an important aspect of the effect it was intended to have.

Claims, Supports, and Warrants

To make any kind of argument, a writer needs to put forward specific claims, support them with data or evidence or even a moral or emotional appeal, and connect the dots logically so that the reader can follow along and agree with the points made.

The connections between statements, so-called “warrants”, follow logical reasoning but are not always clearly stated—the author simply assumes the reader understands the underlying logic, whether they present it “explicitly” or “implicitly”. Implicit warrants are commonly used in advertisements where seemingly happy people use certain products, wear certain clothes, accessories, or perfumes, or live certain lifestyles – with the connotation that, first, the product/perfume/lifestyle is what makes that person happy and, second, the reader wants to be as happy as the person in the ad. Some warrants are never clearly stated, and your job when writing a rhetorical analysis essay is therefore to identify them and bring them to light, to evaluate their validity, their effect on the reader, and the use of such means by the writer/creator.

bust of plato the philosopher, rhetorical analysis essay

What are the Five Rhetorical Situations?

A “rhetorical situation” refers to the circumstance behind a text or other piece of communication that arises from a given context. It explains why a rhetorical piece was created, what its purpose is, and how it was constructed to achieve its aims.

Rhetorical situations can be classified into the following five categories:

Asking such questions when you analyze a text will help you identify all the aspects that play a role in the effect it has on its audience, and will allow you to evaluate whether it achieved its aims or where it may have failed to do so.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline

Analyzing someone else’s work can seem like a big task, but as with every assignment or writing endeavor, you can break it down into smaller, well-defined steps that give you a practical structure to follow.

To give you an example of how the different parts of your text may look when it’s finished, we will provide you with some excerpts from this rhetorical analysis essay example (which even includes helpful comments) published on the Online Writing Lab website of Excelsior University in Albany, NY. The text that this essay analyzes is this article on why one should or shouldn’t buy an Ipad. If you want more examples so that you can build your own rhetorical analysis template, have a look at this essay on Nabokov’s Lolita and the one provided here about the “Shitty First Drafts” chapter of Anne Lamott’s writing instruction book “Bird by Bird”.

Analyzing the Text

When writing a rhetorical analysis, you don’t choose the concepts or key points you think are relevant or want to address. Rather, you carefully read the text several times asking yourself questions like those listed in the last section on rhetorical situations to identify how the text “works” and how it was written to achieve that effect.

Start with focusing on the author : What do you think was their purpose for writing the text? Do they make one principal claim and then elaborate on that? Or do they discuss different topics?

Then look at what audience they are talking to: Do they want to make a group of people take some action? Vote for someone? Donate money to a good cause? Who are these people? Is the text reaching this specific audience? Why or why not?

What tone is the author using to address their audience? Are they trying to evoke sympathy? Stir up anger? Are they writing from a personal perspective? Are they painting themselves as an authority on the topic? Are they using academic or informal language?

How does the author support their claims ? What kind of evidence are they presenting? Are they providing explicit or implicit warrants? Are these warrants valid or problematic? Is the provided evidence convincing?

Asking yourself such questions will help you identify what rhetorical devices a text uses and how well they are put together to achieve a certain aim. Remember, your own opinion and whether you agree with the author are not the point of a rhetorical analysis essay – your task is simply to take the text apart and evaluate it.

If you are still confused about how to write a rhetorical analysis essay, just follow the steps outlined below to write the different parts of your rhetorical analysis: As every other essay, it consists of an Introduction , a Body (the actual analysis), and a Conclusion .

Rhetorical Analysis Introduction

The Introduction section briefly presents the topic of the essay you are analyzing, the author, their main claims, a short summary of the work by you, and your thesis statement .

Tell the reader what the text you are going to analyze represents (e.g., historically) or why it is relevant (e.g., because it has become some kind of reference for how something is done). Describe what the author claims, asserts, or implies and what techniques they use to make their argument and persuade their audience. Finish off with your thesis statement that prepares the reader for what you are going to present in the next section – do you think that the author’s assumptions/claims/arguments were presented in a logical/appealing/powerful way and reached their audience as intended?

Have a look at an excerpt from the sample essay linked above to see what a rhetorical analysis introduction can look like. See how it introduces the author and article , the context in which it originally appeared , the main claims the author makes , and how this first paragraph ends in a clear thesis statement that the essay will then elaborate on in the following Body section:

Cory Doctorow ’s article on BoingBoing is an older review of the iPad , one of Apple’s most famous products. At the time of this article, however, the iPad was simply the latest Apple product to hit the market and was not yet so popular. Doctorow’s entire career has been entrenched in and around technology. He got his start as a CD-ROM programmer and is now a successful blogger and author. He is currently the co-editor of the BoingBoing blog on which this article was posted. One of his main points in this article comes from Doctorow’s passionate advocacy of free digital media sharing. He argues that the iPad is just another way for established technology companies to control our technological freedom and creativity . In “ Why I Won’t Buy an iPad (and Think You Shouldn’t, Either) ” published on Boing Boing in April of 2010, Cory Doctorow successfully uses his experience with technology, facts about the company Apple, and appeals to consumer needs to convince potential iPad buyers that Apple and its products, specifically the iPad, limit the digital rights of those who use them by controlling and mainstreaming the content that can be used and created on the device .

Doing the Rhetorical Analysis

The main part of your analysis is the Body , where you dissect the text in detail. Explain what methods the author uses to inform, entertain, and/or persuade the audience. Use Aristotle’s rhetorical triangle and the other key concepts we introduced above. Use quotations from the essay to demonstrate what you mean. Work out why the writer used a certain approach and evaluate (and again, demonstrate using the text itself) how successful they were. Evaluate the effect of each rhetorical technique you identify on the audience and judge whether the effect is in line with the author’s intentions.

To make it easy for the reader to follow your thought process, divide this part of your essay into paragraphs that each focus on one strategy or one concept , and make sure they are all necessary and contribute to the development of your argument(s).

One paragraph of this section of your essay could, for example, look like this:

One example of Doctorow’s position is his comparison of Apple’s iStore to Wal-Mart. This is an appeal to the consumer’s logic—or an appeal to logos. Doctorow wants the reader to take his comparison and consider how an all-powerful corporation like the iStore will affect them. An iPad will only allow for apps and programs purchased through the iStore to be run on it; therefore, a customer must not only purchase an iPad but also any programs he or she wishes to use. Customers cannot create their own programs or modify the hardware in any way.

As you can see, the author of this sample essay identifies and then explains to the reader how Doctorow uses the concept of Logos to appeal to his readers – not just by pointing out that he does it but by dissecting how it is done.

Rhetorical Analysis Conclusion

The conclusion section of your analysis should restate your main arguments and emphasize once more whether you think the author achieved their goal. Note that this is not the place to introduce new information—only rely on the points you have discussed in the body of your essay. End with a statement that sums up the impact the text has on its audience and maybe society as a whole:

Overall, Doctorow makes a good argument about why there are potentially many better things to drop a great deal of money on instead of the iPad. He gives some valuable information and facts that consumers should take into consideration before going out to purchase the new device. He clearly uses rhetorical tools to help make his case, and, overall, he is effective as a writer, even if, ultimately, he was ineffective in convincing the world not to buy an iPad .

Frequently Asked Questions about Rhetorical Analysis Essays

What is a rhetorical analysis essay.

A rhetorical analysis dissects a text or another piece of communication to work out and explain how it impacts its audience, how successfully it achieves its aims, and what rhetorical devices it uses to do that.

While argumentative essays usually take a stance on a certain topic and argue for it, a rhetorical analysis identifies how someone else constructs their arguments and supports their claims.

What is the correct rhetorical analysis essay format?

Like most other essays, a rhetorical analysis contains an Introduction that presents the thesis statement, a Body that analyzes the piece of communication, explains how arguments have been constructed, and illustrates how each part persuades, informs, or entertains the reader, and a Conclusion section that summarizes the results of the analysis.

What is the “rhetorical triangle”?

The rhetorical triangle was introduced by Aristotle as the main ways in which language can be used to persuade an audience: Logos appeals to the audience’s reason, Ethos to the writer’s status or authority, and Pathos to the reader’s emotions. Logos, Ethos, and Pathos can all be combined to create the intended effect, and your job as the one analyzing a text is to break the writer’s arguments down and identify what specific concepts each is based on.

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Rhetorical Analysis Sample Essay

Harriet Clark

Ms. Rebecca Winter

13 Feb. 2015

Not Quite a Clean Sweep: Rhetorical Strategies in

Grose's "Cleaning: The Final Feminist Frontier”

A woman’s work is never done: many American women grow up with this saying and feel it to be true. 1 One such woman, author Jessica Grose, wrote “Cleaning: The Final Feminist Frontier,” published in 2013 in the New Republic, 2 and she argues that while the men recently started taking on more of the childcare and cooking, cleaning still falls unfairly on women. 3 Grose begins building her credibility with personal facts and reputable sources, citing convincing facts and statistics, and successfully employing emotional appeals; however, toward the end of the article, her attempts to appeal to readers’ emotions weaken her credibility and ultimately, her argument. 4

In her article, Grose first sets the stage by describing a specific scenario of house-cleaning with her husband after being shut in during Hurricane Sandy, and then she outlines the uneven distribution of cleaning work in her marriage and draws a comparison to the larger feminist issue of who does the cleaning in a relationship. Grose continues by discussing some of the reasons that men do not contribute to cleaning: the praise for a clean house goes to the woman; advertising and media praise men’s cooking and childcare, but not cleaning; and lastly, it is just not fun. Possible solutions to the problem, Grose suggests, include making a chart of who does which chores, dividing up tasks based on skill and ability, accepting a dirtier home, and making cleaning more fun with gadgets. 5

Throughout her piece, Grose uses many strong sources that strengthen her credibility and appeal to ethos, as well as build her argument. 6 These sources include, “sociologists Judith Treas and Tsui-o Tai,” “a 2008 study from the University of New Hampshire,” and “P&G North America Fabric Care Brand Manager, Matthew Krehbiel” (qtd. in Grose). 7 Citing these sources boosts Grose’s credibility by showing that she has done her homework and has provided facts and statistics, as well as expert opinions to support her claim. She also uses personal examples from her own home life to introduce and support the issue, which shows that she has a personal stake in and first-hand experience with the problem. 8

Adding to her ethos appeals, Grose uses strong appeals to logos, with many facts and statistics and logical progressions of ideas. 9 She points out facts about her marriage and the distribution of household chores: “My husband and I both work. We split midnight baby feedings ...but ... he will admit that he’s never cleaned the bathroom, that I do the dishes nine times out of ten, and that he barely knows how the washer and dryer work in the apartment we’ve lived in for over eight months.” 10 These facts introduce and support the idea that Grose does more household chores than her husband. Grose continues with many statistics:

[A]bout 55 percent of American mothers employed full time do some housework on an average day, while only 18 percent of employed fathers do. ... [W]orking women with children are still doing a week and a half more of “second shift” work each year than their male partners. ... Even in the famously gender-neutral Sweden, women do 45 minutes more housework a day than their male partners. 11

These statistics are a few of many that logically support her claim that it is a substantial and real problem that men do not do their fair share of the chores. The details and numbers build an appeal to logos and impress upon the reader that this is a problem worth discussing. 12

Along with strong logos appeals, Grose effectively makes appeals to pathos in the beginning and middle sections. 13 Her introduction is full of emotionally-charged words and phrases that create a sympathetic image; Grose notes that she “was eight months pregnant” and her husband found it difficult to “fight with a massively pregnant person.” 14 The image she evokes of the challenges and vulnerabilities of being so pregnant, as well as the high emotions a woman feels at that time effectively introduce the argument and its seriousness. Her goal is to make the reader feel sympathy for her. Adding to this idea are words and phrases such as, “insisted,” “argued,” “not fun,” “sucks” “headachey,” “be judged,” “be shunned” (Grose). All of these words evoke negative emotions about cleaning, which makes the reader sympathize with women who feel “judged” and shunned”—very negative feelings. Another feeling Grose reinforces with her word choice is the concept of fairness: “fair share,” “a week and a half more of ‘second shift’ work,” “more housework,” “more gendered and less frequent.” These words help establish the unfairness that exists when women do all of the cleaning, and they are an appeal to pathos, or the readers’ feelings of frustration and anger with injustice. 15

However, the end of the article lacks the same level of effectiveness in the appeals to ethos. 16 For example, Grose notes that when men do housework, they are considered to be “’enacting “small instances of gender heroism,” or ‘SIGH’s’—which, barf.” 17 The usage of the word “barf” is jarring to the reader; unprofessional and immature, it is a shift from the researched, intelligent voice she has established and the reader is less likely to take the author seriously. This damages the strength of her credibility and her argument. 18

Additionally, her last statement in the article refers to her husband in a way that weakens the argument. 19 While returning to the introduction’s hook in the conclusion is a frequently-used strategy, Grose chooses to return to her discussion of her husband in a humorous way: Grose discusses solutions, and says there is “a huge, untapped market ... for toilet-scrubbing iPods. I bet my husband would buy one.” 20 Returning to her own marriage and husband is an appeal to ethos or personal credibility, and while that works well in the introduction, in the conclusion, it lacks the strength and seriousness that the topic deserves and was given earlier in the article. 21

Though Grose begins the essay by effectively persuading her readers of the unfair distribution of home-maintenance cleaning labor, she loses her power in the end, where she most needs to drive home her argument. Readers can see the problem exists in both her marriage and throughout the world; however, her shift to humor and sarcasm makes the reader not take the problem as seriously in the end. 22 Grose could have more seriously driven home the point that a woman’s work could be done: by a man. 23

Works Cited

Grose, Jessica. “Cleaning: The Final Feminist Frontier.” New Republic. The New Republic, 19 Mar. 2013. Web. 28 Mar. 2014.

Article author's claim or purpose
Summary of the article's main point in the second paragraph (could also be in the introduction)
Third paragraph begins with a transition and topic sentence that reflects the first topic in the thesis
Quotes illustrate how the author uses appeals to ethos
Analysis explains how the quotes show the effective use of ethos as noted in the thesis
Transition and topic sentence about the second point from the thesis
Quote that illustrates appeals to logos
Analysis explains how the quotes show the effective use of logos, as noted in the thesis
Transition and topic sentence about the third point from the thesis
Quotes that illustrate appeals to pathos
Analysis explains how the quotes show the effective use of pathos, as noted in the thesis
Transition and topic sentence about fourth point from the thesis
Quote illustrates how the author uses appeal to ethos
Analysis explains how quote supports thesis
Transition and topic sentence about fourth point from thesis
Conclusion returns to the ideas in the thesis and further develops them
Last sentence returns to the hook in the introduction

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What Is a Rhetorical Analysis and How to Write a Great One

Helly Douglas

Do you have to write a rhetorical analysis essay? Fear not! We’re here to explain exactly what rhetorical analysis means, how you should structure your essay, and give you some essential “dos and don’ts.”

What is a Rhetorical Analysis Essay?

How do you write a rhetorical analysis, what are the three rhetorical strategies, what are the five rhetorical situations, how to plan a rhetorical analysis essay, creating a rhetorical analysis essay, examples of great rhetorical analysis essays, final thoughts.

A rhetorical analysis essay studies how writers and speakers have used words to influence their audience. Think less about the words the author has used and more about the techniques they employ, their goals, and the effect this has on the audience.

In your analysis essay, you break a piece of text (including cartoons, adverts, and speeches) into sections and explain how each part works to persuade, inform, or entertain. You’ll explore the effectiveness of the techniques used, how the argument has been constructed, and give examples from the text.

A strong rhetorical analysis evaluates a text rather than just describes the techniques used. You don’t include whether you personally agree or disagree with the argument.

Structure a rhetorical analysis in the same way as most other types of academic essays . You’ll have an introduction to present your thesis, a main body where you analyze the text, which then leads to a conclusion.

Think about how the writer (also known as a rhetor) considers the situation that frames their communication:

Topic: the overall purpose of the rhetoric
Audience: this includes primary, secondary, and tertiary audiences
Purpose: there are often more than one to consider
Context and culture: the wider situation within which the rhetoric is placed

Back in the 4th century BC, Aristotle was talking about how language can be used as a means of persuasion. He described three principal forms —Ethos, Logos, and Pathos—often referred to as the Rhetorical Triangle . These persuasive techniques are still used today.

Rhetorical Strategy 1: Ethos

Are you more likely to buy a car from an established company that’s been an important part of your community for 50 years, or someone new who just started their business?

Reputation matters. Ethos explores how the character, disposition, and fundamental values of the author create appeal, along with their expertise and knowledge in the subject area.

Aristotle breaks ethos down into three further categories:

Phronesis: skills and practical wisdom
Arete: virtue
Eunoia: goodwill towards the audience

Ethos-driven speeches and text rely on the reputation of the author. In your analysis, you can look at how the writer establishes ethos through both direct and indirect means.

Rhetorical Strategy 2: Pathos

Pathos-driven rhetoric hooks into our emotions. You’ll often see it used in advertisements, particularly by charities wanting you to donate money towards an appeal.

Common use of pathos includes:

Vivid description so the reader can imagine themselves in the situation
Personal stories to create feelings of empathy
Emotional vocabulary that evokes a response

By using pathos to make the audience feel a particular emotion, the author can persuade them that the argument they’re making is compelling.

Rhetorical Strategy 3: Logos

Logos uses logic or reason. It’s commonly used in academic writing when arguments are created using evidence and reasoning rather than an emotional response. It’s constructed in a step-by-step approach that builds methodically to create a powerful effect upon the reader.

Rhetoric can use any one of these three techniques, but effective arguments often appeal to all three elements.

