SampleOutline:RhetoricalAnalysis

I.Introduction
A.Contextualizeselectedessay:discussitsexigence/socialcontext;painta
quickpictureoftheculturalclimateintowhichthisargumentwas
introduced
B.Introduceauthorandessay:mentionessay'stitleanddiscussbriefly
author'sbackground,occupation,otherwritings,etc.
C.Describebrieflyessay'ssubjectmatter/gist
D.Identifybrieflyauthor'smainclaim(s)
E.Identifyverybrieflyauthor'sintendedaudience(s)
F.Discussbrieflyauthor'slikelymaingoals
G.Statethesis:thegistofyourfinalevaluationthatis,howrelatively
persuasive/unpersuasiveyoufindthisargumentforitsintendedaudience,
listingbrieflysomeofitsgreateststrengthsandweaknessesasconsidered
fromtheintendedaudience'sperspective.
II.Audience
A.Identifypublicationsource(publisher,website,organization,college)
B.Identifyauthor'sintendedaudiencethelikelyreadersofthispublication
C.Describehowelseweknowfromtheessay'ssubjectmatter,argument,
etc.thatthisisthelikelyintendedaudience
D.Discusswhytheauthorlikelychosethisaudienceandhowyouknow
this
E.Discusswhoelsemightbeincludedintheaudience,why,andhowyou
knowthis
F.Discusswhoislikelyexcludedfromtheaudience,why,andhowyou
knowthis.*Note:Focus,though,ontheprimaryintendedaudienceabove
III.Logos
A.DiscussStructureofessay
1.Provideroadmapoftheessay'sorganization/logicforyourreaders
(whowearepretendinghaveneverreadtheessay)
2.Dosobydescribinghowtheessayopens,howitunfolds,andhow
itconcludes

3.Dosobydescribingmajorshiftsinargument'sreasoning
4.Evaluateargument'sstructure:concludethissectionby
commentingonhowintendedaudiencemightrespondtothe
argument'soverallstructure.*Notestrengthsaswellaspossible
weaknesses
B.Mainclaimsofargumentandsupportingreasoning

1.Identifymainclaimsofargument

2.Describehowtheauthorsupportstheseclaimswhatreasons
he/sheoffers
3.Provideahandfulofspecificexamplesofrepresentative(keyand
clear)instancesoftheauthor'sreasoninghowhe/shelinksreasons
toaclaim
4.Analyzeeachexamplebriefly:discusshowtheauthorusesthat
particularstrategytopersuadereaders
5.Evaluateargument'sreasoning:concludethissectionby
commentingonhowtheintendedaudiencewilllikelyrespond,
overall,totheauthor'sreasoninganduseofthedifferentkindsof
arguments.*Notestrengthsaswellaspossibleweaknesses
C.DiscussKindsofevidenceused
1.Discussthekindsofevidencetheauthorusestopersuadereaders
(e.g.facts,statistics,personalexperience,stories,anecdotes,etc.)

2.Provideafewkeyexamplesofdifferenttypesofevidence
3.Analyzeeachexamplebriefly:discusshowtheauthorusesthat
typeand/orspecificbitofevidencetopersuadereaders
4.Evaluateargument'sevidence:concludethissectionby
commentingonhowtheintendedaudiencewilllikelyrespond,
overall,totheauthor'suseofdifferentformsofevidenceandthe
qualityandquantityofthatevidence.*Notestrengthsaswellas
possibleweaknesses
IV.Ethos
A.Discussbrieflyauthor'sextrinsicethos:howitisestablished,howit
contributestotheauthor'scharacter/credibility,andhowitmightinfluence
theintendedaudience
B.Discussmorefullyauthor'sintrinsicethos
C.Provideafewkeyexamplesofhowtheauthorbuildshis/herethos
throughouttheargument
D.Analyzeeachexamplebriefly:discusshowtheauthorusesthatstrategy
topersuadereaders
E.Evaluateauthor'sethos:concludethissectionbycommentingonhowthe
intendedaudiencewilllikelyrespond,overall,totheauthor'sethos.*Note
strengthsaswellaspossibleweaknesses
V.Pathos
A.Discussauthor'sappealstopathos:appealstointendedaudience's
emotions,values,assumptions,senseofidentity

B.Provideafewkeyexamplesofhowtheauthorusespathosindifferent
waystopersuadehis/herintendedaudience
C.Analyzeeachexamplebriefly:discusshowtheauthorusesthat
particularstrategytoelicitcertainresponses/feelingsfromreaders
D.Evaluateauthor'suseofpathosappeals:concludethissectionby
commentingonhowtheintendedaudiencewilllikelyrespond,overall,to
theauthor'sappealstopathos.*Notestrengthsaswellaspossible
weaknesses
VI.Counterargumentsandqualifiers
A.Discussbrieflyhow,where,andwhytheauthormightqualifymain
claimsofhis/herargumentincrucialwaysandwhateffectthese
qualificationsmighthaveonthereader
B.Discussmorefullyhowtheauthoraddressescounterarguments,
concessions,andrefutations
C.Provideafewkeyexamplesofhowtheauthoraddressescounter
argumentstopersuadehis/herintendedaudience
D.Analyzeeachexamplebriefly:discusshowtheauthorhandlesthe
counterargument(howrespectfulhe/sheistotheopposition,howmuch
he/sheconcedesandrefutes)andwhateffectthesestrategieshaveon
readers
E.Evaluateauthor'suseofcounterarguments,concessions,andrefutations:
concludethissectionbycommentingonhowtheintendedaudiencewill
likelyrespond,overall,totheauthor'streatmentoftheoppositionandits
arguments.*Notestrengthsaswellaspossibleweaknesses
VII.Conclusion
A.Concludingparagraphshouldhighlighttheargument'sstrengthsand
weaknesses(asconcernstheintendedaudience)
B.Afterweighingstrengthsandweaknesses,offerafinalevaluationofthe
argument'soverallpersuasivenessrelativetotheintendedaudience