Analyzing a text rhetorically means examining it in its rhetorical situation: when and where it was published, who the intended audience is, the kind of appeals the author utilizes, etc. To put it another way, you are attempting to view the text in context, describing the factors that make the author’s thesis more or less persuasive.
Below are some questions based on Kristina Rizga’s article, “Everything You’ve Heard About Failing Schools is Wrong” that are essential to ask for a thorough rhetorical analysis.
1. Describe the assumed views/beliefs/values of Rizga’s intended audience based on a close reading of the text as well as a consideration of the readership of an online publication like Mother Jones.
2. What rhetorical appeal(s) does Rizga heavily utilize (pathos, ethos, logos)? Give at least one example from the text.
3. Describe Rizga’s writing style. Is it friendly, forceful, formal, informal? Is it appropriate for her audience?
4. Lastly, what kind of sources does Rizga rely on? Are they fitting for the type of article she’s writing?