The rhetorical situation explains the circumstances behind and around a piece of rhetoric. It helps you think about why a text exists, its purpose, and how it’s carried out.

The rhetorical situations are:

1) Purpose: Why is this being written? (It could be trying to inform, persuade, instruct, or entertain.)
2) Audience: Which groups or individuals will read and take action (or have done so in the past)?
3) Genre: What type of writing is this?
4) Stance: What is the tone of the text? What position are they taking?
5) Media/Visuals: What means of communication are used?

Understanding and analyzing the rhetorical situation is essential for building a strong essay. Also think about any rhetoric restraints on the text, such as beliefs, attitudes, and traditions that could affect the author's decisions.

Before leaping into your essay, it’s worth taking time to explore the text at a deeper level and considering the rhetorical situations we looked at before. Throw away your assumptions and use these simple questions to help you unpick how and why the text is having an effect on the audience.

Image showing what to consider when planning a rhetorical essay

1: What is the Rhetorical Situation?

Why is there a need or opportunity for persuasion?
How do words and references help you identify the time and location?
What are the rhetoric restraints?
What historical occasions would lead to this text being created?

2: Who is the Author?

How do they position themselves as an expert worth listening to?
What is their ethos?
Do they have a reputation that gives them authority?
What is their intention?
What values or customs do they have?

3: Who is it Written For?

Who is the intended audience?
How is this appealing to this particular audience?
Who are the possible secondary and tertiary audiences?

4: What is the Central Idea?

Can you summarize the key point of this rhetoric?
What arguments are used?
How has it developed a line of reasoning?

5: How is it Structured?

What structure is used?
How is the content arranged within the structure?

6: What Form is Used?

Does this follow a specific literary genre?
What type of style and tone is used, and why is this?
Does the form used complement the content?
What effect could this form have on the audience?

7: Is the Rhetoric Effective?

Does the content fulfil the author’s intentions?
Does the message effectively fit the audience, location, and time period?

Once you’ve fully explored the text, you’ll have a better understanding of the impact it’s having on the audience and feel more confident about writing your essay outline.

A great essay starts with an interesting topic. Choose carefully so you’re personally invested in the subject and familiar with it rather than just following trending topics. There are lots of great ideas on this blog post by My Perfect Words if you need some inspiration. Take some time to do background research to ensure your topic offers good analysis opportunities.

Image showing considerations for a rhetorical analysis topic

Remember to check the information given to you by your professor so you follow their preferred style guidelines. This outline example gives you a general idea of a format to follow, but there will likely be specific requests about layout and content in your course handbook. It’s always worth asking your institution if you’re unsure.

Make notes for each section of your essay before you write. This makes it easy for you to write a well-structured text that flows naturally to a conclusion. You will develop each note into a paragraph. Look at this example by College Essay for useful ideas about the structure.

1: Introduction

This is a short, informative section that shows you understand the purpose of the text. It tempts the reader to find out more by mentioning what will come in the main body of your essay.

Name the author of the text and the title of their work followed by the date in parentheses
Use a verb to describe what the author does, e.g. “implies,” “asserts,” or “claims”
Briefly summarize the text in your own words
Mention the persuasive techniques used by the rhetor and its effect

Create a thesis statement to come at the end of your introduction.

After your introduction, move on to your critical analysis. This is the principal part of your essay.

Explain the methods used by the author to inform, entertain, and/or persuade the audience using Aristotle's rhetorical triangle
Use quotations to prove the statements you make
Explain why the writer used this approach and how successful it is
Consider how it makes the audience feel and react

Make each strategy a new paragraph rather than cramming them together, and always use proper citations. Check back to your course handbook if you’re unsure which citation style is preferred.

3: Conclusion

Your conclusion should summarize the points you’ve made in the main body of your essay. While you will draw the points together, this is not the place to introduce new information you’ve not previously mentioned.

Use your last sentence to share a powerful concluding statement that talks about the impact the text has on the audience(s) and wider society. How have its strategies helped to shape history?

Before You Submit

Poor spelling and grammatical errors ruin a great essay. Use ProWritingAid to check through your finished essay before you submit. It will pick up all the minor errors you’ve missed and help you give your essay a final polish. Look at this useful ProWritingAid webinar for further ideas to help you significantly improve your essays. Sign up for a free trial today and start editing your essays!

Screenshot of ProWritingAid's web editor

You’ll find countless examples of rhetorical analysis online, but they range widely in quality. Your institution may have example essays they can share with you to show you exactly what they’re looking for.

The following links should give you a good starting point if you’re looking for ideas:

Pearson Canada has a range of good examples. Look at how embedded quotations are used to prove the points being made. The end questions help you unpick how successful each essay is.

Excelsior College has an excellent sample essay complete with useful comments highlighting the techniques used.

Brighton Online has a selection of interesting essays to look at. In this specific example, consider how wider reading has deepened the exploration of the text.

Image showing tips when reading a sample essay

Writing a rhetorical analysis essay can seem daunting, but spending significant time deeply analyzing the text before you write will make it far more achievable and result in a better-quality essay overall.

It can take some time to write a good essay. Aim to complete it well before the deadline so you don’t feel rushed. Use ProWritingAid’s comprehensive checks to find any errors and make changes to improve readability. Then you’ll be ready to submit your finished essay, knowing it’s as good as you can possibly make it.

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Helly Douglas is a UK writer and teacher, specialising in education, children, and parenting. She loves making the complex seem simple through blogs, articles, and curriculum content. You can check out her work at hellydouglas.com or connect on Twitter @hellydouglas. When she’s not writing, you will find her in a classroom, being a mum or battling against the wilderness of her garden—the garden is winning!

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Writing Tips

How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis Essay

3-minute read

22nd August 2023

A rhetorical analysis essay is a type of academic writing that analyzes how authors use language, persuasion techniques , and other rhetorical strategies to communicate with their audience. In this post, we’ll review how to write a rhetorical analysis essay, including:

Understanding the assignment guidelines
Introducing your essay topic
Examining the rhetorical strategies
Summarizing your main points

Keep reading for a step-by-step guide to rhetorical analysis.

What Is a Rhetorical Strategy?

A rhetorical strategy is a deliberate approach or technique a writer uses to convey a message and/or persuade the audience. A rhetorical strategy typically involves using language, sentence structure, and tone/style to influence the audience to think a certain way or understand a specific point of view. Rhetorical strategies are especially common in advertisements, speeches, and political writing, but you can also find them in many other types of literature.

1. Understanding the Assignment Guidelines

Before you begin your rhetorical analysis essay, make sure you understand the assignment and guidelines. Typically, when writing a rhetorical analysis, you should approach the text objectively, focusing on the techniques the author uses rather than expressing your own opinions about the topic or summarizing the content. Thus, it’s essential to discuss the rhetorical methods used and then back up your analysis with evidence and quotations from the text.

2. Introducing Your Essay Topic

Introduce your essay by providing some context about the text you’re analyzing. Give a brief overview of the author, intended audience, and purpose of the writing. You should also clearly state your thesis , which is your main point or argument about how and why the author uses rhetorical strategies. Try to avoid going into detail on any points or diving into specific examples – the introduction should be concise, and you’ll be providing a much more in-depth analysis later in the text.

3. Examining the Rhetorical Strategies

In the body paragraphs, analyze the rhetorical strategies the author uses. Here are some common rhetorical strategies to include in your discussion:

● Ethos : Establishing trust between the writer and the audience by appealing to credibility and ethics

● Pathos : Appealing to the audience’s emotions and values

● Logos : Employing logic, reason, and evidence to appeal to the reader

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● Diction : Deliberately choosing specific language and vocabulary

● Syntax : Structuring and arranging sentences in certain ways

● Tone : Conveying attitude or mood in certain ways

● Literary Devices : Using metaphors, similes, analogies , repetition, etc.

Keep in mind that for a rhetorical analysis essay, you’re not usually required to find examples of all of the above rhetorical strategies. But for each one you do analyze, consider how it contributes to the author’s purpose, how it influences the audience, and what emotions or thoughts it could evoke in the reader.

4. Summarizing Your Main Points

In your conclusion , sum up the main points of your analysis and restate your thesis. Without introducing any new points (such as topics or ideas you haven’t already covered in the main body of your essay), summarize the overall impact that the author’s rhetorical strategies likely had on their intended audience.

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How to write a rhetorical analysis

What is a rhetorical analysis?

What are the key concepts of a rhetorical analysis, rhetorical situation, claims, supports, and warrants.

Step 1: Plan and prepare
Step 2: Write your introduction
Step 3: Write the body
Step 4: Write your conclusion

Frequently Asked Questions about rhetorical analysis

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Examples

How to choose the best rhetorical analysis topic.

Choosing the best topic for a rhetorical analysis essay is a crucial step that sets the stage for insightful and engaging writing. This process demands a thoughtful consideration of various factors to ensure that your essay not only demonstrates your analytical skills but also captivates your audience. Here's a more detailed guide to navigating this selection process, ensuring you pick a topic that is both meaningful and manageable.

Interest and Relevance

Begin by identifying topics that spark your interest or passion. Writing about something you find intriguing naturally leads to a more engaging and enthusiastic analysis. Furthermore, consider the relevance of the topic to current events or societal issues. Topics that touch on contemporary debates or ongoing cultural conversations tend to resonate more with readers and provide a richer ground for analysis.

Availability of Sources

Ensure there is enough material available to support your analysis. This could include speeches, texts, advertisements, or any media content that is rich in rhetorical strategies. A topic with ample sources allows for a deeper dive into various rhetorical techniques and their effectiveness.

Scope and Complexity

Choose a topic with a manageable scope. It should be neither too broad that it becomes overwhelming to cover in detail nor too narrow that it lacks sufficient content for analysis. The complexity of the topic should match your ability to dissect and understand the rhetorical strategies employed.

Impact on Society

Consider topics that have had a significant impact on society. Analyzing how rhetoric has influenced public opinion, shaped political discourse, or contributed to cultural shifts can provide insightful perspectives on the power of effective communication.

Originality

Strive for originality in your topic selection. While it's helpful to review examples of rhetorical essays or rhetorical analysis essay examples, choosing a unique angle or a less commonly analyzed text can make your essay stand out. This approach not only showcases your creativity but also your ability to apply analytical skills to new and diverse materials.

Audience Engagement

Think about your potential audience and select a topic that would engage them. Understanding your audience's interests and background can help tailor your analysis in a way that is both accessible and compelling.

🔥 30 Hot Rhetorical Analysis Essay Titles in 2024

The year 2024 is ripe with opportunities for rhetorical analysis, from political speeches addressing global challenges to influential social media campaigns reshaping public opinion. These topics not only reflect current trends but also offer a deep well of rhetorical techniques worth exploring.

Analyzing the Rhetoric of Climate Change in Political Speeches
The Power of Social Media Influencers: A Rhetorical Analysis
Rhetorical Strategies in "The Future We Choose" by Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac
"Why We Can't Wait" by Martin Luther King Jr.: A Rhetorical Examination
Dissecting the Appeals in Greta Thunberg's UN Speech
The Rhetoric of Hope in Barack Obama's "Yes We Can" Speech
Persuasion Techniques in Apple's Product Launches
"The Danger of a Single Story" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: A Rhetorical Analysis
Rhetorical Devices in "Letter from Birmingham Jail"
Analysis of Rhetorical Strategies in "Lean In" by Sheryl Sandberg
Elon Musk's Vision for the Future: A Rhetorical Review
Rhetorical Elements in the #MeToo Movement Speeches
"A Time for Choosing" by Ronald Reagan: Rhetorical Analysis
The Art of Persuasion in Winston Churchill's War Speeches
Analyzing the Appeal in Malala Yousafzai's Nobel Prize Lecture

👍 10 Good Titles for Rhetorical Analysis Essays

A good rhetorical analysis essay title promises an insightful exploration of persuasive communication techniques. These topics are selected for their significant cultural, political, or social impact, providing a rich basis for analysis.

"I Have a Dream" Rhetorical Analysis
Analyzing the Pathos in "The Diary of Anne Frank"
Ethos, Pathos, and Logos in "The Audacity of Hope" by Barack Obama
A Rhetorical Examination of "The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath
The Power of Language in "Persepolis" by Marjane Satrapi
Rhetorical Strategies in "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison
Dissecting the Appeals in "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson
"The Feminine Mystique" by Betty Friedan: A Rhetorical Critique
The Persuasive Language of "The Fire Next Time" by James Baldwin
Rhetorical Devices in "We Should All Be Feminists" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

🎯 10 Easy Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

For those new to rhetorical analysis or looking for more straightforward subjects, these topics offer a gentler introduction. They focus on popular media and public campaigns, where rhetorical strategies are both prominent and accessible to beginners.

Rhetorical Techniques in Super Bowl Commercials
Analyzing Rhetoric in Viral TED Talks
The Persuasive Power of Instagram Campaigns
Rhetoric in the "Share a Coke" Campaign
Speech Analysis: Steve Jobs' Stanford Commencement Address
Rhetorical Strategies in Movie Trailers
The Art of Persuasion in Children's Advertising
Rhetorical Elements in Presidential Inauguration Speeches
The Use of Pathos in Animal Rights Campaigns
Ethos, Logos, and Pathos in Health Awareness PSAs

🏫 Popular Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics for College

College students can deepen their analytical skills by exploring these popular rhetorical analysis topics. They span a range of interests, from literature and advertising to social movements and media, reflecting the diverse ways rhetoric shapes our world.

The Rhetoric of American Dream in Modern Literature
Gender Roles and Rhetoric in 21st-Century Advertising
The Evolution of Rhetorical Strategies in Social Movements
Rhetorical Analysis of News Media's Coverage on Climate Change
The Use of Rhetoric in Legalizing Marijuana Debates
Ethical Persuasion Techniques in Non-Profit Organizations
The Influence of Rhetoric in Fashion Industry Marketing
Analyzing Rhetorical Appeals in Documentary Films
The Role of Rhetoric in Video Game Narratives
The Power of Rhetorical Questions in Political Discourse

💡 Insightful Speech Ideas for Rhetorical Analysis Topics

Speeches have long been a goldmine for rhetorical analysis, offering a direct insight into the speaker's persuasive techniques. These topics cover a range of speeches, from historical milestones to contemporary talks, each providing a unique perspective on effective rhetoric.

The Rhetorical Impact of "The Gettysburg Address"
Rhetorical Devices in "The Declaration of Independence"
Analyzing the Persuasive Techniques in Emma Watson's UN Speech for HeForShe
The Use of Rhetoric in Historic Farewell Addresses
Rhetorical Strategies in Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speeches
The Art of Rhetoric in Valedictorian Speeches
"Abigail Adams' Letter to John Quincy Adams
The Role of Ethos in Human Rights Advocacy Speeches
Pathos and Logos in Environmental Activist Speeches
Rhetorical Techniques in Award Acceptance Speeches

Each section offers a curated list of topics designed to spark interest and inspire deep analytical thought. Whether you're drawn to contemporary issues or historical speeches, these topics serve as a starting point for a compelling rhetorical analysis essay.

Crafting a rhetorical analysis essay involves dissecting how a writer or speaker uses words to influence an audience, focusing on the effectiveness and techniques rather than the content itself. This guide delves into the art of writing a compelling rhetorical essay, incorporating examples of rhetorical essays to illustrate key points.

What is a Rhetorical Analysis Essay

A rhetorical analysis essay dives deep into the artistry behind an author’s method of communication, scrutinizing the deliberate choice of words, structure, and overall rhetorical techniques used to sway or enlighten the audience. Unlike typical essays that might argue for or against the author’s position, a rhetorical essay takes a step back, focusing purely on the craftsmanship of the argument itself. How does the author appeal to the audience? What strategies are employed to make their message resonate more deeply or convincingly? This analytical approach is invaluable in academic environments, pushing students to not only observe and report but to critically evaluate the effectiveness of communication strategies. Doing so, sharpens critical thinking and analytical skills, equipping students with the ability to dissect complex arguments and understand the underlying mechanics of persuasive writing.

How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis

Writing a successful rhetorical analysis essay begins with thoroughly reading and understanding the text in question. Identify the author’s purpose, target audience, and the strategies used to achieve their goals. Highlighting direct quotes and examples of rhetorical essays can serve as a solid foundation for your analysis. This process allows you to dissect the text meticulously, revealing the nuances of the author’s strategies. Here’s a breakdown of the main points to consider when crafting your essay:

Thorough Reading : Start with a comprehensive reading of the text. Pay close attention to its overall structure, the tone of the writing, and the main themes presented. This initial step is crucial for gaining a deep understanding of the material you will analyze.
Identify the Purpose : Every text is written with a specific purpose in mind. Determine what the author intends to achieve. Are they trying to persuade, inform, entertain, or provoke thought? Understanding the purpose is key to analyzing the rhetorical strategies employed.
Understand the Audience : Who is the target audience of the text? Identifying the audience is essential because the rhetorical techniques used by the author are often tailored to the values, beliefs, or interests of this group. Knowing the audience helps in evaluating the effectiveness of these strategies.
Analyze the Strategies : Break down the specific strategies the author uses to reach their audience and fulfill their purpose. Look for examples of ethos (credibility), pathos (emotional appeal), and logos (logical argument) within the text. Each of these appeals plays a crucial role in persuasion and should be carefully examined.
Use Direct Quotes : Incorporate direct quotes from the text to support your analysis. These quotes serve as concrete evidence of the rhetorical strategies you identify. They also help to substantiate your claims about how the author’s choices impact the overall effectiveness of the text.

Following these points ensures a structured and comprehensive approach to writing a rhetorical analysis essay, enabling you to deliver a critique that is both insightful and substantiated.

