Academic writingLesson 2 of 4 in the course Rhetorical Analysis: Interpreting the Art of Rhetoric

Rhetorical Analysis: Situation, Appeals, Devices, and Fallacies

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

Rhetorical analysis examines how writers and speakers use language to influence an audience. This lesson introduces the purpose of rhetorical analysis and the rhetorical situation—the conditions surrounding a communicative act.

Rhetorical analysis focuses on how a text works, not merely what it says. A summary may describe a text’s characters, claims, or themes. An analysis instead examines the choices a writer makes and explains how those choices are intended to affect readers.

All flashcards

Rhetorical analysis
The study of how a communicator’s choices influence an audience and support a purpose.
Rhetorical situation
The circumstances surrounding communication, including author, message, audience, purpose, means, context, and culture.
Kairos
The persuasive force of appropriate or opportune timing.
Ad hominem
A fallacy that attacks a person instead of addressing that person’s argument.
Multimodal communication
Communication that combines modes such as written language, images, sound, or animation.

Quiz questions

  1. What does rhetorical analysis do that summary alone does not?Answer: Explains how a communicator’s choices may affect an audience and serve a purpose.
  2. A speaker avoids answering an opponent’s argument and instead calls the opponent incompetent. Which fallacy does this illustrate?Answer: Ad hominem.
  3. What makes a communication multimodal?Answer: It combines modes such as words, images, sound, or animation.
  4. What is a rhetorical question?Answer: A question posed for effect rather than to receive a direct answer.
  5. In rhetorical analysis, what does kairos concern?Answer: Whether the timing of a message suits its audience and circumstances.

Based on Writing Guide with Handbook by Michelle Bachelor Robinson, Maria Jerskey, featuring Toby Fulwiler (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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