Rhetorical Analysis
Rhetorical Analysis Dr. Mike Ristich
Where to begin…
Rhetoric begins with
questions…
We ask: “What is the
rhetorical situation that we
(as writers) must respond to?”
Or…
If we are analyzing
Someone else’s writing,
We might ask:
“What is/was the rhetorical
situation of his/her writing?”
Rhetorical Situation
The rhetorical situation
is the set of factors that
must be considered every time
we write/communicate.
Getting feedback
(from peers and audiences)
helps us
understand these factors.
S.W.A.P. and R.A.I.D.S
S.W.A.P. and
R.A.I.D.S.
gives us/other writers a way
to ask questions and assess
the rhetorical situation.
Asking questions about the
rhetorical situation allows
us to *invent* good writing
S.W.A.P. and R.A.I.D.S
Sample Questions
About Rhetorical Situations
Who is the audience?
What does the audience know
or expect?
What kind of evidence does
this subject require?
What style is appropriate
for the mode of delivery?
Remember…
Because each element
of S.W.A.P. and R.A.I.D.S.
is recursive, effective writers
develop a deep understanding
of the relationships between
these nine elements.
And…
Once writers have a clear
understanding of the
rhetorical situation,
they invent/compose
a response that (hopefully)
meets the demand of the
situation/audience.
Finally
Rhetorical analysis
helps writers understand, learn,
and evaluate how others
use language.
Literacy
In other words, rhetorical
analysis helps us understand,
learn, and evaluate…
LITERACIES
(Literacies are how people
use language to communicate,
think, and behave.)