Rhetorical Analysis Terms (RATS) I

writer's motivation to write; speaker's to speak

devices that cause the reader to agree with the writer

Language, Imagery, Diction, Detail, Syntax

shows what author's attitude(s) is/are

author's feelings toward a particular subject they are speaking/ writing about

organization, sometimes logical, circular, anecdoatl, or narrative

author's credibility

a person's reputation

how the particular person is percieved

logic, facts, logical reasoning

appeal to emotion, effective; desire, patriotism, etc....

language, expectation of audience

central idea of persuasion, in intro usually

never clearly stated, yet understood

main argument that supporsts thesis; topic sentence

perspective/ stance from which an author writes; 1st person, 2nd, 3rd, student to school board v teacher to school board

an appeal to do something; vote, consider

subject matter expert; professer, PhD, etc..

• same words repeated at beginning of sentences, clauses, etc.
• *words have to have meaning, not like "too"- that's paralellism*

to predict and use/ refute opposing arguments

yield to opposing argument to better counter opponent's argument and boost credibility and logos

short narrative told to provide an example or truth

repetitive, similar structure (chiasmus)

word choice

emotional implications and expressions drawn from word

literal, dictionary definiton of a word

question offered by author to emphasixe point and to involve audience, no answer expected

prove wrong by argument or evidence

• encouraging subjunctive, "let us"
• -inclusion of writer and audience together, raises ethos

"we and us"

• "air quotes", marks used to indicate sarcasm
• -reduces ethos of word or phrase in quotes