rhetorical analysis

1. What is the author's purpose?  What is the thesis or main idea of the article?  

2. Who is the intended audience?  How do you know?

3. Identify the types of appeals made by the author (logos, pathos, ethos).  How effective are they?

4. What do you know about the author?  Do you find him or her credible (ethos)?  Why or why not?

5. What types evidence does the author provide to support the claim or argument?  Is the evidence relevant and trustworthy?

6. What is the setting or context?  In other words, what event or problem inspired the author to write the essay?

7. Describe the author's tone or attitude.  Is it serious, flippant, angry or sarcastic? How does the attitude affect the argument?