As you craft your rhetorical analysis essay, integrating synthesis topics that challenge your analytical skills can significantly enhance your argumentation and understanding of the rhetorical strategies employed in your primary texts, leading to a more comprehensive and insightful analysis.

How to Structure a Rhetorical Analysis Essay

Structuring a rhetorical analysis essay follows a conventional essay format but with a focus on analysis rather than exposition. It typically includes an introduction that presents the text being analyzed, a thesis statement that outlines the main argument or findings, body paragraphs that dissect various rhetorical strategies, and a conclusion that summarizes the analysis and discusses the impact or importance of the rhetorical strategies used.

Infographic Effective Paragraph Structure for Rhetorical Essay

Major Rhetorical Elements

Understanding and identifying rhetorical elements are crucial. These include the rhetorical situation (author, audience, purpose), use of rhetorical appeals, and stylistic choices (language, tone, structure). A rhetorical analysis essay sample can show how these elements interact within a text.

Rhetorical appeals are strategies authors use to persuade their audience, including ethos, pathos, and logos.

Ethos refers to the credibility or ethical appeal the writer establishes, convincing the audience of their reliability or authority on the subject matter.
Pathos appeals to the audience’s emotions, seeking to evoke feelings that support the author’s argument.
Logos involves logical reasoning, where the author uses facts, statistics, or logical arguments to appeal to the audience’s rationality.

Text and Context

Delving into the context surrounding a text enriches your rhetorical analysis, shedding light on the nuances that might affect its interpretation and impact. Historical conditions at the time of writing can reveal why certain rhetorical strategies were employed or why the text resonated with its audience in a particular way.

Social norms and values inform the ethos and pathos appeals, as what is considered credible or emotionally stirring can vary widely across different societies and eras. P

Political climate plays a crucial role too; a text might be responding to, challenging, or supporting prevailing political ideologies or policies. Understanding these layers of context allows you to not only analyze the text on a surface level but also to appreciate the depth and complexity of its rhetorical strategies.

This comprehensive approach adds a rich dimension to your analysis, offering a more nuanced view of the text’s persuasive power and its place within a broader historical, social, a

Claims, Supports, and Warrants

Identify the author’s main claims, the evidence or support provided, and the warrants, which are the underlying assumptions that connect the support to the claims.

Identifying the author’s main claims, the evidence or support provided, and the warrants—those underlying assumptions linking the evidence to the claims—is critical. These elements form the backbone of the argument, showcasing how the author constructs a logical, persuasive case. Unpacking these components reveals the argument’s strength and its persuasive appeal, offering insights into the author’s rhetorical skill and the argument’s potential impact on the audience.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline

An outline organizes your thoughts and ensures your essay is coherent and focused.

Analyzing the Text. Begin with an in-depth examination of the text, noting the rhetorical strategies used.
Rhetorical Analysis Introduction. Introduce the text and provide background information. State your thesis, summarizing your main analytical points.
Rhetorical Analysis Body Paragraph. Each body paragraph should focus on a single rhetorical strategy, providing examples and explaining its effectiveness.
Rhetorical Analysis Conclusion. Conclude by summarizing your analysis and reflecting on the significance of the rhetorical strategies used, possibly considering their broader implications.

Including a rhetorical analysis essay sample can significantly enhance understanding by demonstrating how to apply theoretical concepts in a practical context. For instance, analyzing a well-known speech, such as Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream,” could serve as an excellent example of rhetorical analysis. In this case, the essay might explore how King uses ethos to establish his credibility as a leader in the civil rights movement, pathos to evoke a deep emotional response from his audience, and logos to present logical arguments for racial equality and justice.

Another topic that could serve as a rhetorical analysis essay example is an analysis of a key advertising campaign by a famous brand, such as Nike’s “Just Do It” campaign. This example would illustrate how the company uses various rhetorical strategies to appeal to its target audience, motivate them, and ultimately persuade them to purchase their products.

A third example could be a detailed examination of an influential op-ed piece from a major newspaper, analyzing how the author constructs their argument to persuade readers on a controversial issue. This rhetorical essay example would delve into the use of evidence, the appeal to the readers’ values and beliefs, and the structure of the argument to maximize its persuasive impact.

By exploring these topics, readers can gain a clearer understanding of how to identify and analyze the rhetorical strategies used in different types of texts. These examples of rhetorical essays highlight the importance of context, audience, and purpose in shaping effective communication, providing valuable lessons for anyone looking to improve their analytical and persuasive writing skills.

5 Rhetorical Analysis Essay Tips

Always keep the rhetorical situation in mind. This means considering the relationship between the speaker, the audience, and the message to fully understand the effectiveness of the rhetorical strategies used.
Use direct quotes as evidence. Incorporating quotes directly from the text not only provides solid backing for your analysis but also demonstrates a precise understanding of the source material.
Avoid summarizing the text; focus on analysis. While a summary can provide context, the primary goal is to delve into how the text works rhetorically, examining the strategies and their impact rather than recounting the content.
Be clear and concise in your argumentation. Clarity and brevity ensure that your analysis is accessible and straightforward, making your arguments stronger and more persuasive to the reader.
Proofread for clarity and coherence. A thorough review of your essay can help eliminate errors and ensure that your analysis flows logically from one point to the next, enhancing the overall quality of your work.

While delving into the intricacies of rhetorical analysis essays, embedding problem-solution essays that break down complex issues within your study can provide a multifaceted approach to your analysis, offering a deeper understanding of the text’s persuasive techniques and the broader implications of its arguments.

Final Words

In conclusion, mastering the art of writing a rhetorical analysis essay not only sharpens your critical thinking and analytical skills but also enhances your ability to engage deeply with various forms of communication. The use of examples of rhetorical essays plays a pivotal role in this learning process, serving as illuminating guides that showcase the application of theoretical concepts in real-world texts. By examining rhetorical essay examples, you gain valuable insights into effective analytical techniques, understanding not just the ‘what’ but the ‘how’ and ‘why’ behind rhetorical strategies.

We strongly encourage you to explore rhetorical analysis essay examples on our website. These resources can significantly aid in developing your analytical prowess, offering a diverse range of texts and contexts to study and learn from. These samples provide practical insights and inspiration for your writing.

Remember, every rhetorical analysis essay sample is an opportunity to delve into the intricacies of rhetorical communication, enhancing your appreciation for the subtleties of argumentation and persuasion. As you explore these examples on our website, you’re not just preparing to write your next essay; you’re building a foundation for more effective communication and critical engagement with the world around you. So, take this chance to enrich your understanding and skills in rhetorical analysis by reviewing the wealth of examples we have made available for you.

Rhetorical Analysis of Kennedy’s Inaugural Address

John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address is widely regarded as one of the most powerful speeches in American history. Delivered on January 20, 1961, it marked the beginning of Kennedy’s presidency and set the tone for his administration. The speech is remembered for its inspirational and…

Rhetorical Analysis of Anti-Smoking Quotes

Smoking has been a prevalent issue in society for decades, and despite the numerous health warnings and anti-smoking campaigns, it continues to be a significant public health concern. Anti-smoking quotes have been used as a powerful tool to raise awareness about the harmful effects of…

Rhetorical Analysis of FDR Inaugural Address

Franklin D. Roosevelt is remembered as one of the most influential presidents in American history. His inaugural address in 1933 marked the beginning of his presidency during a time of great economic turmoil and uncertainty. In this essay, we will analyze the rhetorical strategies employed…

Lord Chesterfield Rhetorical Analysis

Lord Chesterfield, a prominent figure in 18th-century English society, was known for his eloquence and persuasive language. His letters to his son, known as “Letters to His Son,” are a prime example of his rhetorical prowess. In this essay, we will conduct a rhetorical analysis…

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The Great Influenza Rhetorical Analysis

Infectious diseases have had a significant impact on human societies, shaping the course of events and influencing the development of public health policies. The Great Influenza, also known as the Spanish flu, was a devastating global pandemic that occurred in 1918 and 1919, infecting an…

Malala Rhetorical Analysis

Malala Yousafzai, a young Pakistani activist for female education, delivered a powerful speech at the United Nations in 2013. Her speech, commonly known as the “Malala Rhetorical Analysis,” is a prime example of effective rhetoric. In this essay, I will analyze the rhetorical strategies Malala…

Rhetorical Analysis of Margaret Thatcher’s Speech

Margaret Thatcher, the first female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, was known for her strong leadership and impactful speeches. One of her most famous speeches is the “The Lady’s Not for Turning” speech, delivered at the Conservative Party Conference in 1980. This speech is…

Richard Nixon’s Speech Rhetorical Analysis

Richard Nixon, the 37th President of the United States, delivered his famous “Silent Majority” speech on November 3, 1969. This speech was a response to growing opposition to the Vietnam War and was a pivotal moment in Nixon’s presidency. In this essay, I will analyze…

Into The Wild: Rhetorical Analysis

Into the Wild, written by Jon Krakauer, is a non-fiction book that follows the journey of Christopher McCandless, a young man who gives up his possessions and money to live a life of solitude in the Alaskan wilderness. The book delves into McCandless’s motivations, experiences,…

On Being a Cripple Rhetorical Analysis

Author Nancy Mairs, in her essay “On Being a Cripple,” brings forth a compelling argument about the use of the word “cripple” and how it has shaped her identity and perception of herself. Mairs, who herself is disabled due to multiple sclerosis, uses various rhetorical…

What is a rhetorical essay?

Rhetorical essay writing is quite challenging since it is necessary to provide an explanation of how an author uses words to have an impact on the target audience. In most cases, rhetorical essay examples represent an already existing set of ideas where an author has provided a certain writing style. The topics of rhetorical writing will vary from the dangers of smoking to the role of teachers in the classroom.

How to write rhetorical essays?

Start your essay with an analysis of the content that you work with. Once a certain argumentation is studied, analyze how a certain verbal effect has been achieved. See our free rhetorical analysis essay as a reference to see how the ethos, logos, and pathos elements are analyzed by citing parts of the original text. Do not give an opinion regarding the content itself but focus on the rhetoric alone.

What’s the goal of a rhetorical analysis?

The goal of a rhetorical analysis is to examine how an author or speaker persuades their audience using various rhetorical strategies and techniques. It involves identifying the purpose, audience, context, and methods of communication to evaluate the effectiveness of the argument.

What are logos, ethos, and pathos?

Logos refers to logical appeal or reasoning, ethos to the speaker's credibility or trustworthiness, and pathos to emotional appeal. These are the three pillars of persuasion identified by Aristotle, used to persuade and influence an audience's beliefs or actions.

What are claims, supports, and warrants?

Claims are statements or assertions that the writer or speaker wants the audience to accept. Supports are the evidence or reasons provided to back up those claims. Warrants are the underlying assumptions or principles that connect the supports to the claims, often implicitly, making the argument coherent and persuasive.

What is the “rhetorical triangle”?

The rhetorical triangle is a model that outlines three essential components of persuasive communication: ethos (credibility or ethical appeal), pathos (emotional appeal), and logos (logical appeal). These elements work together to influence an audience effectively.

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Rhetorical Analysis Essay

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example

Top 15+ Rhetorical Analysis Essay Examples for Students

Published on: Mar 10, 2023

Last updated on: Jan 29, 2024

Good Rhetorical Analysis Essay Examples

Examples help the readers to understand things in a better way. They also help a writer to compose an essay just like professionals.

Here are some amazing rhetorical analysis examples on different topics. Use them as a helping hand to understand the concept and write a good essay.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example: AP Language

Rhetorical analysis done in AP Language and Composition is one of the biggest tasks a student can ever get. On the same hand, drafting it in a proper way is also necessary to get good grades.

Look at these rhetorical analysis essay example AP language given below to see how a well-written rhetorical essay is written.

AP Rhetorical analysis essay example

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example Ap Lang 2020

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example Ap Lang 2021

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example AP Lang 2022

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example AP Lang 2023

These rhetorical analysis essay example college board will help you to win over your panel in no time!

Want to start from the basics? Head over to our Rhetorical essay guide to solidify your base.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example: Ted Talk

A rhetorical analysis can be done on nearly anything. Here is a good example of a rhetorical essay in which a ted talk is being analyzed.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example: Ethos, Pathos, Logos

The first impression of these three terms sounds just like a conjuration in some kind of a magical story. But in fact, these elements of persuasion were created by Aristotle and have been used for a very long time.

According to Aristotle, they were the primary persuasive strategies that authors should use in their papers. These elements are further elaborated as follows:

The ethos appeals to ethics.
Pathos appeals to emotions.
Logos mean the use of rational thinking.

Here is an example of a rhetorical essay written using these elements.

Understand Ethos,Pathos and Logos to write a compelling essay.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example for College

College students often get to write a rhetorical analysis essay. They find it hard to write such an essay because it is a bit more technical than other essay types.

Here is an example of a well-written rhetorical essay for college students.

Comparative Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example

A rhetorical analysis essay can be written to show a comparison between two objects. Here is a compare-and-contrast rhetorical analysis essay example.

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Visual Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example

The visual rhetorical essay determines how pictures and images communicate messages and persuade the audience. Usually, visual rhetorical essays are written for advertisements. They use strong images to convince the audience to behave in a certain way.

Visual Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example Pdf

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example: Letter from Birmingham Jail

Here is another good example of a rhetorical essay. Most of us know about the history of âletter from a Birmingham jailâ. Read the given example to see how rhetorical analysis is done on it.

Struggling for a similar good topic? Check out our amazing rhetorical essay topics to select the perfect theme for your essay.

Great Influenza: Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example

Influenza has been one of the scariest pandemics the world has faced in history. Here is a rhetorical essay on great influenza.

Great influenza: Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example

Condoleezza Rice Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example

The speech given by Condoleezza Rice has become a classic example of effective oratory. Here is an example of a rhetorical analysis essay on the speech given by Condoleezza Rice at a commencement ceremony.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example: Condoleezza Riceâs Commencement Speech

This example explores the effectiveness of Rice's speech and features an in-depth analysis.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example High School

High school essays involve the analysis of different texts and the application of rhetorical tools to those texts. Here is an example that focuses on a high school essay about the effects of television on society.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example (Pdf)

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example MLA

MLA format is one of the most commonly used formats for essays. Here is an example of a rhetorical essay written in MLA format that focuses on the effectiveness of advertisements.

MLA Rhetorical Analysis Essay PDF

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example Outline

Outline helps to organize the ideas and arguments that you want to present in your essay. Here is a sample outline that can help you write an effective rhetorical analysis essay.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example Outline sample

Hop on to our rhetorical essay outline guide to learn the step-by-step process of crafting an exemplary outline.

How to Start a Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example

When starting a rhetorical analysis essay, it is important to provide a brief overview of the topic that you are analyzing. This should include the overall message being conveyed, the target audience and the rhetorical devices used in the text.

Here is a rhetorical analysis introduction example for your ease.

Thesis Statement Example for Rhetorical Analysis Essay

The thesis statement of a rhetorical analysis essay should explain the primary argument being made in the text. Here is an example of a thesis statement for a rhetorical analysis essay for your ease.

Example of Rhetorical Analysis Thesis Statement

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example Conclusion

The conclusion of a rhetorical analysis essay is an important part of the overall essay. It should summarize your main points and provide some final thoughts on the topic.

Here is an example of conclusion for a rhetorical analysis essay for your ease.

Download this Rhetorical Analysis Essay Writing Manual to help gather all the relevant guidance for your rhetorical essay.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Writing Manual (PDF)

Watch this video to understand how to select Rhetorical analysis essay evidences.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Writing Tips

To write a rhetorical analysis essay, you must have good writing skills. Writing a rhetorical essay is a technical task to do. This is why many students find it really difficult.

There are the following things that you should do to write a good rhetorical analysis essay. Those important things are as follows:

Determine the Rhetorical Strategy

To write a rhetorical essay, the writer needs to follow a specific method for research. The typical research methods used for this particular essay are as follows:

Choose a Topic

For any essay type, it is very important to have a good topic. A good topic seeks the readers of attention and convinces them to read the complete essay.

Create a Rhetorical Analysis Outline

An outline is an essential part of essay writing. The outline provides a definite structure to the essay and also guides the reader throughout the essay. A rhetorical analysis outline has the following elements in it:

Introduction
Body paragraphs

These three elements let you describe the entire idea of your rhetorical analysis essay. These three elements are further written with the help of sub-elements.

Develop a Thesis Statement

The thesis statement is yet another important part of essay writing. It is the essence of the entire essay. It may be a sentence or two explaining the whole idea of your essay. However, not give background information about the topic.

Proofread and Edit

The formal terminology used for essay revision is known as proofreading. To make sure that your essay is error-free, repeat this process more than once.

Now let's wrap up , shall we?

So far we have provided you with the best rhetorical analysis examples that are sure to win over your panel. With our help, you can surely sfe guard your academic success journey in no time!

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the 3 parts of rhetorical analysis.

The three parts of rhetorical analysis are:

Ethos
Logos
Pathos

What are the elements of a rhetorical analysis?

The main elements of a rhetorical analysis essay are:

Situation
Audience
Purpose
Medium
Context

Is there any difference between AP lang rhetorical analysis essay example 2020 and AP lang rhetorical analysis essay example 2021?

Yes, there are differences between 2020 and 2021 AP Language and Composition rhetorical analysis essay examples.

In 2020 the essay prompts revolved around various social issues related to public discourse. In 2021 they mainly focused on the ideas of justice or progress.
In 2020 students were encouraged to write a multi-paragraph essay shifting back and forth between creative devices of rhetoric. While in 2021 more emphasis was placed on analyzing how well an author's argument is structured.

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Rhetorical Analysis

Sample rhetorical analysis essay.

