Rhetorical analyze essay draft

Text

Title

Length

Genre (Type) -- article, report, research paper...?

Context

Discipline (Which field?)

Time Frame and Source (When and where was this document published?)

Frequency of use in the field (often…rarely…)?

Author(s)/Purpose

Who (if there is no named author, identify the company or organization)? Evidence of the authors’ credibility/expertise?

Purpose (To inform, explain, persuade, amuse…)?

Message (What is the central idea?)?

Intended Audience

Who (there could be multiple audiences)?

Intended Readers’ Level of Knowledge?

(more, less, or same as author)

Expectations?

Appeals (Name the appeal and give a brief definition)

Examples and location (Present throughout the text or only in certain sections?)

Analysis (Why does the author use this appeal? Is it effective and/or necessary?)

What are the major rhetorical patterns of development?

Examples and location (Strategy present throughout or only in certain parts?)

Analysis (How does the strategy shape and deliver the message? How is it effective and/or necessary in fulfilling the purpose?)

Idea and depiction (What is being depicted—a concept, research findings…how is it presented—graph, pie chart, diagram…?)

Examples and location—

Placement (Where in the document does it appear— in a certain section, appendix…?)

Analysis (How is it effective and/or necessary in the content? How does it contribute to the purpose and message?

Presentation and Layout (formatting, font style, headings, visuals, etc.)

Examples and location in text

Effectiveness? How does the overall layout organize information for readers?