Introduction to Rhetorical Analysis

Cullen Strady

Florida State University

ENC 2135: Research, Genre, and Context

Andrew Zolot

July 08, 2022

Introduction to Rhetorical Analysis

The rhetoric concept relates to the ability to communicate with purpose and effectiveness. In Chapter 1 – Rhetorical Situations and Choices, Braziller and Kleinfeld (2021) define a rhetorical situation as a context wherein one creates a composition that communicates a specified purpose or meaning to an audience. A rhetorical situation entails the writer communicating in a manner that accommodates readers satisfactorily, meets their expectations effectively, and reflects the writer’s consciousness. The construct of rhetoric embodies the art of persuasive and effective communication via speaking or writing, integrating compositional techniques and rhetorical devices such as figurative language or the broad spectrum of figures of speech.

Based on this point, I have various examples of rhetoric I hear and see daily. The first includes advertisements, encompassing rhetoric for mobilizing the fundamental rhetorical appeals (logos, ethos, and pathos) to evoke desirable deductions and strong emotions. Carroll (2010) concurs that advertisements usually involve the rhetor strategically using appeals to emotion (pathos) in a brief moment (a short time) to persuade the audience into purchasing. Another example of daily rhetoric is the radio. Radio communication is traditional rhetoric that effectively commands high relevance of persuasion inside the broadcasting discourse community without using visual elements. Other everyday rhetoric examples include television commercials, news stories, podcasts, political speeches, textual posters, campus flyers, newspaper ads, text messages, billboard ads, and social media posts (Braziller & Kleinfeld, 2021; Carroll, 2010). All these examples persuade people through opinions aimed to elicit specific audience action.

One of the ways I create rhetoric is by choosing what I feel appeals the most to my audience. Essentially, this includes choices of my clothes (what I wear before my audience), language and tone to use, and visual aids to adopt. In this case, the message I try to communicate is simplicity and understandability. For instance, regarding language, I avoid jargon and technical terms that could confuse my audience and opt to utilize simple language that they can comprehend with ease. I also create rhetoric by choosing what content to read, where to get my hairdo, and where to shop for my clothing and foodstuffs. Here, the message I try to pass across is my style and sense of fashion. For example, the content I read reflects the style of my vocabulary, while the places I get my haircut and do shopping pass the message of my fashion preferences. Lastly, I create rhetoric by integrating rhetorical devices, utilizing an ethical appeal, and leveraging syllogism. In this case, the message I try to communicate is my communication and persuasion professionalism.

When making a rhetorical choice, one must consider the three elements of a rhetorical moment or situation. These elements include constraints, exigence, and audience (Braziller & Kleinfeld, 2021; Carroll, 2010). An example of a rhetorical situation I found myself in that displayed these elements involved my job interview for the tech company I was working with previously. The audience of this interview comprised the interviewing panel, my would-be bosses. The exigence of this job interview was my prioritized need for money to pay for my apartment rent, health insurance, and buy some items consistent with my fashion tastes. Finally, the interview constraints involved the job application, my resume, and the attire I wore when going for it. Essentially, I had to wear a professional outfit to appeal to the panel and look composed to pass the message of tranquility, diligence, and enthusiasm as a potential employee.  

References

Braziller, A. & Kleinfeld, E. (2021). The Bedford book of genres: A guide & reader for Florida State University (3rd Ed.). Bedford/St. Martin. E-book ISBN: 781319470104.

Carroll, L. B. (2010). Backpacks vs. briefcases: Steps toward rhetorical analysis. Writing Spaces: Readings on Writing, 1, 45-58.