Rhetorical Analysis Reading Notes Template

Elliot Mead

6 Rhetorical Analysis Reading Notes Template

Rhetorical Strategies Grid

Please use this template to find passages from your source text, interpret the passages, and connect the passages and interpretations to the author’s purpose and audience. You may copy this as a GoogleDocument here: Rhetorical Analysis Grid

First, answer the questions below for your text

What is the text’s purpose(s)? Where do you find evidence of this?
Who is the intended audience for the text? Where do you find evidence of this?

Then complete your grid

Note: fill it out as much as you can, but you don’t have to fill out a grid for every single example you find:

Passage: Identify a passage that demonstrates a rhetorical strategy (ethos, logos, pathos) of your choice. You may include a direct quote or paraphrase.
Interpretation and Explanation: Interpret and explain how the passage is an example of the rhetorical strategy.
Impact on Purpose and Audience: Note how the strategy is impacting the author’s primary purpose and/or target audience. In other words, how would the audience interpret or respond to the strategy?

Passage: either direct quote or paraphrase

Interpretation & explanation of how the passage is an example of the strategy you chose

Notes about how the passage would impact the purpose and/or audience. (How is this an example of the strategy “working” in the text?)

Instance One

Instance Two

Instance Three

Example: Brooks’ “How America Got Mean”

1. What is the text’s purpose? Where do you find evidence of this?

Purpose: Brooks’ primary purpose is to argue that America has become a meaner and lonelier society due to the decline of moral education and formative social institutions. He seeks to inform the reader about the historical and cultural factors that have led to this moral breakdown and encourage a rethinking of how moral education could be restored.
Evidence: Brooks makes his purpose clear early on when he writes, “Why have Americans become so sad? Why have they become so mean?” He then spends much of the article tracing the shift away from moral formation, using historical references, statistics, and emotional appeals to argue that societal meanness is a direct result of the loss of moral education.

2. Who is the intended audience for the text? Where do you find evidence of this?

Audience: The intended audience is likely well-educated, socially and politically engaged readers of The Atlantic. They are people who are concerned with cultural and societal issues and are familiar with debates about moral education, individualism, and community decline.
Evidence: Brooks writes in a reflective and intellectual tone, assuming his audience is familiar with both historical context and sociological trends. The article’s placement in The Atlantic—a magazine known for its long-form journalism on politics and culture—also indicates that the readership consists of those interested in thoughtful social critique.

Rhetorical Strategies Grid:

Passage

Interpretation & Explanation

Impact on Purpose and Audience

Instance One: “The percentage of people who say they don’t have close friends has increased fourfold since 1990.”

Strategy: Logos – This passage uses statistics to appeal to logos (logical reasoning). By citing a clear, measurable statistic, Brooks grounds his argument in objective data, which adds credibility to his claim that American society is becoming more isolated.

The use of logos strengthens Brooks’ argument by providing the audience with concrete evidence of societal decline. The statistic likely resonates with his educated, socially conscious audience, who value fact-based arguments. This makes Brooks’ claim more persuasive and harder to dismiss.

Instance Two: “We’re enmeshed in some sort of emotional, relational, and spiritual crisis.”

Strategy: Pathos – This metaphor appeals to pathos (emotions), creating a vivid image of the depth of societal suffering. The use of words like “crisis” emphasizes urgency, encouraging the audience to feel concern and empathy for the state of society.

The emotional language helps Brooks connect with the reader on a personal level, making the issue of societal decline feel immediate and personal. By stirring concern, Brooks motivates the audience to reflect on the moral state of society and consider solutions, aligning with his purpose to spark reform.

Instance Three: “In 2018, a documentary about Mister Rogers called Won’t You Be My Neighbor? was released. People cried openly while watching it in theaters.”

Strategy: Ethos & Pathos – Brooks references a well-known, morally respected figure—Mister Rogers—to build ethos (credibility) while also using an emotional appeal to pathos. By evoking the nostalgia and emotional responses associated with Mister Rogers, Brooks connects the audience to an idealized time of moral integrity.

This reference appeals to the audience’s sense of nostalgia and emotion, making the argument about moral decline more relatable. The ethos of Mister Rogers serves to remind readers of what they believe society has lost, reinforcing Brooks’ purpose to argue for a return to moral education. It emotionally engages readers, urging them to reflect on societal changes and their personal values.

Analysis Grid for Any Discipline

Evidence/Passage

Observation & Explanation

Impact/Significance

Instance One

What is happening in this passage/data? What strategy or method is being used? Why is it significant?

How does this evidence support the main argument, research question, or hypothesis? How does it impact the audience or larger discussion?

Example (Literature): “She laughed no more, and her eyes were dim.” (from The Story of an Hour)

Strategy: Symbolism – This line represents the death of hope and freedom for the protagonist. The dimming of her eyes symbolizes the end of her brief glimpse of liberation.

The use of symbolism adds emotional weight to the story’s theme of female repression. It leaves a lasting impact on readers, encouraging them to

reflect on gender roles in society.

Example (History): “The Treaty of Versailles placed full blame on Germany for the war.”

Observation: The treaty uses attribution of blame as a political strategy. By assigning guilt, it justified harsh penalties and reparations against Germany.

The harshness of the treaty contributed to political and economic instability in Germany, laying the groundwork for the rise of fascism and WWII. This example highlights how short-term political decisions can have long-term global consequences.

Example (Business): “Apple’s Q3 earnings report showed a 20% increase in revenue from services like iCloud and Apple Music.”

Strategy: The report uses data-driven evidence to show how Apple is diversifying beyond hardware sales, emphasizing growth in the services sector.

This growth in services demonstrates Apple’s strategic shift towards recurring revenue models. It signals to investors that the company’s long-term profitability is less reliant on hardware, appealing to risk-averse stakeholders.

Example (Social Science): “Survey data shows that 60% of respondents experience job-related stress at least once a week.”

Observation: The survey uses quantitative data to measure the prevalence of stress in the workplace. The percentage shows a widespread issue that impacts a significant portion of the workforce.

This data suggests that workplace stress is a systemic issue, which could lead to further studies on its impact on productivity and mental health. It might also support arguments for workplace policy reforms.

Example (Science): “The experiment showed that plants exposed to blue light grew 30% taller than those in red light.”

Observation: The study uses controlled variables to demonstrate how light color affects plant growth. The comparison between blue and red light highlights a significant difference in growth rates.

This finding suggests a specific wavelength of light that could be optimized for agricultural practices. The analysis could lead to further research into how light spectrum manipulation affects plant biology, with practical applications in farming.