Structural
Rhetorical Analysis Strategy
Introduction: Sum up the essay
in one or two sentences. Consider both the general idea of the essay and the purpose. Be sure to include the
author’s name and the title of the essay.
Body: Write a paragraph about
the beginning. How does the author invite us in? How does the author set us up
for what’s to come? What strategies does the author use?
Body: Write a paragraph (or
several shortish paragraphs) about the middle. How does the author build the
argument? What strategy does she employ first? How does she transition from
idea to idea, strategy to strategy? How do the parts in the middle expand and
develop the purpose?
Conclusion: Write a paragraph
about the closing. How does the closing emphasize, illuminate, or elaborate
upon the purpose? Does the closing connect back to the beginning? Why? Keep
your eyes open for the “wrinkle.”
ALL Paragraphs (except the
intro) should offer examples of at least two (and perhaps more) rhetorical
strategies – correctly identified,
directly quoted and properly punctuated – and explore their effect on the
reader. You may write about more than one device per paragraph.
TEP
Rhetorical Analysis Strategy
Introduction: Sum
up the essay in one or two sentences. Consider both the general idea and the purpose. Be sure to include the
author’s name and the title of the essay. The last sentence of the introduction
should be a catalog thesis that lists the three rhetorical strategies you will
write about in the order that you will write about them. For example: [Author]
uses pathos, listing, and antithesis to [achieve his purpose].
Body: Each body
paragraph should be a TEP paragraph. The topic sentence should name the device
and explain how it fits into the essay / helps the author achieve his or her
purpose. Each body paragraph should include two examples of the same device,
thoroughly set-up, properly quoted (with parenthetical citation), and
effectively analyzed. You should
have one body paragraph for each device.
Conclusion: One
or two sentences to remind the reader what you wrote.
Nit-picky details:
Always qualify the word diction. Tell the reader what kind
of diction the author employed (casual, formal, or sarcastic, among others).
“The author uses colloquial diction to …”
Your rhetorical devices, in general, are always singular.
“The author uses asyndeton to [achieve her purpose]…” OR “The author uses several examples of asyndeton …” DO NOT
write “The author uses asyndetons …”
Don’t waffle. Don’t call it “sort of an appeal to pathos” or
“a little bit of an anaphora”
