The document provides instructions for writing a rhetorical analysis prompt. It advises the reader to carefully read both the prompt and the selection being analyzed to understand what is being argued and the context. It then recommends re-reading the selection to identify at least four rhetorical strategies or moves used by the author and finding quotes to support this. The reader should plan an essay with a topic sentence on each strategy and a thesis tying multiple strategies to the overall argument. Body paragraphs should have a topic sentence, context, quote, and analysis of why the strategy was used. The conclusion should be concise and the analysis should focus on why choices were made for the intended audience rather than terminology or evaluation of success.

1. How do I write a
rhetorical analysis
prompt?

2. Read the prompt!
make sure you understand
what they are asking you
to do

3. Read the selection!
1) What is the speaker
trying to argue?
2) What is the situation the
speaker speaks in? (aud,
context)

4. Read the selection again!
Try to find 4!
What moves does the author
make?
Which quotes show that?

5. Plan your essay!
Topic sentence = 1 rhetorical
strategy
Thesis = 2-3 rhetorical
strategies tied to the
speaker’s argument.

6. Write your introduction!
Cursory hook
Clear thesis which identifies
the strategies you’ll examine
and the argument the speaker
is making.

7. Write your body paragraphs!
1.Topic sentence identifies the
rhetorical strategy
2.Set-up give context to the
quote
3.Quote (who said it?)
Most important 4.ANALYSIS: Explore why
this speaker would use this
move.
5.

8. Write your conclusion!
Get out quick!

9. Think like this!
Don’t worry about proper
terminology.
Think like an arguer. Why is
this person making these
decisions for this audience?

10. Avoid...
Writing “Logos, Ethos, Pathos”
Evaluating success of the
strategies
only Summarizing argument
or only Identifying strategies