how to write the rhetorical analysis essay

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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. 

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 Essay

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline

Crafting an Effective Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline - Free Samples!

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Staring at a blank page, unsure how to begin your rhetorical analysis essay? You're not alone. Many students struggle with the first step: creating an outline. 

Without a clear plan, your essay can quickly become disorganized. But don't worry, we're here to help. 

In this blog, we'll show you how to craft a solid rhetorical analysis essay outline. By the end, you'll know exactly how to structure your outline. 

Keep reading to tackle those blank pages with confidence!

• 1. What Is A Rhetorical Analysis Essay?
• 2. Why Create a Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline?
• 3. Components of a Rhetorical Analysis Outline
• 4. Steps to Create a Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline
• 5. Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline Examples

What Is A Rhetorical Analysis Essay?

A rhetorical analysis essay is a type of analytical essay that examines how an author uses language and persuasion to get their message across.

It involves analyzing speeches or essays to understand how authors use strategies within the rhetorical triangle to influence their intended audience. These techniques usually involve logical appeal, moral argument, and vivid imagery that appeals to the listener. 

Key Elements to Analyze

In a rhetorical analysis essay, you would be analyzing the text keeping these key rhetorical concepts in mind:

• Ethos: This concerns the credibility of the author or speaker.
• Logos: This focuses on the logical aspects of the argument.
• Pathos: Pathos explores the emotional appeal of the discourse.
• Style and Tone: This involves analyzing the author's writing style and the overall tone of the text.
• Context: Looks at the historical, cultural, and social background of the text.

These elements provide a structured approach to rhetorical analysis, revealing how effective communication is achieved.

Why Create a Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline?

Writing a rhetorical analysis essay requires a writer to draft a structured piece of writing. 

Apart from conducting a strong analysis, a rhetorical analysis essay depends on how perfectly the essay outline is drafted. 

An outline organizes the raw information and makes it understandable for the readers. It serves as your compass, ensuring you stay on course throughout the rhetoric essay. It helps you structure your ideas and arguments, adding clarity to your essay writing process. 

Moreover, an outline works as a checklist for your essay. It assures you that nothing important is missed in the content.

Components of a Rhetorical Analysis Outline

Now that we've explored why creating an essay outline is essential, it's important to explore the different components of a rhetorical analysis outline. 

Here’s a detailed rhetorical analysis essay outline:

Each element plays a crucial role in crafting a well-structured and persuasive analysis, so let's explore them in detail:

Introduction

The introduction of your rhetorical analysis essay serves as the gateway to your analysis. It's where you captivate your reader's interest, provide essential background information, and present your thesis statement. 

Here are the elements typically included in an introduction paragraph:

• Hook The " hook " is a sentence or two designed to grab the reader's attention. It could be a thought-provoking quote, a surprising fact, or a compelling question. The purpose is to make your reader interested in what you're about to discuss—how an author uses rhetorical devices.
• Background Information After the hook, provide some context. Here, you briefly introduce the text you're analyzing, the author or speaker, and the overall topic. It's like giving your reader a map to navigate through your analysis.
• Thesis Statement The thesis statement is the main argument, your "claim." This concise sentence outlines what you'll be analyzing and what your main points will be. Your thesis should tell the reader what to expect in your analysis.

The body of your essay is where you dissect the author's persuasive techniques and reveal their impact on the audience. It contains sections dedicated to each rhetorical strategy you're examining. 

In these sections, you'll explain the strategies, provide evidence from the text, and offer your insightful analysis of their effectiveness. 

Section for Each Rhetorical Strategy

In the body paragraphs , you'll have sections dedicated to each rhetorical strategy you're analyzing. These sections each will focus on a different aspect of the text. For each strategy, you'll do three things:

• Explanation of the Strategy Start by explaining what the rhetorical technique is. Define it clearly for your reader. This is like providing a dictionary definition.
• Examples from the Text Next, provide examples from the text you're analyzing. These are specific quotes or passages where the author or speaker uses the strategy you're discussing. It's like showing your reader the evidence.
• Analysis of the Effectiveness Finally, analyze how effective the strategy is. This is where you dive deep into the text and explain how and why the strategy persuades the audience. 

The conclusion should leave your readers with a sense of closure and a clear understanding of your analysis. 

You don't introduce new information or arguments in this section; instead, you tie everything together. Here are the three essential elements of an impactful essay conclusion:

• Restate Thesis Start by restating your thesis to remind readers of your main argument. Repeating your main argument clearly helps the reader tie in all they have read in your essay.
• Summarize Main Points Summarize the main points from each section of your analysis. This serves as a reminder of the highlights of your arguments made throughout the essay.
• Final Thoughts Conclude by sharing your thoughts on how the author's strategies affect the audience and the text's broader importance. Encourage readers to consider these strategies' impact and the text's relevance.

This structure in your rhetorical analysis outline ensures that your analysis is clear, well-organized, and persuasive. Each component plays a crucial role in guiding your reader through your analysis.

