How do I start a rhetorical analysis?

How do I start a rhetorical analysis?

It may be helpful to print out the speech transcript and take notes while watching the video. Annotate the speech, pausing to make notes on your paper.  Be sure to identify rhetorical devices used throughout the speech, deliberately strong or emotionally charged word choices that were used and the tone in which the speaker uses to engage with the audience. This will be helpful when writing your essay.  Be sure to keep the information in your essay in chronological order in order to support the claim in your thesis statement. 


 Some examples of how authors might use rhetorical devices in their writing: 

  • Ethos: This is the credibility the author has in the subject matter. 

    • Consider finding examples of education, experience, character, expertise, or delivery of the speech

  • Logos: This appeals to the logical side of the audience 

    • Consider finding examples about statistics, facts, testimonies or expert accounts 

  • Pathos: These examples appeal to the audience’s emotions. 

    • Consider finding examples of emotional states of being like love, anger, sadness, comradely, patriotism, etc. 


The introduction of a rhetorical analysis is vitally important to not only capture the reader’s attention, but to effectively set up the argument of the entire essay.  The introduction will follow the “SOAPStone”.  While watching the speech, take notes with this worksheet.