Rhetorical Analysis

1. A How to Guide
Via
Stasis Theory/Heuristic Questions

2.  You need to first establish the
context for your rhetorical artifact.
To do so consider the following
questions:
 In what historical moment did
the artifact come into being?
 In terms of sociology and
psychology, what’s in play in the
artifact?
 What form does the artifact
take, and what conventions of
the form are obeyed or flouted?
 Who is the person(s) behind this
piece?
 Key Question: Who is the
audience, and why does the
rhetor choose this audience to
convey her or his message?

3.  How are ethos, logos, and pathos
used?
 What types of evidence are used
for what reason (kairos)?
 Key Question: What seems to be
the larger, overall message of the
rhetor?

4.  What is emphasized and how is it
emphasized in terms of the
structure of the artifact?
 Key Question: Is the artifact set up
to be experienced in a certain way
(i.e. through comparison, division,
etc.)?

5.  If there is text, how is the text
written? In a formal, informal, or
some other tone/style?
 If the text has visual elements,
what visual elements are there and
how do they contribute to the
rhetor’s message?
 Key Question: How might you
describe the overall feel/style of
the artifact?

6.  If there are people in the piece,
how are they moving, acting, using
space?
 If the artifact is digital, how is the
piece set up to be received by
folks?
 Key Question: If you are dealing
with digital media, how is the
audience supposed to interact with
the artifact?

7.  What role, if any, does human
memory play in your artifact?
(Remember that actors memorize
lines, slam poets their poems, and
many online speakers parts of their
speeches.)
 Key Question: How memorable is
the piece, and why is it, or isn’t it, a
memorable rhetorical artifact?

8.  How do the canons of rhetoric
(and the attendant questions we
just answered) help you establish
that the rhetorical artifact was/is
effective at helping your rhetor
reach a given audience?
 THE POINT IS NOT TO SAY IF
SOMETHING IS “GOOD” OR “BAD”
AESTHETICALLY OR OTHERWISE—
YOU NEED TO SAY HOW AND WHY
THE RHETORIC WORKS OR
DOESN’T WORK.

9.  Foss, Sonja, K. Rhetorical Criticism.
Long Grove, Il: Waveland Press,
2004. Print.