Steps to Create a Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline

Creating an essay outline is a crucial step in organizing your thoughts and effectively analyzing a piece of rhetoric. Here’s how to write an rhetorical analysis essay outline:

Step 1 - Choose the Text

Select the piece of rhetoric that you will be analyzing. It could be a speech, a written essay, an advertisement, a political campaign, or any other form of communication.

Step 2 - Identify Rhetorical Devices and Rhetorical Appeals

Look for rhetorical devices such as metaphor, simile, analogy, hyperbole, and alliteration. Analyze how these devices contribute to the message. Identify any repetition, parallelism, or rhetorical questions used in the text.

Moreover, look for common rhetorical appeals i,e., ethos, pathos, and logos .

Step 3 -  Analyze Appeals and Strategies in Each Section

For each argument, dedicate a body paragraph that will analyze how the author/speaker uses ethos, pathos, and logos.

Note the specific rhetorical devices used in each section and their impact.

Step 4 -  Consider the Effect on the Audience

While outlining the last body paragraph, add points that analyze how the appeals are intended to affect the audience.

Consider whether the author/speaker is trying to persuade, inform, entertain, or provoke a specific emotional response. Include specific examples and quotations from the text to support your analysis.

Step 5 -  Filter Out Extra Information

It's important to know what parts of the arguments should be included and which should be filtered out. 

After having a sketch of the introduction and body paragraphs, remove any information that might feel irrelevant.

Step 6 -  Conclude and Summarize

For the ending, make sure to restate your thesis statement. Include points that directly support your arguments and sum up your analysis.

These steps help you plan your essay for a well-structured, clear, and cohesive essay.

Here's a sample rhetorical analysis essay outline template that analyzes ethos, pathos and logos :

Here’s a practice outline:

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline Fill In The Blanks

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline Examples

Here are some rhetorical analysis essay outline pdf that you can use as reference outlines:

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline Ethos Pathos Logos

Visual Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline

Comparative Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Introduction Outline

AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline Examples

Writing a rhetorical analysis essay is a common requirement for AP English and Composition students. It helps structure your thoughts and ensures a coherent argument. 

Here are some examples for help:

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Structure AP Lang

AP English Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline

AP Language and Composition Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline

Need more help getting started? Check out these expert rhetorical analysis essay examples to get inspired!

In conclusion , you've got the tools and examples you need to ace your rhetorical analysis essay. The steps we've gone through provide a strong starting point for your academic journey into analyzing persuasive writing. 

But if you ever hit a wall or need help with tight deadlines, don't forget our experts are here to lend a helping hand. 

MyPerfectWords.com  is the best place to ask questions like: ' Can I pay someone to do my essay ?' We have expert essay writers ready to tackle even the most complex essay topics with ease. So, why wait? Place your order now at our analytical essay writing service and set yourself up for academic success!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you write a rhetorical analysis outline.

To write a rhetorical analysis outline, start by identifying the main components: introduction, summary of the text, analysis of rhetorical strategies, and conclusion. Outline each section with key points, such as the author’s purpose, audience, and the effectiveness of rhetorical devices used.

What are the 5 points of a rhetorical analysis?

The five key points of a rhetorical analysis are: 

1) Purpose: What is the author trying to achieve?  2) Audience: Who is the intended audience?  3) Context: What is the situation or background?  4) Ethos, Pathos, Logos: How are credibility, emotion, and logic used?  5) Effectiveness: How successful is the author in achieving their purpose?

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How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis Essay with an Example

When it comes to a rhetorical analysis essay, it’s all about understanding how an author persuades or communicates with their audience. Unlike other essays, this type of analysis doesn’t focus on whether you agree or disagree with the author’s point; instead, it breaks down the strategies the author uses to convey their ideas effectively.

Here are the essential steps for writing your rhetorical analysis essay:

• Carefully read and identify the main purpose and key points.
• Look for elements like ethos, pathos, and logos that the author uses to influence the audience.
• Consider how the author’s style, tone, and structure contribute to their message.
• Discuss each rhetorical strategy in separate sections with examples from the text.
• Check that your analysis flows logically, with clear examples supporting your points.

This guide will walk you through these steps and offer you a rhetorical analysis essay example so you can confidently craft your own piece that showcases your understanding of the author’s techniques. And if you’re looking for personalized assistance, EssayHub's analytical essay writer is here to help with all types of essays, offering smooth and insightful support.

What is a Rhetorical Analysis Essay?

A rhetorical analysis essay is an assignment that asks you to examine how an author communicates their ideas and persuades their audience. Unlike other types of essays where you argue your own position, a rhetorical analysis focuses on dissecting the writer’s approach, looking at the techniques used to engage, inform, or convince the reader. This analysis can apply to various texts, from speeches and articles to advertisements or visual media.

When writing a rhetorical analysis, you’ll pay close attention to rhetorical strategies, including ethos (credibility), pathos (emotional appeal), and logos (logical reasoning). These elements help you analyze how the writer creates impact, builds trust, or elicits emotions, depending on their goal and audience.

