Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline

I. Introduction Introduce your topic or subject of analysis. Make evident your purpose. Engage your reader. Remember this is primarily an objective analysis.

II. The Rhetorical Situation What is the issue? (It may help to state it as a yes-no question, even if the answer is not ultimately yes or no.) What's the context? Who is making the argument?  -What are their credentials? - Do any biases seem evident? Who seems to be their targeted audience? What is their MAIN point or thesis? What KIND of argument is being presented? -Is their argument one of policy, evaluation, or substantiation (to strengthen a view)? -This question is linked to another one: what is their purpose? How is the argument structured? What are the argument's assumptions?

III. The Appeals ETHOS How would you describe the writer's character? -What sort of PERSON is projected?  What are his/her CREDENTIALS? Does this person show GOOD WILL, RESPECT FOR OPPOSING VIEWS, HUMILITY, LIKEABILITY? What is the author's toward his or her material? -What is his or her tone of voice (about the topic and audience)? -How would you describe this person’s style and approach? -What is their way of thinking?

III. The Appeals LOGOS Describe in detail the work's logos: the argument’s logical reasoning and evidence. What claims are being made in support of the thesis? How are those claims being supported? What KINDS of evidence are presented? -data (facts, statistics, studies) -personal experience (interviews, letters, diaries, memos, field work);  -secondary sources (newspapers, magazines, books) -common sense and humor may be a type of "evidence". ***In each case above, provide specific examples***

III. The Appeals PATHOS What SPECIFIC emotions does the argument evoke? -What is it the writer mostly wants you to feel? Pity? Horror? Fear? Sadness? Joy? Anxiety? Awe? Sympathy? How does the author evoke those emotions? -Positive and negative diction (refers to one specific emotionally charged word that has meaning beyond the text)? -Facts? -Visual effects? -Interviews with victims? -What specific appeals tend to arouse emotion in the piece?

IV. Opposing Views Does the work acknowledge opposing claims and evidence?  -Does it do so fairly and with good will?  -Does it do so thoroughly? Does the work refute those opposing claims and evidence? If so, how?

V. Strengths and Weaknesses Can you identify any reasoning errors (name calling, avoiding the issue, conflict of interest, etc.)? Try not to spend too much time on this. -a rhetorical analysis is meant to be an examination of an argument—not necessarily an evaluation.

VI. Conclusion This can be brief, and might actually be folded into version of the intro. -Wrap things up and remember to avoid turning your paper into a summary.

Tips and Reminders Don’t forget transitions (sequence) between your paragraphs and between segments of your paper. -They help your reader follow your thinking. Edit for clarity and proofread for mechanical errors. Use complex sentences. Use you bookmark for effective verbs.