1

Rhetorical Analysis Essay (I prefer that you come up with a creative title)

Student’s Name
Southeastern Technical College
ENG 1101: Composition and Rhetoric
Laquanda Thomas
September 10, 2023
 2

Rhetorical Analysis Essay

Rhetoric
Rhetoric is the art of persuasively speaking or writing to convince, persuade
(manipulate), or impress the audience. Developing an argument requires that a speaker or writer
consider who the audience will be and the best tactics to utilize to impact the audience. To begin
the rhetorical analysis assignment, you will need to view all of the videos and material
concerning rhetorical devices and appeals in Blackboard. For this assignment, you will write an
analysis that analyzes the speaker’s use of rhetorical devices in the speech assigned titled “The
Girl Who Silenced the World for Five Minutes.” The transcript of the speech is available to print
also. This assignment should be written in the third person only. Therefore, you should avoid
using the first person (I, we, our, me) or second person (you, your, or you’re) perspectives. The
goal of this assignment is to assess the speaker’s delivery using rhetorical strategies to persuade
her audience. You are not focusing on what she is saying, but how she chooses to say it and
with what methods of persuasion does she say it.
APA Style
Use the title page from this document as a guide for creating your title page. I would like
for you to be creative with the title. Your assignment must be double-spaced and typed in Times
New Roman, 12-point font. You will use the transcript to cite examples of rhetorical strategies
from the text. The reference entry is included at the end of this document. The reference entry is
of the transcript and not the YouTube video. You are not required to use any other sources other
than the speech. Be sure to double space the reference entry and hanging indent it. The word
Reference should be centered at the top of the page before the reference entry; it should be bold.
Direct quote example: Because there are no page numbers, students should use the author’s last
name, year of publication, and paragraph number in the in-text citation when directly quoting
from the text.
“Coming up here today, I have no hidden agenda” (Cullis- Suzuki, 2015, para. 2). Note: End
punctuation comes after the in-text citation.
According to Cullis-Suzuki (2015), “All this is happening before our eyes, and yet we act as if
we have all the time we want and all the solutions” (para. 3). Note: end punctuation comes after
the in-text citation.
Paraphrase example: When paraphrasing information from the text, the in-text citation should
have the author’s last name and year of publication.
She urges her audience to act to prevent the worsening of problems that exist (Cullis-Suzuki,
2015). Note: End punctuation comes after the in-text citation.
Failure to include the reference entry for the speech and failure to include in-text citations
will result in a failing grade. The reference entry has been done for you in the Lecture Notes and
on the Rhetorical Analysis Essay Template. Use the following examples for in-text citations:
 Direct Quote In-text Citation: (Cullis-Suzuki, 2015, para 5).
 3

 Paraphrase In-Text Citation: (Cullis-Suzuki, 2015).

Rhetorical Appeals: Ethos, Pathos, and Logos
You should watch the video and read the transcript several times. Reading it one time
will not be enough to begin the analysis. The student should do a close reading and make notes
of rhetorical manipulation or persuasion that he or she can see happening. For example, students
should mark repetitious phrases or make a note by the information that makes the reader feel a
certain way when he or she reads or hear it. Be attentive to your feelings the first time that you
view the video. The way certain information from the text affects you may be a rhetorical
strategy that you can write about as well.

The three rhetorical appeals that the videos cover are ethos, pathos, and logos. Ethos is
an appeal to ethics, and it is a means of convincing someone of the character or credibility of the
writer or speaker (Read pages 367-369 in your textbook). Pathos is an appeal to emotion and is a
way of convincing an audience of an argument by creating an emotional response (Read page
370 in your textbook). Logos is an appeal to logic and is a way of persuading an audience by
reason (Read pages 356-360 in your textbook). You should read about fallacies as well on pages
370-372.

Ethical Appeal Emotional Appeal Logical Appeal

Pathos- convincing an Logos- way of persuading an
Ethos- convincing someone audience of an argument audience by reason
of the character or by creating an emotional
credibility of the persuader response

Personal anecdotes Stories Arguments

(narrative)
testimonies Positive and negative Benefits-
emotions advantages/disadvantages
Success Stories Voice Facts/ Figures/ Statistics
Track record Emphasis Data
Professional titles- Ph.D., Numbers
Dr., MD
Eye contact/ body language/ Scientific research
poise/ correct information/
knowledgeable

Do not confuse the appeal with the strategy used to create the appeal.