The structure of your essay will typically include an introduction where you outline the author’s purpose, a body section where you analyze specific strategies, and a conclusion that ties together your findings. Each section should provide clear examples from the text and explain how they contribute to the author’s message. In this type of essay, your objective is to dive deeper into the author’s choices and show how they effectively—or ineffectively—convey their message.

How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis Essay?

Writing a strong rhetorical analysis essay takes clear planning and focused analysis. Here’s a quick guide to the main steps:

• Start by selecting a piece of writing that contains a clear purpose.
• Break down the author’s main points to understand the central message.
• Begin your essay with an introduction that summarizes the text.
• Examine specific elements of the text, such as tone, structure, and style.
• Focus on the author’s language and vocabulary.
• Conclude with a summary that brings together your main insights.

This approach will help ensure that your analysis is clear, structured, and impactful. Now, let's understand how to start a rhetorical analysis essay.

Select a Piece of Writing

Start by choosing a text that has a clear purpose or argument, like a speech, article, or ad. Picking a piece that’s rich in rhetorical techniques, such as persuasive language or appeals to emotions, will give you more to work within your analysis. Make sure it’s something that resonates with you, as a stronger connection to the material can make analyzing it easier and more engaging. Once chosen, read the text carefully and mark any points where the author uses specific techniques to appeal to or influence the audience.

Determine the Key Ideas

Next, identify the core ideas or main points the author is trying to communicate. Focus on understanding the message they want to convey and any arguments or claims they make to support it. Take note of the text’s structure and flow—these elements often reflect how the author builds their argument. Identifying these main ideas helps you see the text from the author’s perspective and prepares you to analyze the specific strategies they use to persuade, inform, or entertain their audience.

Begin Your Essay

Introduce the text you’re analyzing and provide a brief overview of the author’s main message or purpose. Mention key details about the text, like its title, author, and publication date, and clarify the audience and purpose. Include a thesis statement that briefly summarizes your analysis, giving readers a clear idea of what techniques or strategies you’ll examine. A strong introduction not only sets the tone but also guides your analysis by defining the main points you’ll cover.

Analyze the Text

Now, dive into the analysis by examining how the author presents their message. Look at how they use rhetorical techniques, such as ethos (credibility), pathos (emotional appeal), and logos (logic), to strengthen their argument. Consider the structure, tone, and examples they use to connect with the audience. This is where you’ll explore specific sections of the text, breaking down how each choice impacts the reader. Be sure to give examples and explain how each technique supports the author’s purpose.

Focus on the Author's Word Choice

Pay close attention to the author’s language, as word choices reveal a lot about their tone and intent.

• Are they using formal or casual language?
• Do they choose words that evoke strong emotions or create vivid images?

Words can influence the reader’s response, so noting the author’s vocabulary and phrasing choices can provide valuable insight into their strategy. Describe how specific words contribute to the text’s overall effect, whether it’s to inform, persuade, or engage the audience.

Summarize Your Essay

Conclude your analysis by summarizing your main findings and reinforcing your thesis. Restate the author’s purpose and briefly review the key rhetorical strategies they used to convey their message. A strong conclusion ties everything together, leaving readers with a clear understanding of how the author’s techniques work to achieve their goal. This summary should wrap up your analysis smoothly, offering a final perspective on how the author’s choices shaped the overall impact of the text.

Main Rhetorical Analysis Essay Concepts

As you understand how to write a rhetorical analysis essay, make sure to unpack how the author crafted their message to influence the audience. To do this effectively, you’ll focus on key rhetorical strategies such as rhetorical appeals—Ethos, Logos, and Pathos—along with the context, claims, and support used within the text.

Ethos, Logos, and Pathos were introduced by Aristotle as foundational ways to persuade an audience and remain central to rhetorical analysis. These techniques, often called the “rhetorical triangle,” shape how a message is conveyed and received. As you analyze, think about how each element contributes to the overall effect and guides the audience’s response.

Rhetorical Appeals

Ethos relies on the author’s credibility and authority to establish trust with the audience. In any persuasive text, ethos is the factor that makes the reader feel confident in the author’s knowledge or moral character. When analyzing ethos, look at how the writer establishes their reputation. Are they an expert on the subject, and do they present their qualifications or experience to bolster their argument? For instance, an article on climate science written by a meteorologist naturally carries more weight than one by an unqualified author. Ethos can also be seen when a writer aligns themselves with respected figures or ideas, building a sense of reliability that makes their arguments persuasive.

Pathos appeals to the audience’s emotions and is used to create a personal connection with readers or listeners. Writers use pathos to evoke feelings such as empathy, anger, or excitement to drive home their message. This appeal is common in narratives, speeches, and advertising, where emotional responses are essential for audience engagement. For example, in a campaign for animal rescue, a writer might share heart-wrenching stories of neglected pets to create empathy and encourage donations. When analyzing pathos, note the author’s language, choice of examples, and tone, all of which can influence how emotionally connected the reader feels to the topic.

