AP English Language

AP English Language focuses on developing students' writing and analytical skills through the study of various texts and rhetorical strategies.

Advanced Topics

Rhetorical Analysis Essays

Unpacking How Authors Persuade

In rhetorical analysis essays, you focus on how an author communicates their message, not just what they say. You'll examine the choices authors make to persuade, inform, or entertain their audiences.

What to Look For

  • Diction: Word choice and its impact.
  • Syntax: Sentence structure and variation.
  • Tone: The author's attitude or mood.
  • Appeals: Ethos (credibility), Pathos (emotion), Logos (logic).

Structure of a Rhetorical Analysis

  1. Introduction: Identify the text, author, and main idea.
  2. Body Paragraphs: Each one analyzes a rhetorical strategy.
  3. Conclusion: Summarize the overall impact of the author's choices.

Rhetorical analysis is a key skill for understanding how texts shape opinions and beliefs.

Examples

  • Analyzing how a charity letter uses emotional language (pathos) to encourage donations.

  • Explaining how a political speech builds credibility (ethos) by referencing the speaker's experience.

In a Nutshell

Rhetorical analysis digs into how authors use language to persuade.

Key Terms

Ethos
An appeal to credibility or character.
Pathos
An appeal to emotion.
Logos
An appeal to logic or reason.