Now that you understand what you are supposed to include in your rhetorical analysis, let’s walk through the process of actually writing one. Like most other types of essays, a good rhetorical analysis begins with a solid thesis statement.

Finding Purpose

You can’t write the thesis statement that will guide your rhetorical analysis until you understand the purpose the writer or speaker is trying to achieve. Meacham does not come out and clearly state his purpose. It’s not something you can point to. But as we have analyzed some of the strategies he uses, we can infer that his purpose is to remind his audience of the values on which America was founded and which have stood the test of time. Those include subordinating the pursuit of personal happiness to “the common good.” As Meacham describes it, Jefferson’s view of happiness was both contemplative and “revolutionary.”

Choosing Strategies

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Once you have some notion of the writer or speaker’s purpose in your mind, look back at the patterns you observed in the piece and identify which rhetorical strategies seem most important in terms of the author’s achieving his or her purpose. At this stage, it’s important to focus. You can’t talk about everything, so just select a few key strategies to discuss. Remember: a rhetorical analysis isn’t a treasure hunt to see who can find the most strategies.

Now you’re ready to craft a thesis statement for a rhetorical analysis.

Tying Strategies to Purpose

An effective thesis answers the question “What is the writer’s purpose, and how does he or she use rhetorical strategies to achieve it?” Those are the two components: the “what” and the “how.” Let’s look at an example:

Jon Meacham cites the evidence of authorities as he assumes an informal but objective tone.

Is that a good thesis statement? Not really. It’s not a strong thesis because it’s missing purpose. It just focuses on two strategies—the use of authorities as evidence and an informal tone. Would it help to tack on “in order to achieve his purpose”? No. The thesis should tie the strategies to a specific purpose.

What about this one?

Using the evidence of authorities, Jon Meacham appeals to his audience’s reason in order to remind his readers that the American pursuit of happiness is less about personal happiness and more about the common good.

This thesis captures both purpose and strategies. It states what the writer is trying to achieve, and how he went about achieving it.

Keep in mind that you need not discuss all three appeals—logos, ethos, and pathos—in order to write an effective rhetorical analysis. While these do offer a clear way to organize your analysis, you might choose to focus on only one. In the example above, the thesis centers on logos. You cannot include everything, so you have to make choices. Just be sure that regardless of your focus, you discuss the connection between the purpose and the strategies—the “what” and the “how.”