Logos is the appeal to logic and reason, often using evidence, facts, and well-structured arguments to persuade. In a rhetorical analysis, focus on how the author uses data, statistics, or logical reasoning to support their claims. Logos appeals are crucial in academic and professional writing, where objectivity and factual accuracy carry significant weight. For instance, in a scientific article, logos may be found in the form of empirical data and references to previous studies. When assessing logos, consider how the author presents their arguments: are they coherent, well-supported, and easy to follow? The strong use of logos creates a sense of rationality that strengthens the text’s persuasiveness.

Text and Context

When analyzing a piece of rhetoric, understanding its context is essential to fully grasp its intended impact. Context encompasses the background of the text, the author, the audience, and the circumstances of its creation. Ask questions like:

• Who wrote this?
• What were the social, political, or historical conditions surrounding its release?

For example, a wartime speech may have been crafted not just to inform but to rally emotional and patriotic support during a critical moment. In this way, context shapes both the message and the methods the author uses to connect with their audience. Effective analysis considers both the text and the environment in which it was created.

Claims, Supports, and Warrants

Claims: A claim is the central argument or point that the author is making. Claims can range from factual assertions to calls for action, shaping the core of what the author wants the reader to accept or consider. For example, an editorial on environmental policy may claim that stricter regulations are essential to reduce pollution. Identifying the claim allows you to pinpoint the author's main argument and assess how well it is supported throughout the text.

Supports: Supports are the evidence or reasoning that backs up the author’s claim, turning assertions into convincing arguments. These might include data, quotes from experts, logical examples, or real-life illustrations. In the environmental policy example, support could include scientific data on pollution levels, expert endorsements of proposed regulations, and statistics on the effects of pollution. Effective support builds credibility, giving the claim substance and making the argument persuasive.

Warrants: Warrants are the assumptions that connect the supports to the claims, often underlying and unstated. Warrants explain why the provided evidence supports the claim. In the case of environmental policy, the warrant might be the shared belief that protecting public health and the environment is inherently valuable. Examining warrants helps reveal the implicit logic that holds an argument together, and evaluating these connections can deepen your analysis by showing whether the argument is universally relatable or dependent on particular beliefs or values.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline

Rhetorical analysis introduction.

The introduction is your first chance to set up the text and its rhetorical elements for readers. Begin by introducing the text, the author, and any relevant background details, such as its historical context or its cultural significance. Summarize the text’s central claim or purpose, providing a brief overview of its main arguments or points. This introduction not only informs readers about the content but also frames the reason for analyzing this text specifically. Finally, craft a thesis statement that outlines your main perspective on the author’s rhetorical methods.

For example, state whether you find the author’s use of rhetorical strategies to be effective in reaching and persuading their audience, giving readers an idea of the analysis that will unfold.

Rhetorical Analysis Body Paragraph

The body paragraphs form the main part of your analysis, where you explore the author’s strategies in depth. Each paragraph should focus on a different rhetorical element, such as ethos, pathos, logos, or specific devices like repetition or imagery. Break down these strategies, using examples or quotations from the text to illustrate each point. As you examine these techniques, consider why the author may have chosen each approach and how it might affect the audience’s reception of the message.

For instance, when analyzing a politician’s speech, you might focus on their appeal to ethos by emphasizing their authority and expertise on the subject. By dissecting the text in this way, you’ll give readers a detailed look at the author’s methods and provide a clear evaluation of their effectiveness.

Rhetorical Analysis Conclusion

In the conclusion, reaffirm the main insights of your analysis and evaluate the overall impact of the author’s techniques. Summarize the key strategies discussed and consider the text’s lasting influence on its audience or even on larger societal discussions.

For instance, if you analyzed Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s TED Talk “We Should All Be Feminists,” you might explore how her blend of personal anecdotes and logical arguments (logos) not only challenges gender stereotypes but also invites a global conversation about feminism in diverse cultural contexts. This is where you emphasize the relevance and significance of the rhetorical devices the author used.

Rather than introducing new concepts, reinforce the analysis you’ve already provided, using your main points to draw a cohesive final impression. Conclude with a closing thought that underscores the importance of understanding rhetoric, leaving readers with a solid grasp of both the author’s persuasive approach and your interpretation.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example

When writing a rhetorical analysis essay, your goal is to break down how an author crafts their argument and consider the effectiveness of their methods. Let’s dive into a detailed example to see how to apply each aspect we’ve covered, from analyzing rhetorical appeals to structuring a compelling outline.

For this example, we’ll analyze a less common yet impactful topic: The Rhetoric of Environmental Advertising in Outdoor Clothing Brands. This essay will explore how outdoor clothing companies like Patagonia and REI use powerful messaging to appeal to consumers’ environmental values, build brand ethos, and motivate sustainable consumer behavior.

Final Outlook

Here’s a quick recap of the steps involved in writing a strong rhetorical analysis essay:

• Select a Piece of Writing that’s rich in rhetorical elements.
• Determine Key Ideas to uncover the core message.
• Begin Your Essay with a concise introduction that sets the stage.
• Analyze the Text by examining ethos, pathos, logos, and other rhetorical tools.
• Focus on the Author’s Word Choice to highlight language that impacts the audience.
• Summarize Your Essay with a thoughtful conclusion that reinforces your analysis.