Student essay is used with permission. It was originally submitted double-spaced with no extra spaces between the lines, featured proper MLA pagination, and 1/2″ paragraph indents. The writing assignment asks for an argument about how several rhetorical elements work together to create a functioning whole in a given chapter of Michael Shermer’s 2004 book The Science of Good and Evil: Why People Cheat, Gossip, Care, Share, and Follow the Golden Rule .

Liana Monnat

English 101

Instructor: Joshua Dickinson

October 16, 2016

Michael Shermer Successfully Proves That Humans Can Be Good Without God

In his chapter entitled “Can We Be Good Without God?” Michael Shermer’s objective is to prove that one does not need to be religious to be capable of moral behavior. Shermer has, in his previous four chapters, taken care to establish ethos by demonstrating that he is an open-minded and intelligent fellow. Judging by his use of vocabulary, he assumes his readers are also intelligent people, with whom he attempts to develop a connection through his intermittent use of humor. Shermer has already proved that his arguments are well-supported by large quantities of evidence, which lets his audience know that what he is saying is inherently trustworthy. Taking all of this into consideration and having carefully analyzed this chapter, the reader is compelled by logic to agree with Shermer that one can have religion without morality, and morality without religion.

Shermer begins his fifth chapter with an appeal to pathos. He describes to readers the massacre perpetrated at Columbine High School by Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold (141). His description of the event along with a photograph of the black-clad, angry-looking murderers gives the reader a glimpse of the terror that must have been experienced by those unfortunate enough to have been present at the massacre. In building up to proving his argument, Shermer appeals to readers’ ability to reason by showing that outside influences do not cause a person to behave immorally. He explains that in the aftermath of the event, many theories were put forth to rationalize the cause of Harris and Klebold’s murderous rampage. Included in these causes were use of prescription drugs, cult or gang influence, a fatherless home, homosexuality, and exposure to violence in video games (143-144). Shermer uses logic to point out that none of these causes were relevant, particularly the idea that video game violence may have been the cause. He makes mention of several newspapers that make such a claim, but dismisses the articles as having been written by “wannabe social commentators” and “ad hoc social scientists” and lacking in evidence (143). Shermer shows how ridiculous the notion of video games being the causal factor is by relaying testimony of other players of violent games. They all point out that they have not been driven to violence by their gaming habits (143). By presenting these testimonies, he appeals to our common sense and ability to reason as intelligent individuals to realize that if video games caused people to behave violently, all gamers who played violent games would exhibit violent behavior, which is certainly not the case. Shermer has thus far proved to readers that outside influences do not cause a person to abandon their morality.

Having logically dismantled the previous cases, Shermer turns his focus to the subject of gun control. He quips that those in favor of more gun control took advantage of the Columbine massacre by “squawking for more legislation” (146). His use of the word ‘squawking’ brings chickens to mind, and the great amount of noise they produce at the slightest provocation. I believe creating this visual was probably the intent behind his humorous choice of words.

Liberal gun control advocates thoroughly ridiculed, Shermer notes that conservatives answered the call for more gun control by insisting that guns were not the problem. The problem, as conservatives saw it, was the evil souls of the people who used them to commit evil deeds (146). I feel that Shermer purposefully saved mentioning the gun control issue for last because it deals with the ideas of evil, morality, and religion. He has taken much care in the preceding chapters to make it clear that he does not believe that evil exists, and that morality is not a product of religion. The issue of gun control seems a well-chosen topic from which to begin his argument of how morality is a thing separate from religion.

The first example of evidence Shermer offers in his argument is an excerpt from a letter read by Congressman Tom DeLay. He uses the excerpt to bring to readers’ attention an argument that is commonly made to explain violent acts. It implies that as science provides evidence for questions that people once looked to religion to answer, people no longer feel obligated by a higher power to behave morally (147). Shermer disputes this argument by describing the case of another perpetrator of a school shooting. Rumors of the perpetrator being an atheist were quickly dispelled by the family priest, whose explanation was that the boy was a sinner but not an atheist, to which Shermer sarcastically quips “Thank God for that” (147). This remark demonstrates his disgust that the priest would imply that being a Christian murderer was less offensive than being an atheist. With this evidence, Shermer has supported his argument and demonstrated to his audience that religious people do not necessarily have morals.

For Shermer’s next move, he takes into consideration the opinions of several credible people who believe that morality is impossible without religion. He utilizes quotes from the 103rd archbishop of Canterbury, Pope Pious XI, and the deeply religious Dostoyevsky who all fervently insist that religion is absolutely necessary for morality (149-150). Shermer then includes the religious views of Laura Schlessinger, his one-time colleague. He immediately diminishes her religious credibility by referring to her as a “self-appointed religious authority” (150). This implies to readers that although she is considered a ‘religious authority’ her opinions should not be taken too seriously. He points out that although Schlessinger claims to have grown up lacking morals due to an atheistic upbringing, she admits that her parents still managed to instill her with some degree of morality (151). This admission helps support his idea that non-religious people can have morals, but is the only part of Shermer’s paragraphs about Schlessinger that appear to be relevant to his argument. He continues on about her, however, and it becomes apparent to readers that Shermer once admired her work but was taken aback by her conversion to Judaism. He further weakens her authority by poking fun at her, and readers (this reader, at least) cannot help but wonder if he only included these paragraphs about Schlessinger because he is still disgruntled about her defection from his cause.

Shermer has, through several quotes from religious authorities, demonstrated to his audience that religious people are adamant that religion is necessary for moral behavior. In an effort to prove that they are wrong, he refutes the claims of these authorities by serving up examples of religious people that committed atrocities while zealously practicing their religion. His go-to example is Hitler and the annihilation of the Jews in Germany. He illustrates for readers the religious fervor of Hitler by quoting him as saying “I believe today that I am acting in the sense of the Almighty Creator. By warding off the Jews I am fighting for the Lord’s work” (qtd. on 153). By strategically using this quote, Shermer is proving to readers that not only did Hitler commit mass murder, he did so in the Lord’s name. This example, more than any other, is meant to show that religion and morality are not related.

In perhaps his most convincing argument that one need not be religious to behave morally, Shermer gets personal. He asks readers the question “What would you do if there was no God?” (154). Now the reader must contemplate the point Shermer has been trying to make, but on an intimate level. He forces one to admit that if it was learned that God did not exist, the vast majority of people would continue to behave morally. Most people would not, free from fear of eternal reprisal, proceed to pillage, rape, and commit murder. After this degree of self-examination, it would be illogical to disagree that morality is not a creation of religion.

In his chapter “Can We Be Good Without God?”, Shermer successfully proves that we can indeed be good without God. He appealed to readers’ emotions by describing the nightmare that was the Columbine massacre and led his audience to logically conclude that no outside influences caused the perpetrators’ behavior. Through the strategic use of quotes and examples, Shermer effectively demonstrated that contrary to the beliefs of religious authorities, deeply religious people are capable of behaving extremely immorally. Shermer ingeniously substantiated his point by asking readers to ponder what their own behavior might be like without God holding them accountable for their actions. I feel that this was his most convincing piece of evidence in support of his argument, it is hard to deny his logic when applying it to oneself. It can be assumed that most readers would continue to behave morally, and would agree with Shermer that we can be good without God.

Shermer, Michael. “Can We Be Good Without God?” The Science of Good and Evil: Why People Cheat,

Gossip, Care, Share, and Follow the Golden Rule. Henry Holt and Company, LLC, 2004, pp.141-156.

Sample Rhetorical Analysis Essay (MLA Format). Authored by : Liana Monnat. Provided by : Jefferson Community College. Located at : http://www.sunyjefferson.edu . Project : ENG 101. License : CC BY-SA: Attribution-ShareAlike

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6.2: Rhetorical Analysis

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This chapter builds on the rhetorical concepts introduced in the section, Reading and Writing Rhetorically.

What Is “Rhetorical Analysis”?

Rhetoric : The art of persuasion

Analysis : Breaking down the whole into pieces for the purpose of examination

Unlike a straightforward summary, a rhetorical analysis does not only require a restatement of ideas; instead, you must recognize rhetorical moves that an author is making in an attempt to persuade his or her audience to do or to think something. In the 21st century’s abundance of information, it can sometimes be difficult to discern what is a rhetorical strategy and what is simple manipulation; however, an understanding of rhetoric and rhetorical moves will help you become more savvy with the information surrounding you on a day-to-day basis. In other words, rhetorical moves can be a form of manipulation, but if one can recognize those moves, then one can be a more critical consumer of information rather than blindly accepting whatever one reads, sees, hears, etc.

The goal of a rhetorical analysis is to explain what is happening in the text, why the author might have chosen to use a particular move or set of rhetorical moves, and how those choices might affect the audience. The text you analyze might be explanatory, although there will be aspects of argument because you must negotiate with what the author is trying to do and what you think the author is doing. As Edward P.J. Corbett observes, rhetorical analysis “is more interested in a literary work for what it does than for what it is” (qtd. in Nordqvist).

One of the elements of doing a rhetorical analysis is looking at a text’s rhetorical situation. The rhetorical situation is the context out of a which a text is created.

Another element of rhetorical analysis is simply reading and summarizing the text. You have to be able to describe the basics of the author’s thesis and main points before you can begin to analyze it.

To do rhetorical analysis, you will connect the rhetorical situation to the text. You will go beyond summarizing and instead look at how the author shapes his or her text based on its context. In developing your reading and analytical skills, allow yourself to think about what you’re reading, to question the text and your responses to it, as you read. Use the following questions to help you to take the text apart—dissecting it to see how it works:

Does the author successfully support the thesis or claim? Is the point held consistently throughout the text, or does it wander at any point?
Is the evidence the author used effective for the intended audience? How might the intended audience respond to the types of evidence that the author used to support the thesis/claim?
What rhetorical moves do you see the author making to help achieve his or her purpose? Are there word choices or content choices that seem to you to be clearly related to the author’s agenda for the text?
Describe the style and tone in the piece. Is it friendly? Authoritative? Does it lecture? Is it biting or sarcastic? Does the author use simple language, or is it full of jargon? Does the language feel positive or negative? Point to aspects of the text that create the tone; spend some time examining these and considering how and why they work.
Is the author objective, or does he or she try to convince you to have a certain opinion? Why does the author try to persuade you to adopt this viewpoint? If the author is biased, does this interfere with the way you read and understand the refer to the written word: “Proofread your text before submitting the paper.”
A text refers to any form of communication, primarily written or oral, that forms a coherent unit, often as an object of study. A book can be a text, and a speech can be a text, but television commercials, magazine ads, website, and emails can also be texts: “Dieting advertisements formed one of the texts we studied in my Sociology class.”“?
Do you feel like the author knows who you are? Does the text seem to be aimed at readers like you or at a different audience? What assumptions does the author make about their audience? Would most people find these reasonable, acceptable, or accurate?
Does the text’s flow make sense? Is the line of reasoning logical? Are there any gaps? Are there any spots where you feel the reasoning is flawed in some way?
Does the author try to appeal to your emotions? Does the author use any controversial words in the headline or the article? Do these affect your reading or your interest?
Do you believe the author? Do you accept their thoughts and ideas? Why or why not?

Once you have done this basic, rhetorical, critical reading of your text, you are ready to think about how the rhetorical situation–the context out of which the text arises–influences certain rhetorical appeals (logos, pathos, ethos) that appear in it.

A Guide to Rhetoric, Genre, and Success in First-Year Writing by Melanie Gagich & Emilie Zickel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

Linked in this textbook is Laura Bolin Carroll’s essay. Click here to read Caroll’s essay: Backpacks vs. Briefcases: Steps Toward Rhetorical Analysis

Professional Examples of Rhetorical Analysis

Hooks, Bell. Cultural Criticism & Transformation . video. LCSC Library

Kilbourne, Jean. 20 Oct 2015. “ Jesus is a Brand of Jeans .” The Humanist .

Kilbourne, Jean. Killing Us Softly video series. LCSC Library.

Kilbourne, Jean. Deadly Persuasion video series. LCSC Library.

Meslin, Dave. 2010. Antidote to Apathy . TED Talk.

Rhetorical Analysis Definition and Examples

The analysis can be used on any communication, even a bumper sticker

An Introduction to Punctuation

Sample Rhetorical Analyses

Examples and observations, analyzing effects, analyzing greeting card verse, analyzing starbucks, rhetorical analysis vs. literary criticism.

Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia
M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester
B.A., English, State University of New York

Rhetorical analysis is a form of criticism or close reading that employs the principles of rhetoric to examine the interactions between a text, an author, and an audience . It's also called rhetorical criticism or pragmatic criticism.

Rhetorical analysis may be applied to virtually any text or image—a speech , an essay , an advertisement, a poem, a photograph, a web page, even a bumper sticker. When applied to a literary work, rhetorical analysis regards the work not as an aesthetic object but as an artistically structured instrument for communication. As Edward P.J. Corbett has observed, rhetorical analysis "is more interested in a literary work for what it does than for what it is."

A Rhetorical Analysis of Claude McKay's "Africa"
A Rhetorical Analysis of E.B. White's "The Ring of Time"
A Rhetorical Analysis of U2's "Sunday Bloody Sunday"
"Our response to the character of the author—whether it is called ethos, or 'implied author,' or style , or even tone—is part of our experience of his work, an experience of the voice within the masks, personae , of the work...Rhetorical criticism intensifies our sense of the dynamic relationships between the author as a real person and the more or less fictive person implied by the work." (Thomas O. Sloan, "Restoration of Rhetoric to Literary Study." The Speech Teacher )
"[R]hetorical criticism is a mode of analysis that focuses on the text itself. In that respect, it is like the practical criticism that the New Critics and the Chicago School indulge in. It is unlike these modes of criticism in that it does not remain inside the literary work but works outward from the text to considerations of the author and the audience...In talking about the ethical appeal in his 'Rhetoric,' Aristotle made the point that although a speaker may come before an audience with a certain antecedent reputation, his ethical appeal is exerted primarily by what he says in that particular speech before that particular audience. Likewise, in rhetorical criticism, we gain our impression of the author from what we can glean from the text itself—from looking at such things as his ideas and attitudes, his stance, his tone, his style. This reading back to the author is not the same sort of thing as the attempt to reconstruct the biography of a writer from his literary work. Rhetorical criticism seeks simply to ascertain the particular posture or image that the author is establishing in this particular work in order to produce a particular effect on a particular audience." (Edward P.J. Corbett, "Introduction" to " Rhetorical Analyses of Literary Works ")

"[A] complete rhetorical analysis requires the researcher to move beyond identifying and labeling in that creating an inventory of the parts of a text represents only the starting point of the analyst's work. From the earliest examples of rhetorical analysis to the present, this analytical work has involved the analyst in interpreting the meaning of these textual components—both in isolation and in combination—for the person (or people) experiencing the text. This highly interpretive aspect of rhetorical analysis requires the analyst to address the effects of the different identified textual elements on the perception of the person experiencing the text. So, for example, the analyst might say that the presence of feature x will condition the reception of the text in a particular way. Most texts, of course, include multiple features, so this analytical work involves addressing the cumulative effects of the selected combination of features in the text." (Mark Zachry, "Rhetorical Analysis" from " The Handbook of Business Discourse , " Francesca Bargiela-Chiappini, editor)

"Perhaps the most pervasive type of repeated-word sentence used in greeting card verse is the sentence in which a word or group of words is repeated anywhere within the sentence, as in the following example:

In quiet and thoughtful ways , in happy and fun ways , all ways , and always , I love you.

In this sentence, the word ways is repeated at the end of two successive phrases, picked up again at the beginning of the next phrase, and then repeated as part of the word always . Similarly, the root word all initially appears in the phrase 'all ways' and is then repeated in a slightly different form in the homophonic word always . The movement is from the particular ('quiet and thoughtful ways,' 'happy and fun ways'), to the general ('all ways'), to the hyperbolic ('always')." (Frank D'Angelo, "The Rhetoric of Sentimental Greeting Card Verse." Rhetoric Review )

"Starbucks not just as an institution or as a set of verbal discourses or even advertising but as a material and physical site is deeply rhetorical...Starbucks weaves us directly into the cultural conditions of which it is constitutive. The color of the logo, the performative practices of ordering, making, and drinking the coffee, the conversations around the tables, and the whole host of other materialities and performances of/in Starbucks are at once the rhetorical claims and the enactment of the rhetorical action urged. In short, Starbucks draws together the tripartite relationships among place, body, and subjectivity. As a material/rhetorical place, Starbucks addresses and is the very site of a comforting and discomforting negotiation of these relationships." (Greg Dickinson, "Joe's Rhetoric: Finding Authenticity at Starbucks." Rhetoric Society Quarterly )

"What essentially are the differences between literary criticism analysis and rhetorical analysis? When a critic explicates Ezra Pound's Canto XLV , for example, and shows how Pound inveighs against usury as an offense against nature that corrupts society and the arts, the critic must point out the 'evidence'—the 'artistic proofs' of example and enthymeme [a formal syllogistic argument that is incompletely stated}—that Pound has drawn upon for his fulmination. The critic will also call attention to the 'arrangement' of the parts of that argument as a feature of the 'form' of the poem just as he may inquire into the language and syntax. Again these are matters that Aristotle assigned mainly to rhetoric...

