The Process of Rhetorical Analysis Identify the rhetorical situation. Select strategies from the text. Analyze the strategies. Evaluate their effectiveness.

Elements of Rhetorical Situation Audience (primary and secondary, if relevant)—who the author wants to reach.

Elements of Rhetorical Situation Purpose—what the author hopes to accomplish with the text.

Elements of Rhetorical Situation Context—what was going on in the world or the culture at the time of writing that might have some bearing on the topic.

Elements of Rhetorical Situation Author’s stance—where the author is coming from, the “lens” through which he/she is looking at the topic or audience.

Analysis of a Strategy Identify the strategy Give an example from the text Show how it works to Appeal to the audience Fulfill the purpose

Evaluation of a Strategy Explain why it successfully appeals to the audience (or does not) Explain why it successfully fulfills the author’s purpose (or does not)

Common Rhetorical Strategies Organization and format Language choices and style Types of evidence (facts, quotes by experts, statistics, case studies) Illustration, examples, and description Voice and tone Narration