For added guidance, remember — paper writing service EssayHub is a useful resource for support with any type of essay, including rhetorical analysis, offering assistance to make your writing process smoother and more effective!

What Does a Rhetorical Analysis Essay Look Like?

How to write a rhetorical analysis essay example, how to start a rhetorical analysis essay.

Ryan Acton is an essay-writing expert with a Ph.D. in Sociology, specializing in sociological research and historical analysis. By partnering with EssayHub, he provides comprehensive support to students, helping them craft well-informed essays across a variety of topics.

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

By 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.

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.

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!

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.

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

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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How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis Essay: Outline, Steps, & Examples

If you are assigned to write a rhetorical analysis essay, you have one significant advantage. You can choose a text from an almost infinite number of resources. The most important thing is that you analyze the statement addressed to an audience. The task of a rhetorical analysis essay is to identify the speaker’s main objectives. However, it is also crucial to work through the rhetorical strategies the speaker uses.

In this article by Custom-Writing.org experts, you will get to know the SOAPSTone and rhetorical appeals. This is included in our seven-step guide on how to write a rhetorical analysis essay. You’ll find out the essential tips on formatting and formulating the thesis statement. There are also a rhetorical essay outline and examples at the end for your reference!

• ❓ What Is Rhetorical Analysis?
• 👣 Writing Steps
• 👀 Essay Examples

🔗 References

❓ what is a rhetorical analysis essay.

In a rhetorical analysis essay, you have to divide a text into parts and explain whether they work together or not . It is quite different from a usual literary analysis . The task is to find out how successful the speaker is at reaching their objective.

How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis Essay: Main Steps

There are several steps you should follow to hit the highest score for your essay. First, you should work with SOAPSTone and rhetorical appeals. Then, you should proceed with basic tasks, such as writing a thesis statement and outline. When you have these done, it’s time to put it all together into the three main parts of the essay.

Step #1: Identify the SOAPSTone of the Text

SOAPSTone is a very handy tool to help you understand the text you are dealing with. The following questions allow you to gather all the information you will need for future analysis.

Step #2: Identify Rhetorical Appeals Used in the Text

Rhetorical appeals are also known as “modes of persuasion” and include ethos, pathos, and logos. They can be understood as tools for making others believe a particular point of view. Some of the most potent examples can be found in advertisements.

Ethos is related to the speaker’s credibility. Mentioning some impressive qualifications or years of practice reassures the reader of the speaker’s reliability and trustworthiness. It helps to persuade the audience.

For example, a doctor might write an article about the surgery success rate after 30 years of practicing in the field. Demonstrating one’s expertise like this is an excellent example of ethos.

Pathos is all about emotions. Evoking deep feelings in the listeners is a powerful tool, which helps the speaker convince them. The range of emotions varies from love, admiration, and sympathy to anger and hate. Whenever the response from the audience aligns with what the speaker is expecting, it is a win. Usually, it is achieved by using provocative language.

For instance, a mayoral candidate shouts out into the crowd that hundreds of people could lose their jobs if they don’t do something. The speaker aims to make the audience feel resentful of the current situation and sympathetic to a new plan. This way, they are more likely to vote for this candidate since they feel passionate about the promises.

Emotions are not always enough to convince someone to follow you, are they? Therefore, the last crucial mode is logos. Logos is responsible for logic. Appealing to reason is mostly used in an academic environment , but it’s not uncommon in other fields. The speaker could use reliable data , facts, and evidence to convince the audience.

Using numbers is always a good idea. For example, during the presentation, the speaker can include some graphs and percentages: “Last year, we finished 23% of projects ahead of schedule, saving over two million dollars for our customers.”

Step #3: Formulate Your Thesis Statement

Remember that your thesis statement is considered to be the front page of your paper. When successfully composed, it points out the main idea of your essay. Therefore, it has to be as clear and specific as possible.

You want to include everything you found out about the chosen text in this single sentence. If you didn’t skip the first two steps, it shouldn’t be a problem! A decent thesis statement would look like this:

“In her article, the writer mentions her expertise and up-to-date statistics, and appeals to the readers’ pity to convince them of the necessity of regular yearly check-ups for disease prevention.”

Don’t worry if you still can’t come up with anything decent. try using a rhetorical analysis thesis generator that will give you some ideas of what direction you should take in your writing.

Step #4: Create Your Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline

Even though keeping your essay organized is not your most important task, it is undoubtedly helpful! If you don’t want to forget anything and save yourself quite a lot of time, follow our advice and write an outline . This can be especially helpful if you mostly use visual memory.

Introduction, main body, and conclusion create the basic layout of any essay. The main body of the paper includes at least three paragraphs. The rhetorical analysis essay outline also fits this rule.

Carefully go through all the notes you’ve made and mark the main points you want to include in your essay. Think about the evidence you have to support them. Along with the thesis statement, write it all down in a format of a list. When you are done with it, you may use it as a cheat sheet during the next steps of the writing process.