Example of Ethos: Politicians who persuade people to vote for individuals based on their ethical
principles.

Example of Pathos: "Where would we be without this tradition? Ever since our forefathers
landed at Plymouth Rock, we've celebrated Thanksgiving without fail, making more than
cherished recipes. We've made memories."
 4

Example of Logos: "More than one hundred peer-reviewed studies have been conducted over
the past decade, and none of them suggests that this is an effective treatment for hair loss."

When a speaker or writer uses a rhetorical device, it is possible that the speaker or writer
is trying to create one of these appeals. Through the process of analysis, do not confuse a
rhetorical device with a rhetorical appeal. An example of using a device to create an appeal
would be a comedian who tells a joke. The comedian uses this joke to try to get the audience to
laugh. Therefore, the joke is the tool used to achieve an intended outcome from the audience,
which is laughter. The ultimate intent of the comedian would be to get the crowd to like him, and
the jokes (strategy) that he or she tells are the tool used to achieve this. If the audience likes him,
they will frequent his shows repeatedly and tell other people about his performance. The
comedian’s purpose is to entertain and establish himself as a comedian.
A rhetorical device can be used to create more than one appeal. Matter fact, the most
effective devices or strategies may appeal to the audience in more than just one way. For
example, toothpaste commercials often say, “9 out of 10 dentists recommend” the use of a
certain brand of toothpaste. Two appeals are being used here. First of all, a statistic (rhetorical
device or strategy) is used, which is a way to create a logical appeal. Consumers think that if 9
out of 10 dentists recommends it, then it is logically the best choice or brand to use, besides a
dentist would know best. Therefore, the other rhetorical appeal is the credibility of the dentists to
know the best product consumers should use for their teeth, which creates an ethical appeal
(ethos) for the audience. They can trust dentists’ recommendation because of the knowledge they
have about teeth.
There are so many rhetorical devices that we could not possibly cover them all in this
course. I have added a list in the course for you to view to become more familiar with the names
and definitions (Folder 3: Rhetorical Analysis Essay > Rhetoric (Rhetorical
strategies/devices are listed in this folder). However, there may be a strategy that you see
working within the text that you cannot name. You can introduce a strategy by explaining the
strategy as well even if you are unsure of the name of the strategy. For example, polite language
is a strategy that can be used to try to persuade someone. A person is likely to agree or be
persuaded if asked nicely. It is acceptable to introduce a persuasive strategy that you can identify
even if you cannot find it on the list of strategies that I have provided in the course. You can
explain the strategy and the speaker’s intent in using it.
 5

Drafting the Rhetorical Analysis Introduction:

The introduction can be developed using the acronym SOAPSTone. This acronym stands
for speaker, occasion, audience, purpose, subject, and tone. You must identify these aspects
of the speech and be sure to include this in the introduction. It is important to give this
information before you begin the analysis. The reader needs to know this to grasp the claim that
you will make in the thesis statement and the analysis in the body paragraphs.
Who is the Speaker?

The voice that tells the story. Before you begin to write, you must decide whose voice is going
to be heard.

What is the Occasion?

The time and the place of the piece; the context that prompted the writing. All writers are
influenced by the larger occasion: an environment of ideas, attitudes, and emotions that swirl
around a broad issue. Then there is the immediate occasion: an event or situation that catches the
writer’s attention and triggers a response. Be sure to identify both the larger occasion and the
immediate occasion.

Who is the Audience?

The group of readers/ listeners to whom this piece is directed. You must determine who the
audience is that the speaker intends to address. It may be one person or a specific group. Who the
audience is made up of will affect how and why a particular text is written.

What is the Purpose?

The reason behind the text. Consider the purpose of the text to develop the thesis or the
argument and its logic. Ask, “What does the speaker want the audience to think or do as a result
of reading or listening to the text?”
What is the Subject?

Students should be able to state the subject in a few words or phrases. This step helps them
to focus on the intended task throughout the writing process.

What is the Tone?

