Rhetorical Analysis

Rhetorical analysis (or criticism) is a method that emphasizes how and why something is said as opposed to how many said it. Rhetoric encompasses all public discourse, including political speeches, debates, editorials, public service campaigns, and advertisements, in addition to creative narratives like books, film, television, and music. In public discourse, the rhetorician has chosen specific language, strategies, and appeals that he or she deems best able to convince the audience or public to act: to vote a certain way, change a behavior or attitude, or to part with their money.

This entry focuses on the significance of rhetorical analysis for analyzing mass media texts. It first provides a brief background on the method of rhetorical analysis, before elaborating with a discussion of the theoretical lenses ...