Now, you’re all set up and ready to begin writing your essay!

Step #5: Write Your Rhetorical Analysis Essay Introduction

There are several things you need to consider when writing an introduction:

• If it’s not your school assignment, let the reader know that it’s a rhetorical analysis.
• Come up with a hook to interest the reader.
• Don’t forget to mention the text or speech you’re analyzing. You can also drop a few facts about it.
• Think of the SOAPSTone details that matter and include them here as well. You don’t have to mention all of the parts, just the ones that make sense to you.
• At the end of the introduction, write your thesis statement . It brings more clarity to this part of the essay.

Step #6: Write Your Body Paragraphs

As usual, this is where you put all your findings and support them with some facts. Don’t forget that there should be at least three body paragraphs . Since it fits the number of rhetorical appeals, you can go ahead and write about ethos, pathos, and logos. Another way of organizing the paragraphs is to present the text’s details chronologically, meaning from beginning to end. In this case, whatever text or speech you chose, it was probably well-prepared, so it helps your analysis look coherent.

It doesn’t matter which option you prefer, but make sure you provide enough support for your arguments . The most effective way to make it work is to use quotes. Also, stick to using the third-person so that you don’t break the rules of academic writing.

You can see how your main points can be organized most effectively in the rhetorical analysis essay sample at the end of the article.

Step #7: Write Your Rhetorical Analysis Essay Conclusion

The purpose of the conclusion is to sum up the most important findings of your analysis . You need to include your thesis statement here as well, but not word-for-word. Aim to paraphrase it and make it seem more sophisticated. This can be achieved by using new terminology. Maybe there is something the readers now understand from your essay that they couldn’t have before.

Then, in the form of a summary, briefly mention the main ideas that support your thesis. You don’t have to be a professional summary typer , just get your idea across in a concise manner. You might add a few words about the importance of your analysis as well. If you think that this issue is worth further research, write that down too.

👀 Rhetorical Analysis Essay: Examples

Below you’ll find an essay aiming to analyze On Women’s Right to Vote by Susan B. Anthony – a speech regarded as one of the best in American history. In this rhetorical analysis essay example, you can see how to put everything together by following the seven-step guide above. Here, the main body is divided into three paragraphs presenting one rhetorical appeal each.

Here are some other essay examples for you to check out.

• Obama Speech: Rhetorical Analysis and Evaluation
• “Get Out” Movie’s Rhetorical Analysis
• Susan B. Anthony’s Speech: Rhetorical Analysis
• Rhetorical Analysis of John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address
• Steve Jobs’ Commencement: Rhetorical Analysis
• Blogs on Euthanasia: Rhetorical Analysis

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

• A rhetorical analysis of one of Hallmark’s commercials.
• Steve Jobs’ speech at Stanford University in 2005: rhetorical analysis.
• The use of rhetorical devices in Gary Shteyngart’s Only Disconnect .
• Rhetorical strategies used in horror film Us by Jordan Peele.
• Analyze Hamlet’s monologues in W. Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark .
• Discuss how Martin Luther King Jr. uses rhetorical appeals in his Letter from Birmingham Jail .
• Describe the rhetorical devices used in Greta Thunberg’s speech .
• The common rhetorical aspects used in articles of Carolyn Gregoire and Sophie Reeves.
• Examine the rhetoric in Brooks’ Reading Too Much Political News Is Bad for Your Well-Being .
• Analyse the persuasive devices in Google Analytics App.
• Study the application of rhetorical strategies in Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence by Martin Luther King, Jr .
• Compare the lyrics rhetoric in The Times They Are A-Changing and The Wind of Change .
• Rhetorical analysis for applying critical thinking.
• Describe the rhetorical devices used in Confessions of a Female Chauvinist Sow by Anne Roiphe.
• Examine the persuasive techniques in the Gillette commercial We Believe: The Best Men Can Be .
• Compare the rhetorical schemes of Abraham Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address and Emily Dickinson’s Success is Counted Sweetest .
• Rhetorical analysis of Media Control by Noam Chomsky.
• Analyse the persuasive devices used in political debates The Issue of Women and Race (2019).
• Rhetorical appeal in Andrew Cadelago’s film Snack Attack .
• Discuss the rhetorical strategies in Hidden Intellectualism by Gerald Graff.
• Analyse the persuasive devices used in Angelina Jolie’s speech on female empowerment.
• Describe the rhetorical appeals applied by Steinbeck in Of Mice and Men to stir up the emotions of the readers.
• Compare the rhetoric of Margaret Fuller and Fredrick Douglass.
• Body by Milk and Moms Demand Action advertising campaigns: rhetorical analysis.
• Describe the use of three appeals in Coors Light Beer ad.
• Discuss the persuasive tactics in the 1950s advertising with Marilyn Monroe.
• Analyze the rhetorical strategies in Aveeno advertisement.
• Examine the efficiency of persuasive devices in the Stop Bullying public campaign.
• The instruments used to persuade the audience in Anti-Drug Abuse public campaign.
• Explore the rhetorical appeals in Julius Caesar by W. Shakespeare .
• Analyze the persuasive strategies of FIFA franchise.
• Rhetoric of The American Scholar by Ralph Waldo Emerson.
• Describe the rhetorical devices that made Pericles’ Funeral Oration one of the world’s most influential speeches.
• Persuasive techniques in American Crisis by Thomas Paine.
• Analyze the rhetorical strategies used by Linda Hogan in Dwellings .
• Explore the modes of persuasion in Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas .
• The Myth of the Charioteer : rhetorical analysis.
• Discuss the rhetorical appeals of Pop Can: Popular Culture in Canada .
• The three appeals in Claire Giordano’s Virtual Promise .
• Rhetorical devices in the film Henry V (1944) directed by Laurence Olivier.
• Describe the rhetoric technique used by Michelle Obama in her TED speech.
• Analyze the persuasive tactics in James Q. Wilson’s Just Take Away Their Guns .
• Compare the rhetorical strategies in Moore’s Idiot Nation and Gatto’s Against School .
• What in the world is a rhetorical analysis? – NC State University
• Rhetorical Analysis – Stanford University
• Rhetorical Strategies // Purdue Writing Lab
• Rhetorical Analysis – Writers Workshop (Illinois)
• Rhetorical Analysis – SAGE Research Methods
• Rhetorical Analysis | Department of English | University of Washington
• Doing a Rhetorical Analysis of a Text (CSU)
• Aristotle’s Rhetorical Situation // Purdue Writing Lab
• Ethos, logos, pathos: Strategies of persuasion in social/environmental reports
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How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis

