RWS 100 Lecture 5: Basic Elements of Rhetorical Analysis
6 Sep 2016
School
Department
Course
Professor
Basic Elements of Rhetorical Analysis
RWS 100
There are two parts to a rhetorical analysis:
1. Textual Analysis- focuses only on the text
A. Authorās thesis, position, or main claim
B. Supporting Claims
- reasons to extend, detail, and develop the thesis
C. Evidence
- references to people, places, events, social movements, etcā¦
- data and support to illustrate claim
D. Strategies
- ethos/pathos/logos
- rhetorical questions
- enumeration
- metaphor
E. Refutation
- counters opposing views
F. Warrants
- unstated assumptions or general attitudes about the topic that the author
assumes the audience holds
2. Contextual Analysis- info about aspects outside text but related to topic
A. Author
- all information available about the author (education, work history, expertise,
political afļ¬liation, etc)
B. Purpose
- usually implied
C. Publication
- where text was published, including its audience demographics
D. Date of Publication
- places text in a speciļ¬c time or era
E. Larger context and conversation
- everything outside the text but related to topic
- gives clues about bigger picture, aspects, or attitudes
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
There are two parts to a rhetorical analysis: textual analysis- focuses only on the text, author"s thesis, position, or main claim, supporting claims. Reasons to extend, detail, and develop the thesis: evidence. References to people, places, events, social movements, etc . Data and support to illustrate claim: strategies. Unstated assumptions or general attitudes about the topic that the author assumes the audience holds: contextual analysis- info about aspects outside text but related to topic, author. All information available about the author (education, work history, expertise, political af liation, etc: purpose. Where text was published, including its audience demographics: date of publication. Places text in a speci c time or era: larger context and conversation. Everything outside the text but related to topic.
