Rhetorical Analysis
What is pathos?
This rhetorical device uses emotions to persuade the audience.
How many sources are you provided with
7
the author's attitude toward a certain topic
“The sun finally broke through the clouds, and the children ran outside laughing as if the world had just been reborn.”
Question: What is the tone of this sentence?
Joyful / optimistic / hopeful
What does it mean to clarify?
To clearly explain or make something easier to understand.
What is ethos?
This device focuses on the speaker’s credibility or trustworthiness.
How many sources are you required to use?
a minimum of 3
What is a metaphor?
a figure of speech that implicitly compares two unrelated things, typically by stating that one thing is another (e.g., “that chef is a magician”)
“I can’t believe we are still arguing about something so obvious—it feels like no one is actually listening anymore.”
What is the tone of this sentence?
Frustrated / annoyed / exasperated
What does it mean to support?
To support an idea using reasons or evidence.
What is logos?
This rhetorical strategy uses facts, statistics, and logical reasoning.
What is a synthesis essay?
This type of essay requires you to use multiple sources to support a single, original argument.
What is a rhetorical question?
A rhetorical device where the author asks a question without expecting an answer.
“He claimed his flawless plan worked perfectly… right before the entire system crashed and burned in front of everyone.”
What is the tone of this sentence?
Sarcastic / ironic / mocking
What does it mean to assert?
To strongly state a position or belief.
“As a teacher of twenty years, I have witnessed firsthand the decline in student attention spans and engagement.”
What rhetorical appeal (ethos, pathos, or logos) is being used?
The author is building credibility through personal experience (ethos).
What kind of essay does this relate to: rhetorical analysis or argumentative
argumentative
what is an alliteration?
repeating the same or similar sounds at the beginning of words.
“The report listed the names of the victims in alphabetical order, followed by the number of hours it took to clean the debris.”
What is the tone of this sentence?
Detached / clinical / impersonal
What does it mean to undermine or refute?
To show the flaws or weaknesses in an argument.
“The classroom was once alive with debate, laughter, and discovery. Now it sits silent, glowing blue with the light of forgotten human interaction.”
What rhetorical strategies are being used to create tone and meaning?
The author uses imagery and contrast to emphasize loss and decline.
summarizing
What is an apostrophe?
This device occurs when a writer or speaker directly addresses an absent person, a concept, or an inanimate object.
“We celebrate progress, yet the same patterns repeat beneath new names, new faces, and newer promises that feel strangely familiar.”
What is the tone of this sentence?
Cynical / critical / reflective
What does it mean to emphasize or amplify?
To present an idea in a way that makes it more powerful, important, or intense than it originally is.