Last Updated: August 8, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Megan Callaghan, PhD . Megan Morgan is an Academic Advising and Writing expert based in Augusta, Georgia. She has over 7 years of university teaching experience and more than 15 years of professional editing experience. She works as an intern for the Law Library of Congress, and is also a Professional Writing Center Consultant at Augusta University. Her key academic interests involve reference and subject librarianship, government information, and information organization. She provides personalized writing instruction, workshops, and support for AU students, faculty, and staff. Previously, she worked as a Graduate Program Administrator at the University of Georgia’s School of Public and International Affairs. She was a Graduate Advisor for three degrees in the departments of Political Science and International Affairs at the University of Georgia College of Arts and Sciences. She earned her Master’s in Library and Information Science from Valdosta State University. She also received both a PhD and MA in English from The University of Georgia, and a BA in English and Creative Writing from the Mississippi University for Women. She wrote her PhD dissertation on narrative structure and social change in novels by 18th-century British women writers. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 1,385,387 times.

A rhetorical analysis can be written about other texts, television shows, films, collections of artwork, or a variety of other communicative mediums that attempt to make a statement to an intended audience. In order to write a rhetorical analysis, you need to be able to determine how the creator of the original work attempts to make his or her argument. You can also include information about whether or not that argument is successful. To learn more about the right way to write a rhetorical analysis, continue reading.

Gathering Information

• The speaker refers to the first and last name of the writer. If the writer has any credentials that lend to his or her authority on the matter at hand, you should also briefly consider those. Note that if the narrator is different from the writer, though, it could also refer to the narrator.
• The occasion mostly refers to the type of text and the context under which the text was written. For instance, there is a big difference between an essay written for a scholarly conference and a letter written to an associate in the field.
• The audience is who the text was written for. This is related to the occasion, since the occasion can include details about the audience. In the example above, the audience would be a conference of scholars versus an associate in the field.
• The purpose refers to what the writer wants to accomplish in the text. It usually includes selling a product or point of view.
• The subject is simply the topic the writer discusses in the text.

• Ethos, or ethical appeals, rely on the writer's credibility and character in the garnering of approval. Mentions of a writer's character or qualifications usually qualify as ethos. For instance, if a family therapist with 20 years of practice writes an article on improving familial relations, mention of that experience would be using ethos. Despite their name, these appeals don't have anything to do with "ethics" as we usually think of them.
• Logos, or logical appeals, use reason to make an argument. Most academic discourse should make heavy use of logos. A writer who supports an argument with evidence, data, and undeniable facts uses logos.
• Pathos, or pathetic appeals, seek to evoke emotion in order to gain approval. These emotions can include anything from sympathy and anger to the desire for love. If an article about violent crime provides personal, human details about victims of violent crime, the writer is likely using pathos.

• Analogies and figurative language, including metaphors and similes, demonstrate an idea through comparison.
• Repetition of a certain point or idea is used to make that point seem more memorable.
• Imagery often affects pathos. The image of a starving child in a low income country can be a powerful way of evoking compassion or anger.
• Diction refers to word choice. Emotionally-charged words have greater impact, and rhythmic word patterns can establish a theme more effectively.
• Tone essentially means mood or attitude. A sarcastic essay is vastly different from a scientific one, but depending on the situation, either tone could be effective.
• Addressing the opposition demonstrates that the writer is not afraid of the opposing viewpoint. It also allows the writer to strengthen his or her own argument by cutting down the opposing one. This is especially powerful when the author contrasts a strong viewpoint he or she holds with a weak viewpoint on the opposing side.