The attitude of the author. The spoken word can convey the speaker’s attitude and thus help
impart meaning through tone of voice. With the written word, tone extends meaning beyond the
literal, and students must learn to convey this tone in their diction (choice of words), syntax
(sentence construction), and imagery (metaphors, similes, and other types of figurative
language). The ability to manage tone is one of the best indicators of a sophisticated writer.
 6

Thesis statement: The final sentence of the introductory paragraph will be the thesis statement.
There is a video in Folder 3 to help you develop this statement. The thesis statement should
include the speaker’s purpose (Use a "purpose of writing" word-entertain, persuade, inform,
etc.), the overall argument of the speech, and the three strategies/ rhetorical devices you have
identified as working effectively within the speech. Ethos, pathos, and logos are NOT strategies.
They are appeals and should NOT be listed in the thesis statement.

A strong thesis statement for a rhetorical analysis essay…

 Avoids using the first person or phrases like “I believe” or “I think.”
 Serves as a guide to your essay for your reader.
 Asserts your conclusion and takes a stand on the author’s rhetorical strategies.
 States what techniques you will be analyzing, and the impact of these techniques on the
effectiveness of the text.

Here are a few examples of strong thesis statements:

 Severn Suzuki’s speech talks about the importance of the environment through her appeal
of adult responsibility, guilt, and future risk.

 Cullis-Suzuki strategically argues that environmental and social issues are being ignored
by those in authority, and she emphasizes her argument by employing rhetorical
questions, repetition, and corrective measures.

A weak thesis statement:

 In the speech, the speaker appeals to the audience using ethos, pathos, and logos.

Body Paragraphs
Body paragraphs must support the thesis statement. The body paragraphs will discuss the
3-5 rhetorical strategies that you identified when doing the close reading. Do not try to discuss
these strategies in a paragraph together. Instead, discuss each strategy in a paragraph of its own.
All paragraphs require a topic sentence. This sentence will introduce the strategy and define it.
The next sentence conveys the writer’s support for the main idea by identifying and providing a
specific example of one rhetorical strategy used by the writer from the speech. The example of
the strategy will come from the text. Therefore, you must cite this paragraph with an in-text
citation. The following sentence analyzes how the rhetorical strategies you introduce in the
previous sentence help the writer achieve his/her purpose. The analysis cannot be completed
using one sentence. The analysis should aim to answer the following questions:
 How does the strategy relate to the speaker’s purpose? (Think about the purpose of
writing and the purpose word used in your thesis statement).
 Who is the targeted audience for the use of the strategy?
 7

 What connection does the audience have to the speaker through the use of the strategy?
 Why does the audience have this connection to the speaker through the use of the
strategy?
 Does the use of the strategy create a connection between the audience and the speaker?
How so?
 Why was the strategy used for this audience?
 What is the intended impact or influence on the audience?
 What feelings or response does the use of the strategy try to evoke in the audience? Why
does the speaker need this reaction or response from the audience?
Try, if possible, to answer the questions for analysis. This is where the grade for this
assignment is made. Do not use meaningless statements such as “the speaker uses the strategy to
get her point across.” You should not say that “the speaker is trying to make a connection with
the audience” without stating what the connection is and why it was important for the speaker to
make this connection with the audience. These statements are not considered analysis with out
in-depth explanation. To properly analyze, you must tell what connection or point was made to
the audience and explain how and why considering the use of the strategy that you chose? This
cannot be done in a single sentence. Once you have completed the analysis in the paragraph, you
can then add a concluding statement and begin the next body paragraph. Also be sure to cite each
example from the text. You should have at least three body paragraphs that introduce and
thoroughly analyze the use of a strategy in the speech
Conclusion
The conclusion should restate the thesis and highlight the main points from the body
paragraph. The conclusion should be the easiest part! Simply put your paper to the side and
develop a paragraph that highlights the overall point of each body paragraph. You can conclude
the essay with a statement that sums up an overall evaluation of the speech.
 8

Reference

Cullis-Suzuki, S. (2015, Jan 5). The girl who silenced the world for five minutes. You Tube.

http://www.troup.org/userfiles/929/My%20Files/ELA/MS%20ELA/7th%20ELA/Unit

%204/Persuasive%20Speech%20that%20silenced%20the%20world%20w

%20questions.pdf?id=24256