Guided Practice with Rhetorical Analysis
Learn
This lesson provides guided practice applying rhetorical analysis skills to various texts, with step-by-step support as you identify and analyze persuasive techniques.
Rhetorical Analysis Framework
- Speaker/Author: Who is communicating? What is their credibility?
- Occasion: What prompted this text? What is the context?
- Audience: Who is the intended audience?
- Purpose: What is the author trying to achieve?
- Subject: What is the main topic?
- Tone: What is the author's attitude?
Steps for Analysis
- Read the text once for general understanding
- Identify the rhetorical situation (SOAPSTone)
- Find examples of ethos, pathos, and logos
- Note specific techniques (diction, imagery, syntax)
- Analyze how techniques support the purpose
Examples
Work through these guided examples analyzing real speeches and essays.
Example: Analyzing a Political Speech
Step 1: Identify the speaker and their credibility (ethos).
Step 2: Find emotional appeals and the emotions targeted (pathos).
Step 3: Locate logical arguments, facts, and statistics (logos).
Step 4: Examine word choice and its effect on the audience.
✏️ Practice
Test your understanding with these practice questions.
Practice Questions
0/3 correctWhat is the main idea of a passage?
An inference is:
Context clues help you:
Check Your Understanding
Test yourself with these review questions.
1. What does SOAPSTone stand for in rhetorical analysis?
Show Answer
Speaker, Occasion, Audience, Purpose, Subject, Tone - a framework for analyzing the rhetorical situation.
2. How does identifying the audience help with rhetorical analysis?
Show Answer
Knowing the audience helps you understand why the author chose specific appeals, language, and techniques to persuade that particular group.
3. What is the first step when beginning a rhetorical analysis?
Show Answer
Read the text once for general understanding before diving into detailed analysis.
4. What question helps you identify the "occasion" of a text?
Show Answer
"What prompted this text?" or "What historical/social context surrounds this piece?"
5. Why is the speaker's credibility important to analyze?
Show Answer
The speaker's credibility (ethos) affects how persuasive the argument is - audiences are more likely to trust credible sources.
6. What should you look for when analyzing diction?
Show Answer
Word choice patterns, connotations (positive/negative associations), level of formality, and how words create tone and mood.
7. How do you identify pathos in a text?
Show Answer
Look for emotional language, vivid imagery, personal stories, and appeals to values, fears, hopes, or sympathies.
8. What type of evidence indicates logos?
Show Answer
Facts, statistics, logical reasoning, cause-and-effect relationships, and expert testimony.
9. How does understanding purpose guide your analysis?
Show Answer
Purpose helps you evaluate whether the author's techniques are effective in achieving their goal (to inform, persuade, entertain, etc.).
10. What is the connection between rhetorical techniques and the author's purpose?
Show Answer
Authors deliberately choose techniques (appeals, diction, structure) that will best achieve their purpose with their specific audience.
Next Steps
- Review any concepts that felt challenging
- Move on to the next lesson when ready
- Return to practice problems periodically for review