• Ask yourself how the rhetorical strategies of appeals and style help the author achieve his or her purpose. Determine if any of these strategies fail and hurt the author instead of helping.
• Speculate on why the author may have chosen those rhetorical strategies for that audience and that occasion. Determine if the choice of strategies may have differed for a different audience or occasion.
• Remember that in a rhetorical analysis, you do not need to agree with the argument being presented. Your task is to analyze how well the author uses the appeals to present her or his argument.

Writing the Introduction

• By letting the reader know that your paper is a rhetorical analysis, you let him or her know exactly what to expect. If you do not let the reader know this information beforehand, he or she may expect to read an evaluative argument instead.
• Do not simply state, "This paper is a rhetorical analysis." Weave the information into the introduction as naturally as possible.
• Note that this may not be necessary if you are writing a rhetorical analysis for an assignment that specifically calls for a rhetorical analysis.

• The introduction is a good place to give a quick summary of the document. Keep it quick, though. Save the majority of the details for your body paragraphs, since most of the details will be used in defending your analysis.

• You do not necessarily need to mention these details in this order. Include the details in a matter that makes sense and flows naturally within your introductory paragraph.

• Try stating which rhetorical techniques the writer uses in order to move people toward his or her desired purpose. Analyze how well these techniques accomplish this goal.
• Consider narrowing the focus of your essay. Choose one or two design aspects that are complex enough to spend an entire essay analyzing.
• Think about making an original argument. If your analysis leads you to make a certain argument about the text, focus your thesis and essay around that argument and provide support for it throughout the body of your paper.
• Try to focus on using words such as "effective" or "ineffective" when composing your thesis, rather than "good" or "bad." You want to avoid seeming like you are passing value judgments.

Writing the Body

• The order of logos, ethos, and pathos is not necessarily set in stone. If you intend to focus on one more than the other two, you could briefly cover the two lesser appeals in the first two sections before elaborating on the third in greater detail toward the middle and end of the paper.
• For logos, identify at least one major claim and evaluate the document's use of objective evidence.
• For ethos, analyze how the writer or speaker uses his or her status as an "expert" to enhance credibility.
• For pathos, analyze any details that alter the way that the viewer or reader may feel about the subject at hand. Also analyze any imagery used to appeal to aesthetic senses, and determine how effective these elements are.
• Wrap things up by discussing the consequences and overall impact of these three appeals.

• Start from the beginning of the document and work your way through to the end. Present details about the document and your analysis of those details in the order the original document presents them in.
• The writer of the original document likely organized the information carefully and purposefully. By addressing the document in this order, your analysis is more likely to make more coherent sense by the end of your paper.

• Evidence often include a great deal of direct quotation and paraphrasing.
• Point to spots in which the author mentioned his or her credentials to explain ethos. Identify emotional images or words with strong emotional connotations as ways of supporting claims to pathos. Mention specific data and facts used in analysis involving logos.

• Avoid use of the first-person words "I" and "we." Stick to the more objective third-person.

Writing the Conclusion

• When restating your thesis, you should be able to quickly analyze how the original author's purpose comes together.
• When restating your thesis, try to bring more sophistication or depth to it than you had in the beginning. What can the audience now understand about your thesis that they would not have without reading your analysis?

• Keep this information brief. You spent an entire essay supporting your thesis, so these restatements of your main ideas should only serve as summaries of your support.

• Indicate what that research must entail and how it would help.
• Also state why the subject matter is important enough to continue researching and how it has significance to the real world.

Writing Help

Community Q&A

• Avoid the use of "In conclusion..." While many writers may be taught to end conclusion paragraphs with this phrase as they first learn to write essays, you should never include this phrase in an essay written at a higher academic level. This phrase and the information that usually follows it is empty information that only serves to clutter up your final paragraph. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Do not introduce any new information in your conclusion. Summarize the important details of the essay. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Do not argue in an analysis. Focus on the "how" they made their point, not if it's good or not. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

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• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/academic_writing/establishing_arguments/rhetorical_strategies.html
• ↑ https://courses.lumenlearning.com/englishcomp1/chapter/text-an-overview-of-the-rhetorical-modes/
• ↑ https://oer.pressbooks.pub/informedarguments/chapter/rhetorical-modes-of-writing/
• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/visual_rhetoric/analyzing_visual_documents/organizing_your_analysis.html
• ↑ https://www.pfw.edu/offices/learning-support/documents/WriteARhetoricalAnalysis.pdf

About This Article

To write a rhetorical analysis, start by determining what the author of the work you're analyzing is trying to argue. Then, ask yourself if they succeeded in making their argument. Whether you think they did or didn't, include quotes and specific examples in your analysis to back up your opinion. When you're writing your analysis, use the third-person to appear objective as opposed to using "I" or "we." Also, make sure you include the author's name, profession, and purpose for writing the text at the beginning of your analysis to give reader's some context. To learn different ways to structure your rhetorical analysis from our English Ph.D. co-author, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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