This document outlines the key steps for performing a rhetorical analysis of a text, including summarizing the text, considering its context and rhetorical situation, developing an interpretation and argument supported by evidence. It describes the stages of analysis as choosing a text, analyzing its purpose, audience and design, summarizing main ideas and deciding what to analyze, developing a thesis, organizing and drafting the analysis, revising, editing and evaluating the process.
2. Key Features of Textual Analysis
Summary of the text
Attention to the context
Interpretation/Argument
Supporting Evidence
3. Stages of Textual Analysis
1. Choose a text
2. Consider the rhetorical situation
3. Generating ideas and text
4. Organize text
5. Write a draft
6. Consider layout/design
7. Revising
8. Edit and proofread
9. Evaluate
5. What does the text say?
Preview the text for main ideas
What is your initial response
Summarize the key points
Outline main ideas
Decide what to analyze
How does the text work
Patterns
Literary devices
References
6. What does the text say?
Analyze the argument
Think about context
Authorship
Devlope your own thesis/argument
8. Writing a Draft
Research
Summary of text
Context for analysis
Introduce patter or theme
State your thesis
Develop/support thesis
Draft conclusion
Create a title
11. Editing and Proofreading
Thesis, thesis, thesis
Quotations accurately documented
Transitions between thoughts
Proofread for spelling and typing
12. Evaluation
How did you go about analyzing text?
What did you do well?
What did not go well?
What feedback did you receive?
How did the writing process go?
What did you learn for next time?