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

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

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

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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

7. 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)

8. 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