"All critical essays dealing with the persona of a literary work are in reality studies of the 'Ethos' of the 'speaker' or 'narrator'—the voice—source of the rhythmic language which attracts and holds the kind of readers the poet desires as his audience, and the means this persona consciously or unconsciously chooses, in Kenneth Burke's term, to 'woo' that reader-audience." (Alexander Scharbach, "Rhetoric and Literary Criticism: Why Their Separation." College Composition and Communication )

Definition and Examples of Explication (Analysis)
What Is the Second Persona?
Audience Analysis in Speech and Composition
A Rhetorical Analysis of U2's 'Sunday Bloody Sunday'
Definition and Examples of Ethos in Classical Rhetoric
Stylistics and Elements of Style in Literature
Definition of Belles-Lettres in English Grammer
Rhetoric: Definitions and Observations
Critical Analysis in Composition
What is a Rhetorical Situation?
Invented Ethos (Rhetoric)
Definition and Examples of the Topoi in Rhetoric
Definition of Audience
Feminist Literary Criticism
What Is Phronesis?
Quotes About Close Reading

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, the 20 most useful rhetorical devices.

General Education

Rhetoric is the art of effective communication; if you communicate with others at all, rhetorical devices are your friends!

Rhetorical devices help you make points more effectively, and help people understand you better. In this article, I'll be covering some important rhetorical devices so you can improve your own writing!

What Are Rhetorical Devices?

A lot of things that you would think of as just regular everyday modes of communicating are actually rhetorical devices That’s because ‘rhetorical devices’ is more or less a fancy way of saying ‘communication tools.’

Most people don’t plan out their use of rhetorical devices in communication, both because nobody thinks, “now would be a good time to use synecdoche in this conversation with my grocery clerk,” and because we use them so frequently that they don’t really register as “rhetorical devices.”

How often have you said something like, “when pigs fly!” Of those times, how often have you thought, “I’m using a rhetorical device!” That’s how ubiquitous they are!

However, being aware of what they are and how to use them can strengthen your communication , whether you do a lot of big speeches, write persuasive papers, or just argue with your friends about a TV show you all like.

Rhetorical devices can function at all levels: words, sentences, paragraphs, and beyond. Some rhetorical devices are just a single word, such as onomatopoeia. Others are phrases, such as metaphor, while still others can be sentence-length (such as a thesis), paragraph-length (hypophora), or go throughout the entire piece, such as a standard five-paragraph essay.

Many of these (such as the thesis or five-paragraph essay) are so standard and familiar to us that we may not think of them as devices. But because they help us shape and deliver our arguments effectively, they're important to know and understand.

The Most Useful Rhetorical Devices List

It would be impossible to list every single rhetorical device in one blog post. Instead, I've collected a mixture of extremely common devices you may have heard before and some more obscure ones that might be valuable to learn.

Amplification

Amplification is a little similar to parallelism: by using repetition, a writer expands on an original statement and increases its intensity .

Take this example from Roald Dahl’s The Twits :

“If a person has ugly thoughts, it begins to show on the face. And when that person has ugly thoughts every day, every week, every year, the face gets uglier and uglier until you can hardly bear to look at it. A person who has good thoughts cannot ever be ugly. You can have a wonky nose and a crooked mouth and a double chin and stick-out teeth, but if you have good thoughts it will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.”

In theory, we could have gotten the point with the first sentence. We don’t need to know that the more you think ugly thoughts, the uglier you become, nor that if you think good thoughts you won’t be ugly—all that can be contained within the first sentence. But Dahl’s expansion makes the point clearer, driving home the idea that ugly thoughts have consequences.

Amplification takes a single idea and blows it up bigger, giving the reader additional context and information to better understand your point. You don’t just have to restate the point— use amplification to expand and dive deeper into your argument to show readers and listeners how important it is!

Anacoluthon

Anacoluthon is a fancy word for a disruption in the expected grammar or syntax of a sentence. That doesn’t mean that you misspoke—using anacoluthon means that you’ve deliberately subverted your reader’s expectations to make a point.

For example, take this passage from King Lear :

“I will have such revenges on you both, That all the world shall—I will do such things, What they are, yet I know not…”

In this passage, King Lear interrupts himself in his description of his revenge. This has multiple effects on the reader: they wonder what all the world shall do once he has his revenge (cry? scream? fear him?), and they understand that King Lear has interrupted himself to regain his composure. This tells us something about him—that he’s seized by passion in this moment, but also that he regains control. We might have gathered one of those things without anacoluthon, but the use of this rhetorical device shows us both very efficiently.

Anadiplosis

Anadiplosis refers to purposeful repetition at the end of one sentence or clause and at the beginning of the next sentence or clause. In practice, that looks something like a familiar phrase from Yoda:

“Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.”

Note the way that the ending word of each sentence is repeated in the following sentence. That’s anadiplosis!

This rhetorical device draws a clear line of thinking for your reader or listener—repetition makes them pay closer attention and follow the way the idea evolves. In this case, we trace the way that fear leads to suffering through Yoda’s purposeful repetition.

Antanagoge is the balancing of a negative with a positive. For example, the common phrase, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade,” is antanagoge—it suggests a negative (lots of lemons) and follows that up with a positive (make lemonade).

When writing persuasively, this can be a great way to respond to potential detractors of your argument. Suppose you want to convince your neighborhood to add a community garden, but you think that people might focus on the amount of work required. When framing your argument, you could say something like, “Yes, it will be a lot of work to maintain, but working together will encourage us all to get to know one another as well as providing us with fresh fruits, vegetables, and flowers.”

This is a little like procatalepsis, in that you anticipate a problem and respond to it. However, antanagoge is specifically balancing a negative with a positive, just as I did in the example of a garden needing a lot of work, but that work is what ultimately makes the project worth it.

Apophasis is a form of irony relating to denying something while still saying it. You’ll often see this paired with phrases like, “I’m not saying…” or “It goes without saying…”, both of which are followed up with saying exactly what the speaker said they weren’t going to say.

Take this speech from Iron Man 2 :

"I'm not saying I'm responsible for this country's longest run of uninterrupted peace in 35 years! I'm not saying that from the ashes of captivity, never has a phoenix metaphor been more personified! I'm not saying Uncle Sam can kick back on a lawn chair, sipping on an iced tea, because I haven't come across anyone man enough to go toe to toe with me on my best day! It's not about me."

Tony Stark isn’t saying that he’s responsible for all those things… except that’s exactly what he is saying in all of his examples. Though he says it’s not about him, it clearly is—all of his examples relate to how great he is, even as he proclaims that they aren’t.

A scene like this can easily be played for humor, but apophasis can also be a useful (albeit deceptive) rhetorical tool. For example, this argument:

Our neighborhood needs a community garden to foster our relationships with one another. Not only is it great for getting to know each other, but a community garden will also provide us with all kinds of fresh fruit and vegetables. It would be wrong to say that people who disagree aren’t invested in others’ health and wellness, but those who have the neighborhood’s best interests in mind will support a community garden.

That last sentence is all apophasis. Not only did I imply that people who don’t support the community garden are anti-social and uncaring (by outright stating that I wouldn’t say that, but I also implied that they’re also not invested in the neighborhood at all. Stating things like this, by pretending you’re not saying them or saying the opposite, can be very effective.

Assonance and Alliteration

Assonance adds an abundance of attractive accents to all your assertions. That’s assonance—the practice repeating the same vowel sound in multiple words in a phrase or sentence, often at the beginning of a word, to add emphasis or musicality to your work. Alliteration is similar, but uses consonant sounds instead of vowel sounds.

Let’s use Romeo and Juliet as an example again:

“From forth the fatal loins of these two foes; A pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life.”

Here, we have repetition of the sounds ‘f’ and ‘l’ in ‘from forth...fatal...foes,’ and ‘loins...lovers...life.’

Even if you don’t notice the repetition as you’re reading, you can hear the effects in how musical the language sounds. Shakespeare could easily have just written something like, “Two kids from families who hate one another fell in love and died by suicide,” but that’s hardly as evocative as the phrasing he chose.

Both assonance and alliteration give your writing a lyrical sound, but they can do more than that, too. These tools can mimic associated sounds, like using many ‘p’ sounds to sound like rain or something sizzling, or ‘s’ sounds to mimic the sounds of a snake. When you’re writing, think about what alternative meanings you can add by emphasizing certain sounds.

Listen, asterismos is great. Don’t believe me? How did you feel after I began the first sentence with the word ‘listen?’ Even if you didn’t feel more inspired to actually listen, you probably paid a bit more attention because I broke the expected form. That’s what asterismos is—using a word or phrase to draw attention to the thought that comes afterward.

‘Listen’ isn’t the only example of asterismos, either. You can use words like, ‘hey,’ ‘look,’ ‘behold,’ ‘so,’ and so on. They all have the same effect: they tell the reader or listener, “Hey, pay attention—what I’m about to say is important.”

Dysphemism and Euphemism

Euphemism is the substitution of a more pleasant phrase in place of a familiar phrase, and dysphemism is the opposite —an un pleasant phrase substituted in place of something more familiar. These tools are two sides of the same coin. Euphemism takes an unpleasant thing and makes it sound nicer—such as using 'passed away' instead of 'died'—while dysphemism does the opposite, taking something that isn't necessarily bad and making it sound like it is.

We won’t get into the less savory uses of dysphemism, but there are plenty that can leave an impression without being outright offensive. Take ‘snail mail.’ A lot of us call postal mail that without any real malice behind it, but ‘snail’ implies slowness, drawing a comparison between postal mail and faster email. If you’re making a point about how going electronic is faster, better for the environment, and overall more efficient, comparing email to postal mail with the phrase ‘snail mail’ gets the point across quickly and efficiently.

Likewise, if you're writing an obituary, you probably don't want to isolate the audience by being too stark in your details. Using gentler language, like 'passed away' or 'dearly departed' allows you to talk about things that might be painful without being too direct. People will know what you mean, but you won't have to risk hurting anyone by being too direct and final with your language.

You’ve no doubt run into epilogues before, because they’re a common and particularly useful rhetorical device! Epilogues are a conclusion to a story or work that reveals what happens to the characters in the story. This is different from an afterword, which is more likely to describe the process of a book’s creation than to continue and provide closure to a story.

Many books use epilogues to wrap up loose ends, usually taking place in the future to show how characters have changed as a result of their adventures. Both Harry Potter and The Hunger Games series use their epilogues to show the characters as adults and provide some closure to their stories—in Harry Potter , the main characters have gotten married and had children, and are now sending those children to the school where they all met. This tells the reader that the story of the characters we know is over—they’re adults and are settled into their lives—but also demonstrates that the world goes on existing, though it’s been changed forever by the actions of the familiar characters.

Eutrepismus

Eutrepismus is another rhetorical device you’ve probably used before without realizing it. This device separates speech into numbered parts, giving your reader or listener a clear line of thinking to follow.

Eutrepismus is a great rhetorical device—let me tell you why. First, it’s efficient and clear. Second, it gives your writing a great sense of rhythm. Third, it’s easy to follow and each section can be expanded throughout your work.

See how simple it is? You got all my points in an easy, digestible format. Eutrepismus helps you structure your arguments and make them more effective, just as any good rhetorical device should do.

You’ve probably used hypophora before without ever thinking about it. Hypophora refers to a writer or speaker proposing a question and following it up with a clear answer. This is different from a rhetorical question—another rhetorical device—because there is an expected answer, one that the writer or speaker will immediately give to you.

Hypophora serves to ask a question the audience may have (even if they’re not entirely aware of it yet) and provide them with an answer. This answer can be obvious, but it can also be a means of leading the audience toward a particular point.

Take this sample from John F. Kennedy’s speech on going to the moon:

But why, some say, the moon? Why choose this as our goal? And they may well ask why climb the highest mountain? Why, 35 years ago, fly the Atlantic? Why does Rice play Texas? We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too.

In this speech, Kennedy outright states that he’s asking questions others have asked, and then goes on to answer them. This is Kennedy’s speech, so naturally it’s going to reflect his point of view, but he’s answering the questions and concerns others might have about going to the moon. In doing so, he’s reclaiming an ongoing conversation to make his own point. This is how hypophora can be incredibly effective: you control the answer, leaving less room for argument!

Litotes is a deliberate understatement, often using double negatives, that serves to actually draw attention to the thing being remarked upon. For example, saying something like, “It’s not pretty,” is a less harsh way to say “It’s ugly,” or “It’s bad,” that nonetheless draws attention to it being ugly or bad.

In Frederick Douglass’ Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: an American Slave , he writes:

“Indeed, it is not uncommon for slaves even to fall out and quarrel among themselves about the relative goodness of their masters, each contending for the superior goodness of his own over that of the others.”

Notice the use of “not uncommon.” Douglass, by using a double negative to make readers pay closer attention, points out that some slaves still sought superiority over others by speaking out in favor of their owners.

Litotes draws attention to something by understating it. It’s sort of like telling somebody not to think about elephants—soon, elephants becomes all they can think about. The double negative draws our attention and makes us focus on the topic because it’s an unusual method of phrasing.

Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia refers to a sound represented within text as a mimicry of what that sound actually sounds like. Think “bang” or “whizz” or “oomph,” all of which can mean that something made that kind of a sound—”the door banged shut”—but also mimic the sound itself—”the door went bang .”

This rhetorical device can add emphasis or a little bit of spice to your writing. Compare, “The gunshot made a loud sound,” to “The gun went bang .” Which is more evocative?

Parallelism

Parallelism is the practice of using similar grammar structure, sounds, meter, and so on to emphasize a point and add rhythm or balance to a sentence or paragraph.

One of the most famous examples of parallelism in literature is the opening of Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities :

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way— in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only."

In the beginning, every phrase begins with “It was,” which is itself a parallelism. But there are also pairs of parallelism within the sentence, too; “It was the ___ of times, it was the ___ of times,” and “it was the age of ___, it was the age of ___.”

Parallelism draws your reader deeper into what you’re saying and provides a nice sense of flow, even if you’re talking about complicated ideas. The ‘epoch of incredulity’ is a pretty meaty phrase, but Dickens’ parallelism sets up a series of dichotomies for us; even if we don’t know quite what it means, we can figure it out by comparing it to ‘belief.’

Personification

Personification is a rhetorical device you probably run into a lot without realizing it. It’s a form of metaphor, which means two things are being compared without the words like or as—in this case, a thing that is not human is given human characteristics.

Personification is common in poetry and literature, as it’s a great way to generate fresh and exciting language, even when talking about familiar subjects. Take this passage from Romeo and Juliet , for example:

“When well-appareled April on the heel Of limping winter treads.”

April can’t wear clothes or step on winter, and winter can’t limp. However, the language Shakespeare uses here is quite evocative. He’s able to quickly state that April is beautiful (“well-appareled”) and that winter is coming to an end (“limping winter”). Through personification, we get a strong image for things that could otherwise be extremely boring, such as if Shakespeare had written, “When beautiful April comes right after winter.”

Procatalepsis

Procatalepsis is a rhetorical device that anticipates and notes a potential objection, heading it off with a follow-up argument to strengthen the point. I know what you’re thinking—that sounds really complicated! But bear with me, because it’s actually quite simple.

See how that works? I imagined that a reader might be confused by the terminology in the first sentence, so I noted that potential confusion, anticipating their argument. Then, I addressed that argument to strengthen my point—procatalepsis is easy, which you can see because I just demonstrated it!

Anticipating a rebuttal is a great way to strengthen your own argument. Not only does it show that you’ve really put thought into what you’re saying, but it also leaves less room for disagreement!

Synecdoche is a rhetorical device that uses a part of something to stand in for the whole. That can mean that we use a small piece of something to represent a whole thing (saying ‘let’s grab a slice’ when we in fact mean getting a whole pizza), or using something large to refer to something small. We often do this with sports teams–for example, saying that New England won the Super Bowl when we in fact mean the New England Patriots, not the entirety of New England.

This style of rhetorical device adds an additional dimension to your language, making it more memorable to your reader. Which sounds more interesting? “Let’s get pizza,” or “let’s grab a slice?”

Likewise, consider this quote from Percy Bysshe Shelly’s “Ozymandias”:

“Tell that its sculptor well those passions read Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things, The hand that mocked them.”

Here, Shelly uses ‘the hand’ to refer to the sculptor. The hand did not sculpt the lifeless things on its own; it was a tool of the sculptor. But by using just the hand, Shelly avoids repeating ‘the sculptor,’ preserves the poem’s rhythm, and narrows our focus. If he had referred to the sculptor again, he’d still be a big important figure; by narrowing to the hand, Shelly is diminishing the idea of the creator, mirroring the poem’s assertion that the creation will outlast it.

Tautology refers to using words or similar phrases to effectively repeat the same idea with different wording. It’s a form of repetition that can make a point stronger, but it can also be the basis of a flawed argument—be careful that your uses of tautology is the former, not the latter!

For example, take this section of “The Bells” by Edgar Allen Poe:

“Keeping time, time, time, In a sort of Runic rhyme… From the bells, bells, bells, bells.”

Poe’s poetry has a great deal of rhythm already, but the use of ‘time, time, time’ sets us up for the way that ‘bells, bells, bells, bells’ also holds that same rhythm. Keeping time refers to maintaining rhythm, and this poem emphasizes that with repetition, much like the repetitive sound of ringing bells.

An example of an unsuccessful tautology would be something like, “Either we should buy a house, or we shouldn’t.” It’s not a successful argument because it doesn’t say anything at all—there’s no attempt to suggest anything, just an acknowledgment that two things, which cannot both happen, could happen.

If you want to use tautology in your writing, be sure that it’s strengthening your point. Why are you using it? What purpose does it serve? Don’t let a desire for rhythm end up robbing you of your point!

That thing your English teachers are always telling you to have in your essays is an important literary device. A thesis, from the Greek word for ‘a proposition,’ is a clear statement of the theory or argument you’re making in an essay. All your evidence should feed back into your thesis; think of your thesis as a signpost for your reader. With that signpost, they can’t miss your point!

Especially in longer academic writing, there can be so many pieces to an argument that it can be hard for readers to keep track of your overarching point. A thesis hammers the point home so that no matter how long or complicated your argument is, the reader will always know what you’re saying.

