Summative Rhetorical Analysis (Student Copy)
Writing Prompt: Write an essay that analyzes how the speaker uses rhetoric to achieve a purpose.
Overview:
1. Select a famous speech to analyze. Use this list of speeches. You will sign up for your chosen speech in person on a first-come, first-serve basis. You may not use a speech that someone else in the class is already doing.
2. Analyze your chosen speech as an argument. Your essay should identify and explain the rhetorical strategies that the author deliberately chose while crafting the text. What makes the speech so remarkable? How did the author’s rhetoric evoke a response from the audience? Why are the words still respected today?
3. Carefully consider the author’s deliberate manipulation of language. Your thesis statement must be arguable and take language into account; it should not just attempt to sell the importance of the speech or the courageousness of the speaker, etc.
4. Stay focused on the speech as an argumentative text. There isn’t ample space in this essay to carefully detail every aspect of the historical context in which this speech falls. It’s critical to know about the events that led up to the speech, so it will help to include pertinent details. However, it is not useful to describe, for example, the specific events of the entire Revolutionary War that preceded George Washington’s Inaugural Speech.
5. Include content from multiple (2-3) secondary sources that effectively and actively support your thesis statement.
6. Your essay must have an introduction paragraph, a body paragraph for each strategy (at least 3), a conclusion paragraph, and a Works Cited (your Annotated Bib).
7. Your essay must be MLA formatted (double space, Times New Roman, 12 pt, with embedded citations).
8. Review the rubric.
Guide for Writing a Rhetorical Analysis (Essay):
Here are some steps you may follow to help you through the process of writing your rhetorical analysis:
1. As you read the speech, ask yourself questions (like the following) and mark these strategies as you read:
○ Are there words in here with a strong connotation? If so, is the connotation negative or positive? Are these words used throughout the passage or just in one section?
○ Is the author supporting points with examples?
○ Does the passage contain anecdotes or stories? Are they personal or do they apply to the broader world?
○ Is there figurative language? (Language that’s very descriptive or poetic?)
○ Are there contrasting words or phrases near each other?
○ Are there any other strategies like metaphors, similes, allusions, repetition, etc.?
2. After you’ve read the speech carefully, think about what the prompt is asking you to do.
○ What is the speaker’s goal?
○ What is their message?
○ How does the speaker convey this message?
○ How is the purpose of the speech achieved?
○ To find the purpose, ask, “What did the speaker want their audience to think or do as a result of hearing their message (speech)?”
○ Note: You’ll want to be sure to briefly explain the argument, the purpose, and the message in your essay. (This is something you’ll definitely want to do in your introduction.)
3. Look back at the strategies and devices used in the speech (you should have already marked these on your copy of the speech; this was asked of you in the first bullet point above). Consider how they helped the speaker do what the prompt asked you to focus on (make the argument, achieve the purpose, convey the message). Pick 2-3 of the devices that contribute to the strategy of the paragraph that you feel most confident about analyzing.
Requirements/Structure of Your Essay:
I. Introduction (3-5 Sentences)
A. Contextualize selected speech (discuss its exigence/social context; paint a quick picture of the cultural climate into which this argument was introduced)
B. Introduce the first, last name of the speaker, their speech (speech’s title), and briefly discuss the author’s background, occupation, other writings, etc.
C. Briefly describe the speech’s subject matter, speaker’s main claim(s), their intended audience, and their goal for speaking
D. Thesis statement (refer to the Summative Rhetorical Analysis: Thesis Statement Canvas page for instructions for writing your thesis)
II – IV. Body Paragraphs (repeat A-E a minimum of 3 times. One paragraph of 6-8 sentences for each rhetorical device.)
A. Topic Sentence (Claim): This first sentence identifies the first rhetorical device mentioned in your thesis and how it contributes to the author’s argument.
B. Context: This is a sentence (or two( that provides a brief summary of what is being discussed or what is happening in the text where this rhetorical device appears.
C. Text Evidence (Quote/Paraphrase): The quote/paraphrase should include the rhetorical device (be sure to embed quotes and include in-text/parenthetical citation – click the link for help on how to format in-text citations).
D. Quote Commentary: Your commentary explains the meaning behind the rhetorical device used in the quote and how the rhetorical device creates the appeal to ethos, logos, or pathos.
E. Concluding Sentence/Argument Commentary: The paragraph should close with an explanation of how the ideas, appeals (ethos, logos, pathos) and rhetorical device(s) discussed in the paragraph support the speaker’s argument as a whole.
V. Conclusion (3-5 Sentences)
A. Concluding paragraph should highlight the argument’s strengths and weaknesses (as concerns the intended audience)
B. After weighing strengths and weaknesses, offer a final evaluation of the argument’s overall persuasiveness relative to the intended audience.
Writing Tips You MUST Follow (or LOSE Points):
● Use an MLA heading and page format.
● The paper must be typed; 12 point font; Times New Roman; one inch margins; double-spaced.
● You must have a Creative Title. “Rhetorical Analysis” or something to that effect does NOT work.
● Include a Works Cited page to coincide with your in-text citations.
● Avoid contractions (can’t, won’t, etc.) unless in a quotation.
● Don’t use slang or common words (thing, stuff, etc.), unless in a quotation.
● Write only in third person. Don’t use “you” or “I.”
● Do not underline or put your title in quotations.
● Use sentence variety (simple, compound, complex).
● Use specific, vivid, and detailed incidents and examples to support your thesis.
● Fix all comma splice errors, run-ons, and sentence fragments.
● Run spell check, but remember that it won’t catch the wrong use of words (hear/here).
● Write in all present tense. Books never “end” – they continue on for a new reader
● Fix all typing errors.
● Make sure all paragraphs are indented a half an inch.
● Use stronger verbs! Do not use weak verbs such as “get” or “got.” (Check out THIS resource!)