Rhetorical analysis

Text Analysis Writing Assignment

Follow this template for the text analysis essay.

Begin with a rhetorical tool (such as an anecdote, statistic, or interesting fact) on the subject. Follow with the thesis—the theme you see in the essay.

Write other paragraphs on the text of the article noting key rhetorical tools, such as comparison/contrast, scenarios, examples, allusions, authoritative references, metaphors, facts, statistics, and analogies made by the author. Explain how each is used.

Then discuss the subtext of the article. What does the author suggest or hint at? What clues show bias and opinion? How do the rhetoric and tone support or detract from his case? Again, use examples to illustrate.

Finally, assess the cultural context of the writing. Has the culture changed since the article came out? Is the author’s point culturally relevant?

Close with a paragraph that evaluates the author’s job as a critic. Has he been fair? Analyze how well he presents and supports his thesis, and express whether he presents a fair case.