Tmesis is a rhetorical device that breaks up a word, phrase, or sentence with a second word, usually for emphasis and rhythm . We often do this with expletives, but tmesis doesn’t have to be vulgar to be effective!

Take this example from Romeo and Juliet :

“This is not Romeo, he’s some other where.”

The normal way we’d hear this phrase is “This is not Romeo, he’s somewhere else.” But by inserting the word ‘other’ between ‘some’ and ‘where,’ it not only forces us to pay attention, but also changes the sentence’s rhythm. It gets the meaning across perfectly, and does so in a way that’s far more memorable than if Shakespeare had just said that Romeo was somewhere else.

For a more common usage, we can turn to George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion , which often has Eliza Doolittle using phrases like “fan-bloody-tastic” and “abso-blooming-lutely.” The expletives—though mild by modern standards—emphasize Eliza’s social standing and make each word stand out more than if she had simply said them normally.

What’s Next?

Rhetorical devices and literary devices can both be used to enhance your writing and communication. Check out this list of literary devices to learn more !

Ethos, pathos, logos, and kairos are all modes of persuasion—types of rhetorical devices— that can help you be a more convincing writer !

No matter what type of writing you're doing, rhetorical devices can enhance it! To learn more about different writing styles, check out this list !

Melissa Brinks graduated from the University of Washington in 2014 with a Bachelor's in English with a creative writing emphasis. She has spent several years tutoring K-12 students in many subjects, including in SAT prep, to help them prepare for their college education.

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Rhetorical Analysis: Paper Sample

This essay about Barack Obama’s “A More Perfect Union” speech explores the intricate strategies he employs to address issues of race, unity, and democracy. Through a meticulous analysis, it highlights Obama’s adept use of ethos, pathos, and logos, alongside various rhetorical devices such as anaphora, parallelism, and metaphor. The speech, delivered amidst racial tensions in 2008, serves as a testament to the enduring power of rhetoric in shaping public discourse and fostering social change.

How it works

Rhetorical prowess has long been celebrated as a formidable instrument in the arsenal of influential communicators. Barack Obama’s “A More Perfect Union” speech stands as a testament to the enduring power of rhetoric in shaping public discourse and galvanizing collective action. Delivered during a pivotal moment in American history, Obama’s address epitomizes the art of persuasion, employing a rich tapestry of rhetorical devices to address issues of race, unity, and democracy. Through a meticulous analysis of this speech, we embark on a journey to unravel the intricate strategies employed by Obama to captivate his audience and foster dialogue on issues of national significance.

Before delving into the nuanced analysis of Obama’s speech, it is imperative to contextualize the socio-political landscape in which it was delivered and identify the audience it aimed to engage. The year was 2008, and America stood at a crossroads, grappling with deep-seated racial tensions and socio-economic disparities. Obama delivered his speech against the backdrop of his presidential campaign, seeking to navigate the complex terrain of race relations while appealing to a diverse electorate. His audience comprised individuals from varied backgrounds, united in their quest for a more inclusive and equitable society.

Obama’s speech is a masterful demonstration of ethos, pathos, and logos – the triadic pillars of persuasive rhetoric. Ethos, or the credibility and authority of the speaker, is established through Obama’s personal narrative and his role as a unifying figure in American politics. As the first African American presidential nominee of a major political party, Obama’s identity and experiences imbue his words with authenticity and resonance.

Pathos permeates Obama’s address as he skillfully appeals to the emotions of his audience, evoking empathy, understanding, and shared humanity. His poignant anecdotes and heartfelt reflections on the complexities of race elicit a range of emotions, from empathy to introspection, fostering a sense of collective empathy and solidarity.

In terms of logos, Obama employs reasoned arguments supported by historical and philosophical references to elucidate his message of unity and progress. He invokes the ideals of the founding fathers and the enduring principles of the American experiment to underscore the imperative of addressing racial divisions and forging a more perfect union.

Beyond the triadic framework of ethos, pathos, and logos, Obama’s speech is adorned with a myriad of rhetorical devices that enhance its persuasive impact. Anaphora, the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses, imbues Obama’s address with a rhythmic cadence and rhetorical force. His use of the phrase “Yes, we can” echoes throughout the speech, serving as a rallying cry for collective action and social change.

Parallelism, another rhetorical device employed by Obama, lends symmetry and balance to his arguments, reinforcing key themes and ideas. His juxtaposition of contrasting images and ideas, such as “the profound mistake of reverting to isolationism” versus “the necessity of partnership and cooperation,” underscores the complexities of the issues at hand and the need for nuanced solutions.

Metaphor and analogy further enrich Obama’s speech, transforming abstract concepts into vivid imagery that resonates with his audience. His depiction of America as a “patchwork quilt” of diverse experiences and identities encapsulates the nation’s strength in its diversity, while his analogy of the “racial stalemate we’ve been stuck in for years” elucidates the urgency of transcending entrenched divisions.

In conclusion, Barack Obama’s “A More Perfect Union” speech stands as a magnum opus of rhetorical finesse and persuasive eloquence. Through a judicious combination of ethos, pathos, logos, and rhetorical devices, Obama effectively communicates his vision of a more inclusive and equitable America to a diverse audience. His speech serves as a timeless testament to the enduring power of rhetoric in shaping public discourse and fostering social change. As students of rhetoric, we are tasked with unraveling the intricacies of Obama’s rhetorical strategies and drawing inspiration from his mastery of the art of persuasion in our own endeavors to inform, influence, and inspire others.

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31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

What is a rhetorical device and why are they used.

As with all fields of serious and complicated human endeavor (that can be considered variously as an art, a science, a profession, or a hobby), there is a technical vocabulary associated with writing. Rhetoric is the name for the study of writing or speaking as a means of communication or persuasion, and though a writer doesn’t need to know the specific labels for certain writing techniques in order to use them effectively, it is sometimes helpful to have a handy taxonomy for the ways in which words and ideas are arranged. This can help to discuss and isolate ideas that might otherwise become abstract and confusing. As with the word rhetoric itself, many of these rhetorical devices come from Greek.

Ready, set, rhetoric.

The repetition of usually initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words or syllables

wild and woolly, threatening throngs

Syntactical inconsistency or incoherence within a sentence especially : a shift in an unfinished sentence from one syntactic construction to another

you really should have—well, what do you expect?

Repetition of a prominent and usually the last word in one phrase or clause at the beginning of the next

rely on his honor—honor such as his?

A literary technique that involves interruption of the chronological sequence of events by interjection of events or scenes of earlier occurrence : flashback

Repetition of a word or expression at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, sentences, or verses especially for rhetorical or poetic effect

we cannot dedicate—we cannot consecrate—we cannot hallow—this ground

The repetition of a word within a phrase or sentence in which the second occurrence utilizes a different and sometimes contrary meaning from the first

we must all hang together or most assuredly we shall all hang separately

The usually ironic or humorous use of words in senses opposite to the generally accepted meanings

this giant of 3 feet 4 inches

The use of a proper name to designate a member of a class (such as a Solomon for a wise ruler) OR the use of an epithet or title in place of a proper name (such as the Bard for Shakespeare)

The raising of an issue by claiming not to mention it

we won't discuss his past crimes

An expression of real or pretended doubt or uncertainty especially for rhetorical effect

to be, or not to be: that is the question

Harshness in the sound of words or phrases

An inverted relationship between the syntactic elements of parallel phrases

working hard, or hardly working?

A disjunctive conclusion inferred from a single premise

gravitation may act without contact; therefore, either some force may act without contact or gravitation is not a force

The substitution of a disagreeable, offensive, or disparaging expression for an agreeable or inoffensive one

greasy spoon is a dysphemism for the word diner

Repetition of a word or expression at the end of successive phrases, clauses, sentences, or verses especially for rhetorical or poetic effect

of the people, by the people, for the people

Emphatic repetition [ this definition is taken from the 1934 edition of Webster's Unabridged dictionary ]

An interchange of two elements in a phrase or sentence from a more logical to a less logical relationship

you are lost to joy for joy is lost to you

A transposition or inversion of idiomatic word order

judge me by my size, do you?

Extravagant exaggeration

mile-high ice-cream cones

The putting or answering of an objection or argument against the speaker's contention [ this definition is taken from the 1934 edition of Webster's Unabridged dictionary ]

Understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of the contrary

not a bad singer

The presentation of a thing with underemphasis especially in order to achieve a greater effect : UNDERSTATEMENT

A figure of speech in which a word or phrase literally denoting one kind of object or idea is used in place of another to suggest a likeness or analogy between them ( Metaphor vs. Simile )

drowning in money

A figure of speech consisting of the use of the name of one thing for that of another of which it is an attribute or with which it is associated

crown as used in lands belonging to the crown

The naming of a thing or action by a vocal imitation of the sound associated with it

A combination of contradictory or incongruous words

cruel kindness

The use of more words than those necessary to denote mere sense : REDUNDANCY

I saw it with my own eyes

A figure of speech comparing two unlike things that is often introduced by "like" or "as"

cheeks like roses

The use of a word in the same grammatical relation to two adjacent words in the context with one literal and the other metaphorical in sense

she blew my nose and then she blew my mind

A figure of speech by which a part is put for the whole (such as fifty sail for fifty ships ), the whole for a part (such as society for high society ), the species for the genus (such as cutthroat for assassin ), the genus for the species (such as a creature for a man ), or the name of the material for the thing made (such as boards for stage )

The use of a word to modify or govern two or more words usually in such a manner that it applies to each in a different sense or makes sense with only one

opened the door and her heart to the homeless boy

MORE TO EXPLORE: Rhetorical Devices Used in Pop Songs

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Rhetorical Strategies

Ai generator.

In the realm of effective communication, the art of persuasion holds immense power. Rhetorical strategies are the secret weapons wielded by skilled communicators to sway opinions, evoke emotions, and captivate audiences. Whether you’re addressing a crowd, writing a persuasive essay, or crafting a compelling brand message , understanding and employing rhetorical strategies is essential. This article delves into the world of rhetorical strategies, providing insights, examples, and a step-by-step guide to help you harness their persuasive potential.

What are Rhetorical Strategies?

Rhetorical strategies are deliberate techniques used to enhance communication and influence an audience’s perception or response. They involve skillfully using language , structure, and style to achieve specific goals , such as convincing, inspiring, or entertaining. Rhetorical strategies encompass a range of literary devices , appeals, and techniques that engage both the logical and emotional aspects of an audience’s thinking.

Types of Rhetorical Strategies

Rhetorical strategies are techniques used by writers and speakers to persuade, inform, or entertain an audience. Understanding these strategies can enhance both the creation and analysis of texts. Here are some of the most common types of rhetorical strategies:

Definition : Ethos is an appeal to credibility or character. Writers and speakers use ethos to establish trust and authority with their audience.

Professional Titles : “As a doctor, I recommend this treatment.”
Personal Experience : “Having taught for 20 years, I can attest to the importance of this method.”

Definition : Pathos is an appeal to emotion. This strategy aims to evoke an emotional response from the audience.

Emotional Stories : “Imagine the pain of losing a loved one to this disease.”
Vivid Language : “The heartbreaking scene left everyone in tears.”

Definition : Logos is an appeal to logic or reason. It uses facts, statistics, and logical arguments to persuade the audience.

Statistics : “Studies show that 90% of students improve with this technique.”
Logical Arguments : “If we want to reduce pollution, we must adopt cleaner energy sources.”

Definition : Kairos is an appeal to timeliness. It emphasizes the urgency of the argument and the need to act now.

Immediate Action : “We must act now before it’s too late.”
Relevant Events : “Given the recent events, this policy is more important than ever.”

5. Anaphora

Definition : Anaphora is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences. It is used to create emphasis.

Speech : “We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields.”
Writing : “Every day, every night, in every way, I am getting better.”

6. Antithesis

Definition : Antithesis is the juxtaposition of contrasting ideas in balanced phrases or clauses . It highlights differences to create a powerful effect.

Contrast : “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”
Opposing Ideas : “Give me liberty, or give me death.”

7. Hyperbole

Definition : Hyperbole is the use of exaggerated statements to emphasize a point. It is not meant to be taken literally.

Exaggeration : “I have a million things to do today.”
Amplification : “This is the best thing that has ever happened to me.”

8. Metaphor

Definition : A metaphor is a figure of speech that compares two unlike things without using “like” or “as”. It helps to illustrate a point more vividly.

Direct Comparison : “Time is a thief.”
Implicit Comparison : “The classroom was a zoo.”

Definition : A simile is a figure of speech that compares two unlike things using “like” or “as”. It creates vivid imagery .

Direct Comparison : “Her smile was as bright as the sun.”
Explicit Comparison : “He fought like a lion.”

10. Rhetorical Questions

Definition : Rhetorical questions are questions asked for effect, not meant to be answered. They encourage the audience to think deeply about the topic.

Thought-Provoking : “Isn’t it time we took a stand?”
Reflective : “What would you do in this situation?”

11. Parallelism

Definition : Parallelism is the use of similar structures in two or more clauses. It creates rhythm and makes the message more memorable.

Balanced Structure : “Easy come, easy go.”
Repetition : “Like father, like son.”

12. Anecdote

Definition : An anecdote is a short, personal story used to illustrate a point. It makes the argument more relatable and engaging.

Personal Story : “When I was a child, I learned the value of hard work from my father.”
Relatable Incident : “I once met a woman who changed my perspective on this issue.”

13. Allusion

Definition : An allusion is a reference to a well-known person, event, or work. It connects the audience to broader themes and ideas.

Historical Reference : “This decision is as significant as the moon landing.”
Literary Reference : “He has the strength of Hercules.”

Definition : Irony is the expression of one’s meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite. It often highlights discrepancies between reality and expectations.

Verbal Irony : “Oh great! Another homework assignment.”
Situational Irony : “A fire station burns down.”

Examples of Rhetorical Strategies:

Rhetorical Strategies Examples in writing

Rhetorical strategies are essential for making writing more persuasive and impactful. Here are detailed examples of various rhetorical strategies used in writing:

Ethos is an appeal to credibility or character. It helps establish the writer’s reliability and authority.

Professional Expertise : “As a tenured professor of environmental science, I can confidently say that climate change is the most pressing issue of our time.”

Pathos is an appeal to emotion. It aims to evoke feelings to persuade the audience.

Emotional Appeal : “Imagine the despair of a family who has lost everything in a natural disaster. We must act now to provide relief and support.”

Logos is an appeal to logic and reason. It uses facts, statistics, and logical arguments.

Logical Argument : “Data from the World Health Organization indicates that vaccination reduces the risk of serious illness by 95%. Therefore, increasing vaccination rates is crucial.”

Kairos is an appeal to timeliness, emphasizing the urgency of an argument.

Urgent Call to Action : “With the rise in global temperatures, now is the time to adopt sustainable practices. Waiting any longer could lead to irreversible damage.”

Anaphora is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences.

Repetition for Emphasis : “We demand justice. We demand equality. We demand change.”

Antithesis juxtaposes contrasting ideas in balanced phrases to highlight differences.

Contrasting Ideas : “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”

Hyperbole uses exaggerated statements for emphasis, not meant to be taken literally.

Exaggeration : “I’ve told you a million times to clean your room!”

A metaphor directly compares two unlike things without using “like” or “as”.

Direct Comparison : “Time is a thief that steals our moments.”

A simile compares two unlike things using “like” or “as”.

Explicit Comparison : “Her smile was as bright as the sun.”

Rhetorical questions are asked for effect, not to be answered, to provoke thought.

Thought-Provoking Question : “How can we stand by and do nothing when so many are suffering?”

Parallelism uses similar structures in successive clauses or sentences for rhythm and balance.

Balanced Structure : “She enjoys reading, writing, and skiing.”

An anecdote is a short, personal story used to illustrate a point.

Personal Story : “When I was a child, my mother always told me that hard work pays off. Her words have guided me through every challenge I’ve faced.”

An allusion references a well-known person, event, or work to connect broader themes.

Historical Reference : “This policy could be our New Deal, bringing hope to millions in economic distress.”

Irony expresses meaning using language that normally signifies the opposite, often for humorous or emphatic effect.

Verbal Irony : “Oh, fantastic! Another meeting that could have been an email.”

15. Oxymoron

Oxymoron combines contradictory terms to create a paradoxical effect.

Contradictory Terms : “Bittersweet memories filled the room.”

16. Personification

Personification attributes human characteristics to non-human things.

Human Traits : “The wind whispered secrets through the trees.”

17. Understatement

Understatement presents something as less significant than it is, often for ironic or humorous effect.

Minimizing : “It’s just a small scratch,” said about a large dent in the car.

18. Synecdoche

Synecdoche uses a part to represent the whole.

Part for Whole : “All hands on deck” means everyone must help.

19. Metonymy

Metonymy substitutes a name with something closely related to it.

Symbolic Substitution : “The White House announced new policies today.”

20. Euphemism

Euphemism uses mild or indirect words to replace ones considered harsh or blunt.

Mild Expression : “Passed away” instead of “died.”

21. Chiasmus

Chiasmus reverses the order of words in parallel phrases.

Reversed Structure : “Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.”

22. Polysyndeton

Polysyndeton uses multiple conjunctions in close succession to create a sense of accumulation.

Excessive Conjunctions : “We have ships and men and money and stores.”

23. Asyndeton

Asyndeton omits conjunctions between parts of a sentence for a concise effect.

Omitted Conjunctions : “I came, I saw, I conquered.”

24. Litotes

Litotes uses double negatives to create an understatement.

Understatement : “He’s not unskilled,” meaning “He’s quite skilled.”

