Analyzing Rhetorical Choices

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Rhetorical Analysis

Rhetorical analysis is the process of examining how authors use language strategically to achieve their purposes. Rather than focusing on what an author says, rhetorical analysis examines how and why they say it—and how effectively their choices work.

The Rhetorical Situation

Every piece of writing exists within a rhetorical situation—the context that shapes how meaning is created and received:

Element	Definition	Questions to Ask
Author/Speaker	The person or entity creating the text	What is their background, expertise, credibility?
Audience	The intended readers or listeners	Who is this text meant to reach? What do they already believe?
Purpose	The goal the author wants to achieve	To inform? Persuade? Entertain? Call to action?
Context	The circumstances surrounding the text	When/where was it written? What events influenced it?
Exigence	The urgency or need prompting the text	What problem or situation called for this response?

The Three Appeals (Aristotelian Rhetoric)

Aristotle identified three primary modes of persuasion that writers use to convince audiences:

Ethos (Credibility)

Ethos refers to the author's credibility and trustworthiness. Writers establish ethos through:

Demonstrating expertise and knowledge
Citing credible sources and authorities
Acknowledging opposing viewpoints fairly
Using appropriate tone and language for the audience
Sharing relevant personal experience or credentials

Pathos (Emotion)

Pathos appeals to the audience's emotions. Writers use pathos through:

Vivid imagery and descriptive language
Personal anecdotes and stories
Appealing to shared values and beliefs
Creating a sense of urgency or fear
Inspiring hope, anger, sympathy, or pride

Logos (Logic)

Logos appeals to reason and logic. Writers use logos through:

Facts, statistics, and data
Logical reasoning and clear arguments
Examples and evidence
Cause-and-effect relationships
Comparisons and analogies

Rhetorical Devices and Strategies

Authors employ specific techniques to strengthen their rhetoric:

Device	Definition	Example
Repetition	Repeating words or phrases for emphasis	"We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight..."
Parallelism	Using similar grammatical structures	"Government of the people, by the people, for the people"
Rhetorical Question	A question asked for effect, not answer	"If not now, when? If not us, who?"
Antithesis	Contrasting ideas in balanced phrases	"Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country"
Analogy	Comparison explaining unfamiliar through familiar	"The brain is like a computer..."
Concession	Acknowledging opposing viewpoints	"While some argue that..., the evidence suggests..."
Anecdote	A brief story illustrating a point	A personal story about overcoming adversity

Analyzing Word Choice (Diction)

An author's diction—their choice of words—reveals attitude and shapes reader response:

Connotation vs. Denotation: "Thrifty" and "cheap" denote similar meanings but connote very different attitudes
Formal vs. Informal: Academic language signals expertise; casual language builds connection
Concrete vs. Abstract: Specific details persuade more effectively than vague generalities
Loaded Language: Words with strong positive or negative associations influence readers' feelings

Analyzing Tone

Tone

Tone is the author's attitude toward the subject and audience, revealed through diction, syntax, and rhetorical choices. Tone words include: earnest, sarcastic, urgent, detached, passionate, skeptical, reverent, dismissive, hopeful, resigned.

💡 Examples

Example 1: Identifying Appeals

Passage: "As a pediatrician with twenty years of experience, I've seen firsthand the devastating effects of childhood obesity. Last month, a twelve-year-old patient came to me already showing signs of type 2 diabetes. Statistics show that childhood obesity has tripled in the past forty years. We cannot continue to ignore this crisis while our children's futures hang in the balance."

Analysis:

Ethos: "As a pediatrician with twenty years of experience" establishes credibility through professional expertise.

Pathos: "twelve-year-old patient," "devastating effects," "our children's futures hang in the balance" appeal to concern for children and fear of negative health outcomes.

Logos: "Statistics show that childhood obesity has tripled in the past forty years" provides factual evidence supporting the argument.

Example 2: Analyzing Rhetorical Devices

Passage: "Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself. Not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire."

Analysis:

Antithesis: "not preparation for life; education is life itself" contrasts two views of education, rejecting one in favor of another.

Metaphor/Analogy: "Not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire" compares education to igniting passion rather than depositing information.

Parallelism: The balanced structure ("Not X, but Y") makes the contrast memorable and persuasive.

Effect: These devices work together to argue that education should inspire active engagement rather than passive reception of facts.

Example 3: Analyzing Tone Through Diction

Passage A: "The proposed policy represents a thoughtful approach to a complex problem, balancing competing interests while maintaining fiscal responsibility."

Passage B: "The so-called 'solution' is nothing more than a handout to special interests, dressed up in the language of compromise."

Analysis:

Passage A Tone: Supportive, measured, professional. Words like "thoughtful," "balancing," and "responsibility" have positive connotations suggesting careful consideration.

Passage B Tone: Skeptical, dismissive, critical. "So-called" questions legitimacy, "nothing more than" dismisses substance, "dressed up" suggests deception.

Both passages may describe the same policy, but diction choices create opposite impressions in readers' minds.

Example 4: Full Rhetorical Analysis

Passage: "Imagine a world where clean water flows from every tap, where children no longer die from preventable diseases, where communities thrive because basic needs are met. This is not a utopian fantasy—it is within our reach. For less than the cost of a cup of coffee each day, you can provide clean water to a family for an entire year. The choice is yours. Will you be part of the solution?"

Full Analysis:

Rhetorical Situation: A nonprofit organization appeals to potential donors, likely middle-class individuals in developed nations, to contribute to clean water initiatives.

Purpose: To persuade readers to donate money.

