1. Writing a rhetorical analysis

2. Sample Outline on George Lamming’s In the castle of my skin
Introduction
Anaphora
Metaphor
Historical Allusions
Conduplicatio
Conclusion
Author George Lamming

3. Introduction to a Rhetorical Analysis Essay
Hook (on Message)
Author (Ethos)
Text (Summary)
Audience
Thesis (TAG + devices + message)
TAG: title, author, genre

4. Sample Thesis on Warren’s “Planned Parenthood” speech
In Elizabeth Warren’s 2015 “I Stand with Planned Parenthood” speech, she uses hyperbole, logos, pathos, and parallelism to emphasize the importance of supporting Planned Parenthood.
Senator Elizabeth Warren

5. Sample Thesis on Zakaria’s 2012 “Commencement Address”
In Dr. Fareed Zakaria’s “Commencement Address,” he employs parallelism, logos, pathos, and anaphora to provide a hopeful message to graduates.
Dr. Fareed Zakaria

6. Sample Thesis on Holtry’s “La Washa”
In Mercedez Holtry’s 2015 poem “La Washa,” she uses imagery, ethos, pathos, and epizeuxis to express her message about feeling excluded from her own culture and language.
Mercedes Holtry

7. Organizing the Body paragraph
1. Topic Sentences: How does the speaker effectively use a particular device to communicate part or all of the message? Connect speaker, message, and device. 1 device per body paragraph. 2. Claim: Contextualize the quote. 3. Evidence: Provide textual evidence. 4. Analysis: Answer the 6 questions on the next slide. 5. Quote and Analyze a Secondary Source: Quote a scholarly source about your primary source or about “rhetoric” or “rhetorical analysis.” Analyze and Synthesize. 6. Concluding Sentences: Summarize and transition.

8. Sample Topic sentence on Warren’s “Planned Parenthood” speech
Warren [speaker] opens her speech with some amusing use of hyperbole [device] meant to awaken her conservative colleagues [message].
Senator Elizabeth Warren

9. Sample Topic sentence on Zakaria’s 2012 “Commencement Address”
Near the beginning of his speech, Zakaria uses many forms of logos to support his argument about the safety of our times.
Dr. Fareed Zakaria

10. Sample Topic sentence on Holtry’s “La Washa”
In the middle of Holtry’s poem, she employs metaphor to show just how authentically Mexican her family is.
Poet Mercedez Holtry

11. Beginning of a Body Paragraph
Topic Sentence: Obama concludes his a “A More Perfect Union” speech by expressing the theme of unity thru the use of anecdotal evidence. [Claim] Obama tells a story showing racial harmony, but warns us [Evidence] “that single moment of recognition between that young white girl and that old black man is not enough” (Obama). [Continue with Analysis and, at least, a Concluding Sentence].
U.S. President Barack Obama

12. Rhetorical Strategy: SOAPS

13. Rhetorical Strategy: MADE

14. Rhetorical Strategy: WOLF

15. Organizing A Rhetorical Analysis Essay
Organize your Essay around the Devices 1. Introduction 2. Analyze a different Rhetorical Device in each Body Paragraph, such as: Amplification, formal diction, peroration, and sprezzatura 3. Conclusion: (1) Compare the text to another text with a similar theme, or (2) Explain how this text can be used as a model (in teaching someone how to write a great speech, for example)
Senators Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
and Bernie Sanders

16. Sample Outline on JFK’s “Inaugural Address”
Introduction
Antistrophe
Metaphor
Parallelism
Antimetabole
Conclusion
U.S. President John F. Kennedy

17. MLA Citation: In-text
“I Have a Dream” (King).

18. MLA Citation: Works Cited
King, Jr., Dr. Martin Luther. “I Have a Dream.” Washington D.C. Civil Rights March. Washington D.C. 28 Aug Public Address.
This is the format for citing a speech.