Rhetorical Analysis Essay Checklist

Intro:

Hook

Background information of author and/or company

Background information of piece (including when and where it was published)

Summary of piece, including the piece’s argument (or could be first body paragraph)

Thesis: What rhetorical strategies will you analyze in your paper? Is the argument that the piece makes
effective? Why or why not?

Body Paragraphs:

Rhetorical Strategies: Ethos, Pathos, Logos

Quotes from text/description of visual

In-text citations

Author’s purpose

Author’s tone

Audience reaction: Sympathetic, neutral, hostile. Who are the different audiences for the piece?

*More analysis than summary

Conclusion:

If you asked a question in your intro, answer it.

Reiteration of the thesis in a way that ties everything you’ve analyzed together.

What is your opinion of the piece’s effectiveness? Did it persuade you? Why or why not? Did your
opinion changed post-analysis?

What is the importance of the piece/argument/your analysis?

Works Cited

*proofread!!!