Ms. Conti's Literature Lab

rhetorical analysis essay

In this type of essay, writers examine and analyze a piece of text (writing, video, audio, visual campaign, etc.) to decipher what the creator did to convey their message. Remember here that whatever you are analyzing is intended to be persuasive. In other words, the creator intends to convince the audience of something, whether they specifically state it or not. You, the writer, must analyze the rhetorical choices the creator makes to convey their message. Your thesis statement in your rhetorical analysis essay clearly and concisely states your findings.

🔑 Elements of the Rhetorical Situation:

1. Speaker

• Who is communicating?
• This is the voice or persona behind the message—it could be the actual author or a constructed narrator.
• Consider the speaker’s background, credibility (ethos), and relationship to the subject.

2. Audience

• To whom is the message directed?
• Think about the intended (and sometimes unintended) audience. What do they value? What do they already know or believe?
• The audience influences the tone, language, and appeals used.

3. Purpose

• Why is the speaker communicating?
• The purpose could be to inform, persuade, entertain, provoke, or reflect.
• Often there’s both an explicit goal (e.g., raise awareness) and an implicit one (e.g., gain support or action).

4. Context

• What is happening around the communication?
• The historical, cultural, political, or social circumstances that shape the message.
• Context influences how a message is received and interpreted.

5. Exigence

• What prompted the speaker to speak now?
• The urgency or spark—a specific situation, event, or problem that demands a response.

6. Message

• What is being said?
• This includes the content, structure, and style of the communication. How is the speaker using rhetorical strategies to deliver their point?

What tools do writers, creators use to be persuasive? Take a look at a quick list below.

Rhetorical Strategies/ Tools

1. Aristotelian Appeals (Modes of Persuasion)

• Ethos – Appeals to credibility or character (“Trust me, I’m a doctor.”)
• Pathos – Appeals to emotion (“Imagine losing your home overnight.”)
• Logos – Appeals to logic or reason (“Studies show a 30% increase in success.”)

2. Diction & Tone

• Diction – Word choice (formal, informal, jargon, loaded language)
• Tone – Author’s attitude (sarcastic, respectful, urgent, nostalgic)

3. Syntax (Sentence Structure)

• Simple / Complex / Compound Sentences
• Periodic Sentence – Main idea comes at the end
• Cumulative Sentence – Main idea comes at the beginning, followed by details
• Parallelism – Repetition of structure (“We came, we saw, we conquered.”)
• Juxtaposition – Placing contrasting ideas side by side

4. Figurative Language & Imagery

• Metaphor / Simile – Comparisons (“Life is a journey.”)
• Personification – Giving human traits to non-human things
• Allusion – Reference to a well-known person, place, or event
• Imagery – Descriptive language that appeals to the senses

5. Repetition & Sound Devices

• Anaphora – Repetition at the beginning (“Every day, every night, every hour”)
• Epistrophe – Repetition at the end (“See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil”)
• Alliteration / Assonance – Repetition of consonant or vowel sounds

6. Organization & Structure

• Chronological / Spatial – Time or space order
• Cause and Effect – Explaining why something happened and what followed
• Compare and Contrast – Showing similarities or differences
• Problem-Solution – Presenting an issue and proposing a fix
• Narrative – Telling a story to support a claim

7. Style & Voice

• Formal vs. Informal – Academic vs. conversational tone
• Satire / Irony – Using humor, exaggeration, or sarcasm to critique
• Hyperbole / Understatement – Exaggeration or downplaying for effect

8. Argument Techniques

• Rhetorical Questions – Asking questions to make a point
• Anecdote – Short, personal story to illustrate a point
• Concession & Refutation – Acknowledging and countering the opposing view
• Analogy – Drawing a comparison to explain an idea

Remember: 

• Always connect the strategy to purpose and audience. 
• Ask: What effect does this strategy have, and why did the author use it here?

---

Synthesis Essay

A synthesis essay is a type of writing that asks students to draw connections between multiple sources and use them to support a central argument or perspective. Commonly featured on the AP English Language and Composition exam, the synthesis essay presents a prompt along with several related texts—such as articles, charts, images, or excerpts. Students must evaluate these sources, identify relevant evidence, and weave them together into a coherent, well-reasoned essay. Success in synthesis writing depends not just on summarizing sources, but on thoughtfully combining them to build a unique and persuasive argument in response to a complex issue.

Remember that you synthesize information every single day. When planning a vacation, you might read online reviews, compare airline prices, check weather forecasts, and talk to friends. This information you compile helps you decide where to go and what to pack. You’re taking information from multiple sources, evaluating what matters most, and combining it to make an informed decision—just like a synthesis essay.

I. Introduction

• Hook: Start with an engaging statement to grab the reader’s attention (quote, anecdote, question, etc.)
• Background Information: Briefly introduce the topic and the sources that will be discussed.
• Thesis Statement: Clearly state your main argument or position in response to the prompt. Mention the sources you will synthesize and how they contribute to your argument.

II. Body Paragraphs

Each body paragraph should focus on a specific point or aspect of the argument, synthesizing information from multiple sources.

A. Topic Sentence

• State the main point of the paragraph and how it relates to your thesis.

B. Presentation of Sources

• Introduce relevant evidence from the sources you’ve been given. This could be a combination of paraphrasing, summarizing, and direct quotes.

C. Synthesis of Sources

• Connect the sources together. Show how they relate to each other, and discuss their similarities, differences, or how they complement one another.
• Use transition words like “however,” “in contrast,” “similarly,” and “on the other hand” to help weave the sources together smoothly.

D. Analysis and Explanation

• Analyze the evidence in relation to your argument. Explain why this information matters and how it supports your thesis.

III. Counterargument (Optional)

• Acknowledgment: Briefly present the opposite viewpoint or an opposing source.
• Refutation: Explain why the counterargument is less convincing or less relevant than your position. Use sources to back up your rebuttal.

IV. Conclusion

• Restate Thesis: Summarize the argument you’ve made and reframe it in light of the sources discussed.
• Synthesis: Reflect on the overall connections you’ve made between sources and how they have helped shape your argument.
• Closing Thought: End with a final statement that ties back to the real-world implications or broader context of the issue.

---

Argumentative Essay

Argument Essay Topics

• US News (Debate Club)
• 50 Argument Essay Topics

Writing Situation

• Writing Situation Exercise- Edited

Planning Organizers

• Argument writing graphic organizer for grades 7-12

Claims

• Umbrella Statements
  • Umbrella Statement example
  • Umbrella Statement Student

Counterclaims

• Teaching Counterclaims through The Great Debaters

Evidence

• Integrating Quotations

Body Paragraphs

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtbvAOcYxuM
• Transition Words and Clauses

Conclusions

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtvWbi2GV5Q

Revision and Edition

• I Believe Student Worksheet

Sample Argument Essays

• Gun Control Argument
•