What is it?

Based on the discussions we have had in class, a rhetorical analysis is a breakdown of a text. A text can be anything from a novel to an advertisement, which is what we have been working with. I feel that a rhetorical analysis, in the case of advertisements, is going through every aspect displayed and finding what exactly appeals to the audience and how the propaganda will affect them. I think that a rhetorical analysis should be organized by the separation of the rhetorical analysis triangle. To begin, start with an introduction of all the different appeals and an overview of what is going on in the text. Secondly, go through each of the three appeals of the triangle separately in the order of least prominent to most in paragraph form. Then, to pull all of the different aspects together, in the conclusion, discuss how everything works as a whole part to make the advertisement successful.


Based on what I know, I plan to go about organizing my rhetorical analysis in the same fashion that I previously explained by going through each aspect and giving a detailed breakdown of the logos, ethos, and pathos of the advertisement. Not only do I plan to breakdown the rhetorical triangle, I want to include many of my own arguments and defenses on my opinions. When writing on the subject of anything that I am passionate about, I can honestly go on for pages and pages. In this paper I want to display great amounts of passion for whatever I may choose to analyze. I want to include factual information from both sides of my argument; therefore, I plan to do a good deal of research so that all of my arguments are thorough in the since that I know what I am talking about so that I have confidence in my writing.

So that my argument will be strong, as previously stated, I plan to start with the least prominent appeal and build my way up to the most strong so that within my paper my arguments can get more and more solid. While stating facts of both sides I want to use those arguments to further my points in the direction that I plan to go with my paper; by the direction I mean whatever way I choose to go in my paper in agreeing and creating an argument that way or disagreeing and rebutting the advertisement.

I am still not sure of what advertisement I would like to analyze; however, I have been looking in magazines and online for anything that stands out to me. There has been nothing thus far that I have looked at and felt a strong need to express how I feel about it. Whenever I am choosing a subject to write about I am always very picky. I want to find something that I know I can go through and find every aspect of logos, ethos, and pathos, that way I know I can write a lot about the subject and will still be able to fulfill the requirements for the rhetorical analysis.