25. Epistrophe

Epistrophe repeats a word at the end of successive clauses or sentences.

Repetition at End : “See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.”

Rhetorical Strategies Examples in Logos

Logos is a rhetorical strategy that appeals to logic and reason. It relies on factual evidence, logical arguments, and clear reasoning to persuade the audience. Here are some examples of logos in writing:

1. Use of Statistics

Fact-Based Argument : “According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 70% of smokers want to quit, and more than 40% try to quit each year. Therefore, providing accessible smoking cessation programs can significantly reduce smoking rates.”

2. Citing Research and Studies

Supporting Evidence : “A study published in the Journal of Medicine found that regular exercise reduces the risk of heart disease by 30%. This indicates that incorporating physical activity into daily routines is essential for maintaining cardiovascular health.”

3. Logical Deduction

Deductive Reasoning : “All humans need water to survive. John is a human. Therefore, John needs water to survive.”

4. Analogies

Comparative Logic : “Just as a car requires regular maintenance to function efficiently, our bodies need regular check-ups to stay healthy.”

5. Cause and Effect

Logical Connection : “If we reduce our carbon emissions, we will slow down the rate of global warming. Hence, adopting green technologies is crucial for the environment.”

6. Historical Examples

Past Evidence : “Historically, countries that have invested heavily in education, such as Finland and South Korea, have seen significant economic growth and social development. This demonstrates the importance of prioritizing educational funding.”

7. Definition and Clarification

Clear Explanation : “Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the simulation of human intelligence processes by machines, especially computer systems. These processes include learning, reasoning, and self-correction. Understanding AI is crucial for navigating the future job market.”

8. Facts and Data

Empirical Evidence : “The Earth orbits the Sun at an average distance of about 93 million miles. This distance is known as an astronomical unit and is used to measure distances within our solar system.”

9. Expert Testimony

Credible Source : “Dr. Jane Smith, a renowned epidemiologist, stated in her recent publication that widespread vaccination could lead to herd immunity, significantly reducing the spread of infectious diseases.”

10. Comparisons

Comparative Analysis : “The literacy rate in Country A is 95%, whereas in Country B, it is only 60%. This stark difference highlights the impact of government investment in education.”

11. Statistics in Arguments

Quantitative Data : “In 2020, renewable energy sources accounted for 20% of the total energy consumption in the United States, showing a steady increase from 15% in 2015.”

12. Graphical Evidence

Visual Data : “The graph below shows the correlation between increased physical activity and lower rates of chronic diseases, reinforcing the importance of an active lifestyle.”

13. Logical Sequencing

Step-by-Step Reasoning : “To solve the problem of traffic congestion, we must first improve public transportation infrastructure. This will encourage more people to use public transit, reducing the number of cars on the road and, consequently, traffic jams.”

14. Specific Examples

Concrete Illustrations : “Consider the case of Country X, where the implementation of renewable energy policies led to a 25% reduction in carbon emissions within five years.”

15. Use of Facts

Factual Statement : “Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius at sea level. This physical property is essential for various scientific and culinary applications.”

Rhetorical Strategies Examples in Pathos

Pathos is a rhetorical strategy that appeals to the audience’s emotions. It aims to evoke feelings such as sympathy, anger, joy, or sadness to persuade the audience. Here are some examples of pathos in writing:

1. Emotional Stories

Heartfelt Narrative : “Little Timmy’s eyes welled up with tears as he watched his home burn down. The flames consumed not just his house, but all the memories and dreams his family had built.”

2. Vivid Descriptions

Imagery : “The stench of decaying garbage filled the air, and the sight of emaciated children scavenging for food was a heart-wrenching reminder of the poverty that grips this community.”

3. Appeals to Fear

Scary Scenario : “Imagine a world where clean drinking water is a luxury only the rich can afford. This could be our reality if we don’t act now to conserve our water resources.”

4. Appeals to Compassion

Compassionate Plea : “Every night, thousands of homeless people sleep on the cold, hard streets. We must do something to provide them with the shelter and care they deserve.”

5. Appeals to Hope

Hopeful Vision : “Together, we can create a future where no child goes to bed hungry, where every individual has the opportunity to thrive. Let’s build a world of hope and prosperity for all.”

6. Appeals to Anger

Inciting Anger : “It’s infuriating that big corporations continue to pollute our rivers with toxic waste, showing complete disregard for our health and the environment.”

7. Personal Anecdotes

Relatable Story : “When I lost my job, I felt like my world was falling apart. But with the support of my community, I was able to find new opportunities and rebuild my life.”

8. Use of Strong Language

Powerful Words : “The government’s inaction in the face of this crisis is not just disappointing; it’s an outright betrayal of the public trust.”

9. Appeals to Pride

Encouraging Pride : “We are a nation built on resilience and determination. It’s time to rise to the challenge and prove that we can overcome any obstacle.”

10. Appeals to Sadness

Tragic Events : “The sight of the orphaned children, with no one to comfort them, was enough to bring tears to even the most stoic observer.”

11. Use of Metaphors and Similes

Comparative Emotion : “Her smile was like a ray of sunshine on a stormy day, bringing warmth and hope to those around her.”

12. Appeals to Nostalgia

Nostalgic Reflection : “Remember the days when we could play outside without fear, when our communities were safe and close-knit? Let’s work together to bring back those times.”

13. Appeals to Love

Expressions of Love : “Our love for our children drives us to fight for a better world, a world where they can grow up happy, healthy, and free from harm.”

14. Appeals to Guilt

Guilt Trip : “How can we enjoy our comfortable lives while knowing that millions of people are suffering in poverty? We have a moral obligation to help.”

15. Appeals to Joy

Joyful Scenarios : “Imagine the joy of a mother who finally receives news that her child, lost in the chaos of war, has been found safe and sound.”

16. Appeals to Patriotism

National Pride : “As citizens of this great nation, it is our duty to uphold the values of freedom and justice that our forefathers fought so hard to protect.”

17. Evocative Language

Emotion-Laden Words : “The brutal reality of war leaves scars that never heal, haunting the souls of those who endure its horrors.”

18. Appeals to Justice

Justice Appeal : “It’s time we stood up against the injustices faced by marginalized communities and fought for a fair and equitable society.”

19. Appeals to Family Values

Family Focus : “Think about the future we want to leave for our children and grandchildren. Let’s make choices that reflect our commitment to their well-being.”

20. Appeals to Unity

Call for Unity : “In times of crisis, we must come together as one community, united by our shared humanity and determination to overcome adversity.”

Rhetorical Strategies Examples in Literature

Rhetorical strategies are powerful tools used by authors to enhance their writing, convey their messages effectively, and evoke emotions in readers. Here are examples of various rhetorical strategies found in literature:

Quote : “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.”
Quote : “How can you frighten a man whose hunger is not only in his own cramped stomach but in the wretched bellies of his children?”
Quote : “War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength.”
Quote : “Sing, O goddess, the anger of Achilles son of Peleus, that brought countless ills upon the Achaeans.”
Quote : “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness…”
Quote : “Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.”
Quote : “I have a heart as big as an ox, and it’s almost ready to burst with joy!”
Quote : “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.”
Quote : “In his blue gardens men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars.”
Quote : “Do I dare / Disturb the universe?”
Quote : “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.'”
Quote : “When he was nearly thirteen, my brother Jem got his arm badly broken at the elbow.”
Quote : “Call me Ishmael.”
Quote : “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”
Quote : “O brawling love, O loving hate.”
Quote : “The Mole had been working very hard all the morning, spring-cleaning his little home.”
Quote : “I have to have this operation. It isn’t very serious. I have this tiny little tumor on the brain.”
Quote : “I should have been a pair of ragged claws / Scuttling across the floors of silent seas.”
Quote : “The pen is mightier than the sword.”
Quote : “He ain’t no good to you, Candy. An’ he ain’t no good to himself. Why’n’t you shoot him, Candy?”
Quote : “Fair is foul, and foul is fair.”
Quote : “They carried backpacks, and helmets, and rifles, and grenades, and…”
Quote : “Are all thy conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils, Shrunk to this little measure?”
Quote : “That was no small feat.”
Quote : “Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

Rhetorical Strategies Examples Sentences

Rhetorical strategies are powerful tools that can enhance writing and make arguments more compelling. Here are examples of sentences employing various rhetorical strategies:

“As a renowned climate scientist, I can assure you that the data supports the urgent need for action on climate change.”
“Think of the children who go to bed hungry every night, their stomachs aching and their dreams filled with despair.”
“Studies show that people who exercise regularly are 50% less likely to develop heart disease.”
“Now, more than ever, we must come together to address the pressing issue of climate change before it’s too late.”
“We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets.”
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”
“I’ve told you a million times to clean your room!”
“Time is a thief that steals our moments.”
“Her smile was as bright as the sun.”
“How can we ignore the suffering of so many people?”
“She likes cooking, jogging, and reading.”
“When I was a child, my mother always told me that hard work pays off.”
“This new policy could be our generation’s New Deal.”
“A fire station burning down.”
“The silence was deafening.”
“The wind whispered secrets through the trees.”
“It’s just a scratch,” he said, referring to the large dent in his car.
“All hands on deck.”
“The White House issued a statement.”
“He passed away last night.”
“Never let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You.”
“We have ships and men and money and stores.”
“I came, I saw, I conquered.”
“He’s not the worst singer.”
“When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child.”

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Rhetorical Strategies vs. Rhetorical Devices

How to use rhetorical strategies.

From captivating speeches to compelling advertisements, mastering rhetorical strategies can elevate your communication prowess. Let’s explore a step-by-step guide to effectively employing rhetorical strategies.

Step 1: Understand Your Audience and Purpose

Before embarking on the journey of persuasion, delve into understanding your audience and the context in which you’ll communicate. Define your purpose—whether it’s to inform, persuade, or entertain—and tailor your rhetorical strategies to align with your goals. Context is key; consider how different rhetorical strategies might resonate with your intended audience.

Step 2: Employ Persuasive Appeals

Rhetorical strategies often involve three primary persuasive appeals: ethos, pathos, and logos. Ethos establishes credibility and authority, pathos evokes emotions, and logos appeals to logic and reason. Incorporate these appeals strategically to build a well-rounded argument essay or message that resonates with your audience’s sensibilities.

Step 3: Utilize Literary Devices

Enhance your communication with literary devices such as metaphors , similes , alliteration , and imagery. These elements add depth and vividness to your words, making your message more memorable and impactful. For instance, in a persuasive essay on environmental conservation, you could use vivid imagery to describe the dire consequences of neglecting our planet.

Step 4: Craft Compelling Examples and Analogies

Examples and analogies are powerful tools that help clarify complex concepts and create relatable connections. Just as a case study demonstrates the real-world application of a scientific method , crafting analogies can simplify intricate ideas and make them accessible to a wider audience.

What are rhetorical strategies?

Rhetorical strategies are techniques used by writers and speakers to persuade, inform, or entertain an audience through effective communication.

What is the difference between ethos, pathos, and logos?

Ethos appeals to credibility, pathos appeals to emotion, and logos appeals to logic and reason.

How do rhetorical strategies enhance writing?

They add depth, clarity, and persuasiveness, making arguments more compelling and engaging for the audience.

What is an example of ethos in writing?

“As a tenured professor, I assure you this research is credible.”

Why is pathos important in rhetoric?

Pathos evokes emotions, helping to connect with the audience on a personal level and make arguments more compelling.

How can logos be effectively used in arguments?

By presenting clear, logical evidence and reasoning, such as statistics and facts, to support a claim.

What is the role of kairos in rhetoric?

Kairos emphasizes the timeliness and urgency of an argument, making it relevant and immediate.

Can you give an example of a rhetorical question?

“Isn’t it time we took a stand against injustice?”

What is anaphora and why is it used?

Anaphora is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses, used to create emphasis and rhythm.

How do rhetorical strategies differ from rhetorical devices?

Strategies are broader techniques for persuasion, while devices are specific tools like metaphors or similes used within those strategies.

Text prompt

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What is a rhetorical question? Why do we use them? Learn about types, definition, and examples

Why would you ask a question that doesn’t expect an answer? There are several reasons, but chances are you’re using a rhetorical question .

In this article, we’ll take a look at what rhetorical questions are, why we use them, the different types, and plenty of examples.

What is a rhetorical question?

A rhetorical question is a type of question that we ask to emphasize a point or create a certain effect, without expecting an answer.

Although they take the form of a question, rhetorical questions are really just figures of speech. You are not supposed to provide a response; only perhaps to reflect on the message being conveyed.

For example, if I’m having a terrible day, I might comment “ Could this day get any worse? “. I’m not expecting you to come up with a list of things that could happen to make my day worse. It’s just a way of expressing despair, perhaps hoping for some sympathy.

In another example, a father might say to his child “ How many times do I have to ask you to clear the table when you’ve finished eating? “. He is not expecting that the child has kept count and will answer with a number. He is really saying “I wish you would learn to clear the table after you eat, without being reminded.”

These questions can be used in literature, poetry, debates, persuasive writing, and everyday conversation.

Before we look at why we use rhetorical questions, here are some more common examples:

Can’t you do anything right?
Who do you think you are?
Isn’t it a beautiful day?
Did you get dressed in the dark?
Guess what?
How should I know?
Would it kill you to admit I’m right?
Why do bad things always happen to me?
How many times do I have to tell you?
What is he thinking?
Who’s counting?
Can you blame her?
Are you kidding me?

Keep reading for more helpful examples with specific purposes like persuasion, agreeing, and disagreeing.

Why do we use rhetorical questions?

We can use rhetorical questions to:

Persuade people
Evoke emotions
Provoke thought
Guide narrative
Express frustration
Convey agreement or disagreement
Introduce a surprise or a plot twist
Answer a question or make a point with humor or sarcasm

Let’s look at a few of these uses in more detail.

man giving a presentation using rhetorical questions

Persuasive rhetorical questions

If you are speaking or writing to persuade someone about something, rhetorical questions can help you ridicule an argument, inspire action, challenge beliefs, and encourage personal reflection.

Some phrases that might be used in persuasive rhetorical questions include:

Don’t you think that…
Wouldn’t you rather…
Do you really believe that…
Can we afford to…
Isn’t it about time…
Is this really…
Can you imagine…
Why don’t we…

You’ll often hear phrases like these in speeches, debates, and essays.

Here are some examples with more context:

Is this really what we have lowered ourselves to?
Isn’t it about time we took action to protect our environment?
Can we afford to ignore the needs of the most vulnerable in our society?
Can you imagine a world without homelessness?
Do you really believe that they can keep their promises?
Wouldn’t you rather be able to enter the workplace debt-free?

Using rhetorical questions effectively can help you engage your audience and make a compelling argument.

Avoiding direct criticism

Another purpose of rhetorical questions is to avoid direct criticism or to soften the blow of a harsh message by using humor. For instance:

Did you get dressed in the dark? The implication is that you are not well dressed or your clothes don’t match. The use of humor through this rhetorical question makes the comment less direct.

What time do you call this? You could say this to someone who has arrived late, especially if you have been waiting a long time for them.

Are you kidding me? This can be said in excitement or exasperation. For the latter, it’s a kinder way of saying “What you just said is so unacceptable, I hope it isn’t true.”

Different types of rhetorical question

There are several types of rhetorical question that take a specific form or serve a specific purpose. Let’s take a closer look at anthypophora , epiplexis , and erotesis .

Anthypophora and hypophora: Answering your own question

Technically, ‘hypophora’ refers to the question and ‘anthypophora’ refers to the answer in this literary device where the speaker (or writer) poses a question and then immediately answers it .

In reality, both terms are used interchangeably to refer to the device as a whole.

Anthypophora is often used by speakers to address questions the audience might have in their minds, demonstrating like-minded thinking and keeping control of the discourse. It can also help change the direction of a speech, catch the audience’s attention, or emphasize a point.

Examples of this type of rhetorical question with an answer include:

So, where are we going to find the money to fund this project? We will reassign some budget from X and Y.
What was the result of all of this? We made a new discovery.
Who is going to benefit from this policy? You all are.
What is the motto of this business? Success through unity. What does that mean? It means we all have a part to play.
Finally, she was safe. Or was she? The door creaked open to reveal a shady figure.

Epiplexis: Provoking remorse or shame

The purpose of epiplexis as a rhetorical device is to reproach, rebuke, admonish, or shame the listener or reader and convert them to the speaker or writer’s way of thinking.

You might hear this type of rhetorical question in a debate, a political speech, or a piece of persuasive writing. Equally, it can be used when a parent is reprimanding a child, an employer is chiding an employee, and so on.

Here are some examples of epiplexis:

Why would you do such a thing?
Who would want to let these children starve when it’s in your power to feed them?
Do you think money grows on trees?
You have been late to work three days in a row. Are you trying to get yourself fired?
Why are you using that kind of language?
Do you want to end up in the emergency room over this?
How many times do I have to ask you to tidy your room?

Erotesis: Stirring emotions

Erotesis is designed to elicit a strong emotional response from the audience. When the question is posed, the expected response, whether spoken or unspoken, is already obvious (and is often a resounding ‘no’).

This type of question can stir an audience’s emotions and appeal to their sentiments.

Examples of erotesis include:

Are we going to let the other side win?
Do you want to be stuck in this job for the rest of your life?
Is it really worth risking your house for this investment?
Do you want to miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?

You’ll often hear this type of language in advertising campaigns, rallies, and any scenario where a person is trying to get others on their side.

You might also want to read about indirect questions which, although not strictly rhetorical, are sometimes asked with no intention of receiving a response.

Rhetorical question examples

We have already given plenty of examples, but here are some more that might help if you’re still learning about rhetorical questions in English:

Common rhetorical questions

Although there is no fixed list of rhetorical questions in English – you are free to have fun creating your own – there are certain examples that occur regularly in everyday speech and have become idiomatic in nature.

