Stepwise Guide on How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis Essay

You are likely to be given the task of analyzing the writing style of an author. This type of essay is referred to as a rhetorical analysis essay. You might look at the exercise as stressful; what you are about reading will detail the six steps that you can take to achieve the best results which will give you the high scores that will boost your overall grade.

However, before jumping into the steps, it is important to identify the factors that are needed in making the best out of this essay. There is a strategy called SOAPST. Each of the above constitutes an element and you are required to answer some questions on each of them. Let us define the elements before moving into the steps:

S - Speaker

O - Occasion

A - Audience

P - Purpose

S - Subject

T - Tone 

Let us know go into the six steps that are involved in crafting an excellent essay that will earn you the high marks. 

1. Persuasion strategy

There are three strategies under consideration here according to Aristotle. They are logos; pathos and ethos. You must determine the area of focus of the writer among the three which you are going to concentrate on.

2. Read it again and again

The best way to make the best out of this essay is to have a perfect understanding of the work. Read it, again and again, to be sure that you have a clear understanding of all the paragraphs of the work of literature. A perfect understanding will make your work of analyzing easy.

3. Clear thesis statements

It is now time to form a thesis statement that will be the anchor of your interpretation of the work of the author. You are expected to sound convincing enough here because this statement will give your writing direction. It will come up towards the end of the introductory paragraph. The statement should be precise as well as arguable. 

4. Your outline

You need an ordered presentation, and you can only achieve this in your writing if you outline. Spend time here and make sure you jot down all the points that you need to make every section credible in a way that will make you achieve the desired results. 

There are three elements here. The introduction is the first part. The body comes next where each paragraph will contain a persuasion that should be well elaborated. The conclusion is the part where you are going to give a concise summary of the work of the author.

5. Your style

If you are after high grades; then you are expected to use appropriate grammar in your write-up.

6. Edit your work

You now have the finished work before you. Proofread extensively before submission. You can give it to your friends or use online software. When you are through with editing the work; take time to proofread in other to make assurances doubly sure.

Final thoughts

A rhetorical analysis aims to describe the impact of writing or speech on its audience and to show how it succeeded. It also explains the appeals and devices it used to reach its goals. It is not like an argumentative essay. Instead, it is about exploring the structure of arguments. The steps above will help you get an idea of how to write a good essay easily.