Raven Keyes

Mr. Wolfe

English 101 and 101-Lab

26 Sept. 2023

Rhetorical Analysis Outline: Malala’s impact on society

I. Introduction

A. Hook (rhetorical questioning/startling statistic/mantra/philosophy/guiding quote):

Malala Yousafzai suffered a very brutal wound to the head, but she continued to

further her education and made strides in the education field.

B. Background Information/Biographical Details: Malala is a Pakistani education

advocate who, at the age of 17 in 2014, became the youngest person to win the

Nobel Peace Prize after surviving an assassination attempt by the Taliban.

C. Provide Context: In October 2012, on her way home from school, a masked

gunman boarded her school bus and asked, “Who is Malala?” He shot her on the

left side of her head. She woke up 10 days later in the hospital.

D. Thesis Statement: Yousafzai uses effective rhetoric in her piece as exemplified

through her utilization of purpose, details, and ethos by speaking up for women's

rights to education, speaking from hands-on experience on behalf of women's

rights and education, and the event in which Malala and her friends got shot on

the bus by the Taliban on October 9th,2012. Which in return made thousands of

people speak out.

II. Body Paragraph I: Rhetorical Situation

A. Topic Sentence: To start, Yousafzai’s piece shows the purpose of her speech is to

speak up for females and education rights across the world.

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B. Context: In her piece, Yousafzai explains the lack of education for women in

Pakistan and associates that with equal rights in general.

C. Evidentiary Support

1. Proof 1: For example, Malala specifically says, “Today I am focusing on

women's rights and girls' education because they are suffering the most” (2).

2. Proof 2: Yousafzai states, “We want schools and education for every child's

bright future” (3).

3. Proof 3: As Malala says in her speech: “Today is the day of every woman,

every boy and every girl who have raised their voice for their rights” (1).

D. Analysis/Interpretation: Yousafzai’s rhetoric showcases a strong sense of purpose

due to her experience in Pakistan.

E. Relate to the Thesis: The purpose of the speech is to raise the awareness of the

audience regarding the importance and necessity of education.

F. Concluding Sentence: Moreover, Yousafzai’s rhetoric here showcases the

rhetorical situation of purpose within her piece.

III. Body Paragraph II: Rhetorical Appeals

A. Topic Sentence: Next, Ethos builds on the credibility of the speaker. Yousafzai

claims credibility to call for education for all.

B. Context: She presents herself as an ordinary girl and as a representative of girls

who desire an education.

C. Evidentiary Support
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1. Proof 1: Yousafzai writes, “I am just one of them. So here I stand one girl

among many. I speak not for myself, but so those without a voice can be

heard” (1).

4. Proof 2: Furthermore, she establishes a connection with her audience by

referring to them as her “sisters and brothers.”

5. Proof 3: She plainly tells her audience that “… on 9 October 2012, the Taliban

shot me on the left side of my forehead” (1).

D. Analysis/Interpretation: The very presence of her in the room after having been

targeted by a notorious extremist organization gives credibility to her message on

the right for all to receive an education.

E. Relate to the Thesis: Malala explains the horrors and barriers she faced while

trying to justify the importance of girls’ education.

F. Concluding Sentence: She uses ethos to establish her credibility as a speaker and

strengthen the chance of her message being well-received.

IV. Body Paragraph III: Tone

A. Topic Sentence: Last, Malala also showcases effective rhetoric in her piece

through her demonstration of details.

B. Context: Yousufzai’s use of details sets the tone for the piece by being serious,

but she does add her sense of humor here and there to lighten the mood. Adding

in humor also keeps her audience engaged as too much of a serious topic can be

daunting.

C. Evidentiary Support
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1. Proof 1: Malala and her friends got shot on the bus by the Taliban on October

9th, 2012. Which in turn made thousands of people to speak up.

2. Proof 2: Yousafzai states, “The power of the voice of women frightens them. This

is why they killed 14 innocent students in the recent attack in Quetta. And that is why

they kill female teachers. That is why they are blasting schools every day because

they were, and they are afraid of the change and equality that we will bring to our

society “(2).

3. Proof 3: Malala says, “Young girls have to do domestic child labor and are forced

to get married at an early age” (2).

D. Analysis/Interpretation: Interpretation This is effective rhetoric because it offers a

hopeful yet serious tone for the piece.

E. Relate to Thesis: She uses her tone and details to encourage people around the

world to stand up for their rights under the Taliban.

F. Concluding Sentence: Her powerful words and firsthand stories all aided her in

reaching her audience.

V. Conclusion

A. Context/Summary: Young survivor of a Taliban shooting and educational rights

activist Malala Yousafzai, in her speech to the United Nations, discusses how and

why she is battling for her rights, including her experience with the Taliban.

B. Restatement of Thesis: She believes that the audience should believe that children

worldwide should be provided education and act by asking the world leaders to

unite and make education their top priority and ensure that basic education is not

enough.
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C. Overall Significance: To speak for every child’s right to education and to those

who cannot raise their voice.

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Works Cited

Yousafzai, Malala. “Speech at the United Nations.” 12 July 2013,

http://www.teachhumanrights.com/uploads/5/1/4/4/5144250/

text_of_malala_un_speech.pdf. PDF file.