Rhetoric Knowledge

A rhetorical analysis is where you analyze a piece of work, such as media, using rational or logical reasoning (logos), judge the credibility (ethos), and the extent of emotional reasoning (pathos). The purpose of analyzing a piece of work using logos, ethos, and pathos is to look deeper into what this pieced of work is really saying and how it is being portrayed to its' audience. For example, in the media there are always talking about how 'sex sells' so therefore there are several ads and media clips that portray these sexual images to intrigue customers to notice their ad and then purchase the product(s) being sold in that ad.

When doing a rhetorical analysis, you need to analyze all three aspects of rhetoric in the piece of work that you are analyzing. Logos, ethos, and pathos should be included in your analysis whether it is strong or lacking in the piece. When writing this analysis, the reader needs to be able to identify what it is you are analyzing and the clear main points of your opinion towards this piece of work. It should include a brief introduction discussing the nature of why you are analyzing this piece, then give a description of the piece of work so that the reader can capture what the piece is about so they can formulate their own opinion while reading yours, it then needs to include your opinions about the logos, ethos, and pathos in the piece of work, and then a conclusion that ties your opinion about this piece of work all together.

In my rhetoric analysis, I plan to give a great description of my ad so that the reader can really grasp what it is talking about and the message that is being sent. Then I plan order my opinions about the logos, ethos, and pathos in the ad from strongest to weakest so that the reader can see why I was drawn to it in the first place and understand my strongest point about why I disagree/agree with the message it sends. Then I plan to finish strong in my conclusion by tying everything together and restating my strongest point(s) so the reader will not forget. This will help me to have a strong and successful analysis of the media that I choose to critique.