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Rhetorical Analysis Paragraph Structure

In the document, an example of a first draft rhetorical analysis paragraph is provided analyzing Sherman Alexie's work "Superman and Me". The paragraph is then revised to strengthen the analysis of Alexie's use of repetition and short, choppy sentences to convey the desperation with which he read as a child. A structure for writing effective rhetorical analysis paragraphs is also outlined, noting that it should include identifying the strategy, evidence, explanation of the strategy's purpose, and how it helps achieve the author's overall intent.

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56 views2 pages

Rhetorical Analysis Paragraph Structure

In the document, an example of a first draft rhetorical analysis paragraph is provided analyzing Sherman Alexie's work "Superman and Me". The paragraph is then revised to strengthen the analysis of Alexie's use of repetition and short, choppy sentences to convey the desperation with which he read as a child. A structure for writing effective rhetorical analysis paragraphs is also outlined, noting that it should include identifying the strategy, evidence, explanation of the strategy's purpose, and how it helps achieve the author's overall intent.

Uploaded by

Dylan Suarez
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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AP Language and Composition

How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis Paragraph

Example from Sherman Alexie’s “Superman and Me”

First Draft Analysis:


In paragraph 7, Alexie describes how much he read as a child to escape life on the reservation.
In this paragraph, Alexie uses repetition. For example, he repeats the phrase “I read”. In
addition, Alexie uses short sentences throughout the paragraph. For example, he writes, “I
refused to fail. I was smart. I was arrogant. I was lucky”. This use of syntax really gets the
reader’s attention. By using short sentences, Alexie connects to the reader’s emotions and
proves his point.

Revised Analysis:
In paragraph 7, Alexie describes how voraciously he read as a child in order to show the
“desperation” with which he was trying to escape life on the reservation. In this paragraph,
Alexie uses repetition in order to overwhelm the reader by the amount that he read. For
example, he repeats the phrase “I read” fourteen times. Each time he repeats the phrase, he
describes a different place where he read or a different type of reading material. The sheer
diversity of all the different places and texts that Alexie read impresses upon the reader the
idea that Alexie read constantly. In addition, Alexie employs repeated short, simple sentences
throughout the paragraph in order to demonstrate the urgency with which he read. For
example, he begins, “I refused to fail. I was smart. I was arrogant. I was lucky” and continues on
later in the paragraph, “I read junk mail. I read auto-repair manuals. I read magazines” (Alexie
17, 18). This use of repetitive syntax allows the reader to feel his desperation. Each short
sentence feels like an urgent message, just as each text Alexie read brought him closer to
“saving” his life. By using repetition and short, choppy sentences, Alexie builds the connection
between his intensive reading and his dire need to leave the reservation.

Rhetorical Analysis Paragraph Structure


1. Topic Sentence that articulates what the author is saying in the paragraph; the
paragraph’s main idea.
2. Sentence that identifies the rhetorical strategy the author is using in this paragraph (use
strong analysis verbs—remember: appeals are not strategies, they are effects)
3. Evidence of rhetorical strategy from the text in “...” (short quotations are more effective
and longer ones, since they provide more efficient and to the point support).
4. Explanation of why the author is using that specific strategy: how does the strategy help
the author convey the meaning in the topic sentence? What is the effect of the strategy
on the audience? (this is where you include the appeals, if you are talking about them)
5. Explanation of how the strategy helps the author achieve his/her purpose in the text.

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