Appeals Used:

Pathos: "children no longer die," "communities thrive," and the direct address ("you") create emotional connection and guilt
Logos: The cost comparison ("less than a cup of coffee") makes the donation seem reasonable and achievable

Devices:

Anaphora: "where...where...where" creates rhythm and builds toward the vision
Rhetorical question: "Will you be part of the solution?" implies only one acceptable answer
Direct address: "you" and "yours" makes the reader feel personally responsible

Example 5: SAT/ACT-Style Question

Question: In line 15, the author shifts from presenting statistical evidence to describing a specific case study primarily in order to:

A) Undermine the credibility of the statistics cited earlier

B) Transition from a logical appeal to an emotional one

C) Introduce a counterargument to the main thesis

D) Signal that the argument will now address a different topic

Answer: B

Explanation: Statistics represent logos (logical appeal), while a specific case study typically humanizes data and creates pathos (emotional appeal). The shift from aggregate data to an individual example makes the issue feel more immediate and personal, a common rhetorical strategy to maintain audience engagement.

✏️ Practice

Analyze the rhetorical choices in each passage.

Problem 1: "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." Identify the appeals and rhetorical devices used.

Problem 2: "The scientists who deny climate change are either ignorant of the overwhelming evidence or willfully misleading the public for their own gain." Identify the tone and analyze how word choice creates it.

Problem 3: "Our company has served this community for fifty years, employing your neighbors, sponsoring your children's little league teams, and supporting local charities. Now we need your support." Identify the appeal being made and explain its effectiveness.

Problem 4: Compare: "The experiment yielded unexpected results" vs. "The experiment blew up in the researchers' faces." How does diction affect tone and reader perception?

Problem 5: "Some critics argue that social media harms young people. While excessive use can certainly be problematic, the evidence also shows that online communities provide vital support networks for marginalized youth." What rhetorical strategy is the author employing?

Problem 6: Identify the rhetorical device: "We will not tire, we will not falter, and we will not fail."

Problem 7: "Read this book and transform your life. Millions have already discovered the secrets inside." What appeals are being used? Who is the likely audience?

Problem 8: How does the rhetorical situation differ between a research paper for a scientific journal and an op-ed in a newspaper, even if both address the same topic?

Problem 9: "Why should we invest in space exploration when so many problems remain unsolved on Earth?" Is this a genuine question or a rhetorical one? How do you know?

Problem 10: Analyze the ethos-building strategies in: "After reviewing dozens of studies and consulting with leading experts in the field, I've concluded that our current approach requires significant modification."

Click to reveal answers

Pathos (emotional appeal through "four little children," hope for future); antithesis ("not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character"); ethos implied by King's moral authority as civil rights leader
Tone: Accusatory, contemptuous. "Either ignorant or willfully misleading" presents a false dilemma; "overwhelming" and "for their own gain" are loaded phrases that dismiss opponents' credibility entirely.
Ethos appeal emphasizing the company's history and community involvement to build trust; also pathos through personal connection ("your neighbors," "your children"). Effective because it positions the company as a community member deserving reciprocal support.
The first is neutral/formal (scientific register); the second is informal/dramatic (colloquial, implies disaster). Same content, completely different impressions—the second makes readers expect catastrophic failure.
Concession and rebuttal—the author acknowledges opposing views ("Some critics argue," "can certainly be problematic") before presenting counterevidence, which makes the argument appear fair-minded and strengthens ethos.
Anaphora (repetition of "we will not" at the beginning) and parallelism; also tricolon (three-part list). Creates rhythm, emphasis, and sense of determination.
Pathos ("transform your life") and bandwagon/social proof ("Millions have already"). Likely audience: general readers seeking self-improvement; the appeal to popularity suggests credibility through numbers.
Research paper: Academic audience expecting formal tone, extensive citations, hedged claims, objective stance. Op-ed: General public, more accessible language, stronger voice/opinion, persuasive rather than purely informative purpose.
Rhetorical question—the phrasing implies the author believes we shouldn't, using the question to cast doubt without directly stating a position. A genuine question would be open to multiple answers.
Ethos through: research ("reviewing dozens of studies"), expert consultation ("leading experts"), careful judgment ("I've concluded"), and measured language ("requires significant modification" rather than extreme claims).

✅ Check Your Understanding

Question 1: What is the difference between identifying what an author says and analyzing how they say it?

Show answer

Identifying what an author says means summarizing their content, claims, and information. Analyzing how they say it examines their rhetorical strategies: word choice, structure, appeals, and devices used to persuade or affect the reader. Rhetorical analysis focuses on technique and effect rather than content summary.

Question 2: Why might an author combine all three appeals (ethos, pathos, logos) rather than relying on just one?

Show answer

Different readers respond to different appeals; combining all three reaches a broader audience. Logos convinces analytical readers, pathos moves emotional readers, and ethos reassures those who value credibility. Additionally, relying too heavily on one appeal can backfire—pure emotion without logic seems manipulative; pure logic without emotion seems cold; credibility alone doesn't provide reasons to act.

Question 3: How can understanding rhetorical strategies help you as both a reader and a writer?

Show answer

As a reader: You can evaluate arguments more critically, recognize manipulation, understand how authors attempt to influence you, and resist persuasion that lacks substance. As a writer: You can craft more effective arguments, choose appropriate strategies for your audience and purpose, and communicate more persuasively in academic, professional, and personal contexts.

Question 4: What should you consider when determining whether a rhetorical choice is effective?

Show answer

Consider: (1) Does it suit the audience—their values, knowledge, and expectations? (2) Does it advance the purpose—persuade, inform, or move readers toward the desired response? (3) Is it appropriate for the context—the occasion, medium, and conventions? (4) Does it work ethically—persuading through legitimate means rather than manipulation? A choice effective for one audience may fail with another.

🚀 Next Steps

Review any concepts that felt challenging
Move on to the next lesson when ready
Return to practice problems periodically for review