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.

1. Rhetorical Analysis
Textual and Literary Analysis
M. Eilene Wollslager, Ph.D., APR

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

4. Rhetorical Situation
 Purpose
 Audience
 Stance/Beliefs
 Media Design

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

7. Organization
 Thematically
 Part by part or text by text
 Page 54

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

9. Design
 Document sources (MLA)
 Headings
 Print vs. presentation

10. Revising
 Good beginning?
 Thesis clear?
 Summary concise?
 Organized clearly?
 Tied to thesis?
 Quotations documented?
 Evidence strong?
 Clear summary/ending?

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?