English 11 / Unit 7: Rhetorical Analysis
7.6 Writing a Rhetorical Analysis Essay
Notes
A rhetorical analysis essay argues how a text works.
- Thesis: states the speaker's purpose and the main strategies used to achieve it ("By combining personal anecdote with statistics, the author persuades parents to...").
- Body paragraphs: each focuses on one strategy or part of the text; give evidence (quoted or paraphrased) and commentary (explanation of the effect).
- Use verbs of analysis: emphasizes, suggests, evokes, undermines, reinforces; avoid "says" or "talks about."
- Do not just summarize or judge if you agree.
- Worked example of commentary: "By repeating 'we cannot,' Lincoln emphasizes the inadequacy of words compared to the soldiers' sacrifice."
Practice
Which thesis is strongest for a rhetorical analysis?
A strong thesis names the purpose and the strategies.
Which verb is best for analyzing an author's effect?
Analytical verbs describe the effect of choices.
In a body paragraph, "commentary" is:
Commentary links evidence to the argument.
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