ELA: Rhetorical Analysis: Standard Practice

# Medium Level Guide Grade-level practice aligned to typical classroom expectations and unit assessments. # The Rhetorical Situation Every text has a purpose, audience, and context. The speaker or writer, the message, and the occasion shape how arguments are built. Ask who is speaking, to whom, why now, and what they want the audience to think or do. # Ethos, Pathos, and Logos Ethos appeals to credibility and character. Pathos appeals to emotion. Logos appeals to logic and evidence. Skilled writers blend all three. Identify the dominant appeal in each passage section. # Tone and Diction Tone is the author's attitude toward the subject. Diction is word choice. Formal diction suits academic arguments; concrete images stir pathos. Syntax (sentence structure) affects pace and emphasis. # Writing About Rhetoric Strong analysis names the device, cites evidence, and explains effect on the audience. Avoid listing devices without analysis. Connect each choice to the author's purpose and the audience's likely response.