Rhetorical Analysis

Rhetorical Analysis
Objective: To analyze a public document – speech, essay or editorial – for its use of rhetorical appeals.
1. First, learn about Rhetorical Analysis at the following sites:
The Rhetorical Triangle: Logos, Ethos and Pathos
Rhetorical Triangle
Rhetorical Tools
A Short Handbook on Rhetorical Analysis
The Forest of Rhetoric
Glossary of Rhetorical Terms with Examples
2. Next, read a Rhetorical Analysis of Martin Luther King's
Letter from Birmingham Jail
3. Highlight or underline logical, ethical and emotional language in a public document.
4. Finally, write a 250 word analysis based on a current political speech or essay using these Guidelines for Rhetorical Analysis. Use appropraite MLA citation of support from your source document, including works cited, and submit electronic copy of final essay to Turnitin.com.

Appeals to Pathos, Logos, and Ethos

Logos (Appeal to logic): Which arguments make the most sense? What evidence does the argument offer?
Pathos (Appeal to emotion and values): What emotions does the article evoke? Which group or community does the article appeal to? What shared values does the author assume its readers have? What parts of the article seem like a call to action?
Ethos (Appeal to character): Why should you believe the author? What research has the author done? What tone does the article have, and how does the author create it?