Here are some examples of common rhetorical questions with their meanings:

Examples of rhetorical questions in literature

William Shakespeare was a master of rhetorical questions, using them to uncover the inner thoughts and motivations of his characters.

One of the most profound examples is the iconic soliloquy ‘To be, or not to be’ in Hamlet, as the character contemplates life and death.

We also see Juliet questioning the importance of a name in Romeo and Juliet :

What’s in a name? That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet

In Julius Caesar , Brutus asks “Who is here so vile that will not love his country?”, knowing that nobody will speak up. Later, Marc Antony, reflecting on Caesar’s conquests, says “Did this in Caesar seem ambitious?”

And the famous line ‘Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?’ comes from Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18.

There are plenty of other examples of rhetorical questions in poetry.

Percy Bysshe Shelley’s poem Ode to the West Wind ends with a rhetorical question:

The trumpet of a prophecy! O Wind, If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?

And William Wordsworth used several rhetorical questions in this stanza of his poem The Solitary Reaper :

Will no one tell me what she sings?— Perhaps the plaintive numbers flow For old, unhappy, far-off things, And battles long ago: Or is it some more humble lay, Familiar matter of to-day? Some natural sorrow, loss, or pain, That has been, and may be again?

Funny rhetorical questions for ‘yes’

If you want a witty or sarcastic way to answer a question with a definite ‘yes’, try one of these rhetorical affirmatives:

Is water wet?
Is the sky blue?
Is the sun hot?
Is the Pope Catholic?
Does a bear poop in the woods?
Do fish swim?
Do birds fly?
What’s the opposite of ‘no’?
Do snakes have knees?

Note that these are colloquial expressions and should only be used in casual settings.

Rhetorical questions are common in English, from the intricate plays of Shakespeare to political speeches to marketing strategies to everyday conversations.

They provoke thought, stir emotions, challenge norms, and subtly guide our thinking – but they all have one thing in common: a question asked for effect, with no answer expected.

We hope this guide has helped broaden your vocabulary as you learn how to use rhetorical questions yourself!

What is the purpose of a rhetorical question?

A rhetorical question is usually used for persuasion, emphasis, engagement, emotion, or dramatic effect, rather than to seek an answer. Depending on the context and the type of rhetoric used, it can serve different purposes.

How should you punctuate rhetorical questions?

It’s usually best to punctuate rhetorical questions with a question mark, as they take the form of a question.

In cases where the question is used as an exclamation, you could use an exclamation mark instead. For example: “What were you thinking!”

How are rhetorical questions used in persuasive writing?

Rhetorical questions are often used in persuasive writing to ridicule an argument, inspire action, expose emotions, or provoke thought. They serve as powerful tools for engaging the reader and making them think carefully about what is written.

Are rhetorical questions used in everyday speech?

Yes, rhetorical questions are commonly used in everyday speech to express opinions or make personal remarks without expecting a response. We also use them when affirmation or denial is implicit, so the person who asks the question already knows the answer.

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Opinion How do we want America to be?

We have the opportunity to continue to be viewed as exceptional.

William H. McRaven is a retired Navy admiral.

My mother was a member of the Greatest Generation. Born in 1921, she was raised on a small farm in East Texas. She went to church every Sunday. Her family struggled through the Great Depression. Her brother went off to fight World War II in the Pacific, and she found lasting love with a fighter pilot from that war.

She believed in American Exceptionalism — not in the power of our military or the strength of our economy, but in the values that shaped the nation. She often told me stories of great acts of courage, sacrifice and integrity, stories rooted in American history. Stories that would frame my understanding of our national character.

She loved the story of John Adams, who despite withering criticism defended the British soldiers who shot and killed several rioting civilians during the Boston Massacre in 1770 . She praised the jurors who found the soldiers — who had been harassed and assaulted by the crowd — not guilty of murder charges. She extolled their fairness as essential to the American character.

Then there was Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, who treated a defeated Robert E. Lee with grace and compassion at Appomattox; Gen. Douglas MacArthur, who worked to rebuild Japanese society during the post-World War II occupation of Japan; Secretary of State George C. Marshall and his plan to reconstruct a devastated postwar Europe; the Berlin Airlift ; and many other examples of the American character.

Growing up in the segregated South, my mother was not naive about our nation’s faults, but she always believed in our better angels. She believed that America was exceptional because there was goodness in our hearts, goodness that transcended our hatreds, goodness that brought us together in the worst of times, goodness that showed the world that despite our internal strife and political divisions we could rise above it all and be the best version of ourselves. This was what made America exceptional.

Now, a former president has been convicted by a jury in New York, and we have a choice to make. We can show the world that we are still exceptional and continue to lead the international community with integrity and pride, or we can prolong the onslaught of crassness, vulgarity, pettiness and righteous indignation and descend into national mediocrity, where there is nothing of value worth emulating.

I have been a vocal critic of the former president, but I took no joy in seeing him found guilty. He was the president of the United States. My president. Whether I liked him or not, he had been elected by the people, the American people — your neighbors, your colleagues, your friends and your family. If we are going to continue to be viewed as exceptional, then it is time for both sides to lay down their rhetorical arms and find a way to rise above.

On the left, stop the gloating, the ugly memes, the public rants, the late-night roastings and the political vitriol. On the right, respect the legal verdict, support the jurors, fly your flag with honor and find a way to bridge the political divide. There are thoughtful, reasonable, genuinely good men and women on both sides. Let them speak for America.

Abraham Lincoln once said, “My dream is of a place and a time where America will once again be seen as the last best hope of Earth.” It is up to us — all of us — to decide whether this is that place and time. Whether this is where we stand together and show the world that we can rise above, that we are exceptional, that my mother was right — that our goodness can transcend our hatreds and bring us together even in the most challenging of times.

About guest opinion submissions

The Washington Post accepts opinion articles on any topic. We welcome submissions on local, national and international issues. We publish work that varies in length and format, including multimedia. Submit a guest opinion or read our guide to writing an opinion article .

Understanding Twins

Stategies to stop twin fighting, twin fighting is normal and inevitable, but there are ways to reduce it..

Posted June 4, 2024 | Reviewed by Monica Vilhauer

This post is part two in a series. Find part one here .

Twin closeness is inevitable. I have said frequently that twins are born married. Sharing psychological and physical closeness, they measure themselves against one another as a way of establishing similarities and differences—thereby establishing their unique identities. Competition between the pair is built into how they function in the world. The more self-assured twin has fewer issues being away from his or her twin and following their own ideas. Ironically, being different than your twin is healthy but contributes to fighting, which can get very out of control. In all truth, being a twin is difficult and psychologically confusing, even though a lot of people long to be a twin. Most twins whom I consult with admit that at times they wish they were not a twin.

Parents and others who meet with twins compare who is calmer, smarter, prettier, physically stronger, more popular, and more outgoing , to list a few points of comparison that unknowingly begins the competition of every twinship. Parents are responsible for helping their twins see themselves as different and respecting their differences. A sense of individuality and uniqueness helps twins let go of their tendency to fight and compete. Motivation to learn and develop a sense of self and social identity helps language development and minimizes separation anxiety . With a clear sense of self, twins can be involved in their own activities and with their own friends. Overall, a positive self-esteem is strengthened alongside unique identity as twins learn how to get along without each other. Of course getting along with each other is also optimal.

Often, twins do not want to be separated because they are used to doing creative activities, playing games, and playing with friends together. Encouragement to try to do new things without your twin is important, as it will reduce competition and fighting. Separation is the only way to let twins work on pursuing their own interests, so parents need to be very active in finding unique activities and friends for each child. Individual interests will develop and become very important to each of your children, if you help them to find those interests. Competition will be reduced and a more profound closeness between the twins will develop based on new ideas they learn from their twin. For example, my twin M. was a rhetorical writing professor at Stanford University for 27 years. Finding my approach to writing too intellectual, she helped me develop my writing style, which has helped my career .

Accept That Twins Fight

I have talked to so many twins who are ashamed that they cannot get along. I am among the twins who fight intensely with their twin. I have had serious and unreasonable fights, from what my twin M. should wear to my wedding to what I should major in at college. Boyfriend or girlfriend choices are also a critical point of contention. Disagreements have helped me to learn that all twins fight. I am a normal twin because I want to be myself and I compete with my twin sister. And of course competition is always an issue. Our “senior” fights revolve around who wrote the most books and our finances. It is clear that M. has more money, but I have more graduate degrees and have written more books. We need not fight about these details.

Here are some perspectives and suggestions that can limit fighting with your twin:

1. It is normal to fight with your twin, even if outsiders cannot understand. Do not be ashamed of yourself.

2. While twin estrangement is common because of deep differences of opinion, try to understand your twin’s point of view and have compassion for his or her concerns that are related to you. It will help with positive communication and harmony.

3. Anger and hopelessness will be resolved over time.

4. It is mentally healthy to live different lives.

5. Stop longing for your childhood relationship of closeness and sharing, as you are an adult and can solve your own problems.

Conclusions: Seek Out Communication

Twin fighting is normal and inevitable, and often it's even helpful. But enough is enough. Clearly understand that twin fighting is rooted in the need of each twin to be “right” and perhaps "the best" in some situations. But arguing over the right way to do something can lead to deep rifts and even estrangement, which leads to loneliness , confusion, and loss of support.

My hard won advice is to do the best you can getting along. If you can't work out the problem, then move on. Don't give into being ashamed or believing there is a resolution you have not considered.

Barbara Klein, Ph.D., Ed.D. , is an author and educational consultant who has done extensive research on the development of twin identity.

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20+ Best Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example & Sample Papers
For example, a rhetorical analysis essay written by Lee Jennings on"The Right Stuff" by David Suzuki. Lee started the essay by providing the introduction in the following way: David Suzuki's "The Right Stuff" features a gracious, entertaining, and informative style. We associate with this well-known host of The Nature of Things.
How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis
A rhetorical analysis is a type of essay that looks at a text in terms of rhetoric. This means it is less concerned with what the author is saying than with how they say it: their goals, techniques, and appeals to the audience. A rhetorical analysis is structured similarly to other essays: an introduction presenting the thesis, a body analyzing ...
How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis Essay-Examples & Template
Rhetorical appeal #2: Pathos. The purpose of Pathos-driven rhetoric is to appeal to the reader's emotions. A common example of pathos as a rhetorical means is adverts by charities that try to make you donate money to a "good cause". To evoke the intended emotions in the reader, an author may use passionate language, tell personal stories ...
Rhetorical Analysis Sample Essay
Rhetorical Analysis Sample Essay. Harriet Clark. Ms. Rebecca Winter. CWC 101. 13 Feb. 2015. Not Quite a Clean Sweep: Rhetorical Strategies in. Grose's "Cleaning: The Final Feminist Frontier". A woman's work is never done: many American women grow up with this saying and feel it to be true. 1 One such woman, author Jessica Grose, wrote ...
How to Write a Great Rhetorical Analysis Essay: With Examples
Name the author of the text and the title of their work followed by the date in parentheses. Use a verb to describe what the author does, e.g. "implies," "asserts," or "claims". Briefly summarize the text in your own words. Mention the persuasive techniques used by the rhetor and its effect.
How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis: 6 Steps and an Outline for Your
5. State your thesis. Now that you've completed your analysis of the material, try to summarize it into one clear, concise thesis statement that will form the foundation of your essay. Your thesis statement should summarize: 1) the argument or purpose of the speaker; 2) the methods the speaker uses; and 3) the effectiveness of those methods ...
Rhetorical Analysis
Rhetorical Analysis. Rhetoric is the study of how writers and speakers use words to influence an audience. A rhetorical analysis is an essay that breaks a work of non-fiction into parts and then explains how the parts work together to create a certain effect—whether to persuade, entertain or inform. You can also conduct a rhetorical analysis ...
How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis Essay
2. Introducing Your Essay Topic. Introduce your essay by providing some context about the text you're analyzing. Give a brief overview of the author, intended audience, and purpose of the writing. You should also clearly state your thesis, which is your main point or argument about how and why the author uses rhetorical strategies.
PDF How to Write a RHETORICAL ANALYSIS ESSAY Step 1: Full Comprehension of
Like all other essays, your rhetorical analysis essay will have an introduction with a thesis, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. WRITE - write your essay. Asher AP ELAC Name: _____ Step 3: Organizing and Writing Your Essay: Some of this is redundant, but this breaks down some of the steps from MAD TO WRITE even further. ...
How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis Essay in 6 Steps
Follow this step-by-step guide to write your own effective rhetorical analysis essay. 1. Choose and study a text. Review the work you're analyzing more than once to become as familiar as possible with the author's argument and writing style. Make sure you have read the text thoroughly, and that you fully understand each point that the ...
How to write a rhetorical analysis [4 steps]
Step 2: Write your introduction. Once you've done your preparation, you can start writing the rhetorical analysis. It will start off with an introduction which is a clear and concise paragraph that shows you understand the purpose of the text and gives more information about the author and the relevance of the text.
Free Rhetorical Analysis Essay Examples. Best Topics, Titles
Lord Chesterfield Rhetorical Analysis. Lord Chesterfield, a prominent figure in 18th-century English society, was known for his eloquence and persuasive language. His letters to his son, known as "Letters to His Son," are a prime example of his rhetorical prowess. In this essay, we will conduct a rhetorical analysis….
PDF Rhetorical Analysis Sample Essay
RHETORICAL ANALYSIS SAMPLE ESSAY. 13 Feb. 2015 Not Quite a Clean Sweep: Rhetorical Strategies in Grose's "Cleaning: The Final Feminist Frontier" A woman's work is never done: many American women grow up with this saying and feel it to be true. One such woman, author Jessica Grose, wrote "Cleaning: The Final Feminist Frontier ...
Sample Rhetorical Analysis
Read the following sample rhetorical analysis of an article. If you like, you can read the original article the student analyzes: Why I won't buy an iPad (and think you shouldn't, either). Then, click the image below to open a PDF of the sample paper. The strategies and techniques the author used in this rhetorical analysis essay have been ...
Top 15 + Rhetorical Analysis Essay Examples for Students
Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example: AP Language. Rhetorical analysis done in AP Language and Composition is one of the biggest tasks a student can ever get. On the same hand, drafting it in a proper way is also necessary to get good grades. Look at these rhetorical analysis essay example AP language given below to see how a well-written ...
Sample Rhetorical Analysis Essay
Sample Rhetorical Analysis Essay. Student essay is used with permission. It was originally submitted double-spaced with no extra spaces between the lines, featured proper MLA pagination, and 1/2″ paragraph indents. The writing assignment asks for an argument about how several rhetorical elements work together to create a functioning whole in ...
6.2: Rhetorical Analysis
One of the elements of doing a rhetorical analysis is looking at a text's rhetorical situation. The rhetorical situation is the context out of a which a text is created. Another element of rhetorical analysis is simply reading and summarizing the text. You have to be able to describe the basics of the author's thesis and main points before ...
Rhetorical Analysis Definition and Examples
Rhetorical analysis is a form of criticism or close reading that employs the principles of rhetoric to examine the interactions between a text, an author, and an audience. It's also called rhetorical criticism or pragmatic criticism. Rhetorical analysis may be applied to virtually any text or image—a speech, an essay, an advertisement, a poem ...
The 20 Most Useful Rhetorical Devices
Eutrepismus is another rhetorical device you've probably used before without realizing it. This device separates speech into numbered parts, giving your reader or listener a clear line of thinking to follow. Eutrepismus is a great rhetorical device—let me tell you why. First, it's efficient and clear.
Rhetorical Analysis: Paper Sample
Rhetorical Analysis: Paper Sample. Rhetorical prowess has long been celebrated as a formidable instrument in the arsenal of influential communicators. Barack Obama's "A More Perfect Union" speech stands as a testament to the enduring power of rhetoric in shaping public discourse and galvanizing collective action.
Rhetorical Essay
Step 3: Employing Rhetorical Devices. Rhetorical essays thrive on the skillful use of literary devices. Incorporate metaphors, similes, and analogies to add depth and resonance to your arguments. Harness the strength of repetition and parallelism to reinforce key points and create a rhythmic flow that captivates your audience.
31 Common Rhetorical Devices and Examples
List of Rhetorical Devices and Examples. alliteration | see definition ». The repetition of usually initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words or syllables. wild and woolly, threatening throngs. anacoluthon | see definition ».
PDF Rhetorical Analysis Thesis Statements
A strong thesis statement for a rhetorical analysis is NOT… A simple statement of your topic A broad statement A statement of facts or statistics A summary of the author's essay you are analyzing A statement of what you're going to do in the essay Examples of weak rhetorical analysis thesis statements:
Rhetorical Strategies
Examples of Rhetorical Strategies: Rhetorical Strategies Examples in writing. Rhetorical strategies are essential for making writing more persuasive and impactful. Here are detailed examples of various rhetorical strategies used in writing: 1. Ethos. Ethos is an appeal to credibility or character. It helps establish the writer's reliability ...
What is a rhetorical question? Definition, types & examples
A rhetorical question is a type of question that we ask to emphasize a point or create a certain effect, without expecting an answer. Although they take the form of a question, rhetorical questions are really just figures of speech. You are not supposed to provide a response; only perhaps to reflect on the message being conveyed.
How do we want America to be?
Now, a former president has been convicted by a jury in New York, and we have a choice to make. We can show the world that we are still exceptional and continue to lead the international community ...
Stategies to Stop Twin Fighting
For example, my twin M. was a rhetorical writing professor at Stanford University for 27 years. Finding my approach to writing too intellectual, she helped me develop my writing style, which has ...