What is a Rhetorical Analysis?

This video gives a quick explanation of rhetoric and how to analyze the rhetoric of a text. It was designed for Dr. Kyle Stedman's rhetoric classes at Rockford University.
Originally, the music in this video was "Rubber" and "Raining at the Crescent House" by Williamson, an artist who licenses his music with CC-BY-SA licenses and graciously allows you to download it for free at jamendo.com. However, the copyright owner asked me to remove it, so KZbin tried to take the music out of the end of the video while leaving my voice over it, resulting in not-the-best sound quality. Sorry about that.
This video is licensed by a Creative Commons BY-SA license.

[@kalebfrog]

My essay is due in 12 hours and I haven't started because I've felt overwhelmed by not understanding what the hell I'm even writing. I now understand. Thank you SO much. Probably time to go grab some red bull and my laptop.

[@arnoldoayala3096]

you and me both pal! :)

[@alexusrmreyes]

Lol this is me right now

[@austinhigh6208]

Kaleb Rasmussen how did you do?

[@Franklin2027a]

History repeats here

[@Jbolo123]

Me rn but I got 5 hours

[@alfpenne]

I just want you to know I'm a community college teacher and I've been using this video for 9 years. And it's STILL the best teaching tool for rhetorical analysis. I only teach rhetorical analysis because I think it's vital for college freshmen. Thank you!!!

[@kylestedman]

Aw, thanks. I'm a little embarrassed by the sound these days (which got worse when a copyright strike automatically removed some of the music), but I don't have the original files any more to redo it. But that's really kind to hear it's helping.

[@ashleycollins-ex1hf]

@@kylestedman I also use this for my comp 101 course every year, it's a great audiovisual breakdown of the concept!

[@jakethomas5338]

This is actually super helpful! I'm a college senior and I don't think I have done a rhetorical analysis since probably my junior year of high school, and totally forgot what it was. Great video!

[@ghostfrom1950]

the choice of this distracting background music! Ehh

[@tld2888]

I thought it was going to be really catchy and hip, but it really distracted me from the great message.

[@amberleagreene8535]

Ironic how he literally discusses the annoying background music in a store while playing the most distracting and abrasive background music in his video lol

[@SK-le1gm]

I dunno I’m grooving to it 🤣

[@andrewfisher7488]

Thankyou, I have a asynchronous class and the teacher expected us to know what this meant... this was very helpful

[@carmenmorales6700]

I have to write a rhetorical analysis and this helped so much in the sense that I now understand what the assignment is asking me to do. As a highschool student who is taking college classes this made things so much easier. I tend to struggle with how to structure my paper so thank you!

[@iSongzHD]

This is genius, brain synchronizations in the background or music like that helps, I have a practice exam and I struggle with rhetoric the most. THANKS SO MUCH! This is going under my videos to study in for AP exams.

[@SuperShakirawakawaka]

-Explain the text's rhetorical situation: context, audience, purpose. -Describe choices made by text's composer -Describe the effect of those choices

[@NickAdamAnderson]

This video was a huge help, thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and breaking this writing down for me. You just eased this college student"s late night struggles.

[@snoopsxi]

Who else is forced to be here because of the COVID-19 Pandemic and the fact that you still have final essays to write for your courses :')

[@kylestedman]

You're making me sad...

[@snoopsxi]

@@kylestedman don't be sadddd, be happy! :')

[@TinaV22]

YUPPP

[@baileighpatrick470]

You explained this so much better than my professor did, thank you so much!!!!

[@moisesramos6746]

Really appreciate this. I love how you put yourself in a partner's shoes. It's reassuring.

[@RtsFps1]

Great examples I also really enjoy the background and how it affected your explanations, it didnt make it boring :]

[@user-ti2xi9bd4u]

I can't really quite tell... Does this video helped me or not...I'm still very confusing about what is a Rhetorical Analysis, but at the same time... I sort of understood what I need to do with my English essay... omg I'm so lost with both sides. Help me Kyle!!! My essay due 2/2/2017

[@kylestedman]

First rule: always ask the teacher! I mean, the way I describe it is based on what I see as the general principles, but of course it's colored by the way I teach this stuff. Take your new "sort of understanding" and use those words to help you phrase the right question to the teacher! I'm sure s/he will be impressed that you tried to learn this stuff on your own, which makes you look good.

[@tubecrazy3000]

@Recovery Coaching with Crystal happened 4 years ago idk if he’s even gonna come back to this video.

[@jonlaw7657]

My analysis of this video is: great info and content, BUT the background music made it extremely difficult for me to focus on the message. Being as this is my first foray into rhetorical analysis, that was disappointing.

[@brandysantacruz219]

This video was so helpful, thank you. p.s. I LOVED the creepy hand comment - literal LOL. :)

[@errafiyyoussef4941]

Effective communication = choice and effects (a sort of wisdome), good video thank you

[@drieux]

i cant even focus because of the music how ironic

[@ashleyx7113]

I hate school I can't physically and mentally understand anything anymore.

[@debbiesosman1750]

Very helpful and easy to understand

[@rahimrashid4441]

Really well done. Thanks

[@user-fm9tm1ed9f]

I wish I found this before I turned in my essay.. I get it now. Thank you for this

[@goodimiller4933]

Kyle, for my current research paper I am using the your suggested method on how to arrange a rhetorical analysis. Is this your original arrangement? If not, whose is it? I am looking for the proper person to give credit. Thanks for the help!

[@kylestedman]

You know, it's hard to say. I've been influenced by so many people who have written about rhetorical analysis that it's hard to say where influence ends and my own creativity begins. The way it felt when I made the video was that I wanted to boil the concept down to the simplest possible summary, so it felt like the rhetorical situation/choices/effects model was mine. But I could never 100% claim it as mine, since it's an idea that is talked about so much. Doesn't really answer your question, but it's the best I could do.

[@mendacium9209]

Got my rhetorical analysis due tomorrow

[@Craygunman007]

Thank you I found this video very helpful! I got to do know is think of a topic to pick.

[@IshaqEscobar-ht8ft]

Wow, Yes, I am completely saved! Amazing Video; This is truly. The one,

[@yohannesnurga4887]

Thank you sir. Well explained!

[@jeffgraham9089]

Good lord! Breathe! This is very well explained and with good visuals, but the background music and frenetic pace of your narration is distracting. This is a shame because your general content is really good.

[@kylestedman]

You totally just did a rhetorical analysis. :)

[@deepfreakinvalue]

really well done video, thank you.

[@PSLLO12]

thank you

[@miker6619]

You speak too fast, and that was some distracting background music. Otherwise helpful :)

[@Philosjutsu]

He spoke fine for me. If your brain works too slow you can set the speed to 0.75. You can pause. You can go back. Stop trying to make the world conform to your speed and stop being lazy.

[@BrenBertozzi]

The music was distracting. But like he said; it was a choice.

[@petermcminn9508]

@@BrenBertozzi But was it an effective choice?

[@Zaxe]

Much appreciated, friend.

[@Emoncjr103192]

Really helpful video, thanks.

[@thespeedyyoshi]

This is so fast, and yet I remember so much. How did you do this? Thank you!

[@kylestedman]

You could do it too! It's just a PowerPoint that I'm talking over. Super easy!

[@ansonturley2589]

Helpful but the background music is annoying.

[@richiemarrero2648]

You’re awesome thank you

[@jamaimaendres]

Thank you, very helpful.

[@julial2082]

This is soooo helpfullll thank you so muchhh

[@angelicasoto956]

Great Job! Nice paint btw lol

[@sarahheiselmoyer4565]

It was good and all...but please slow it down a bit...Not everyone reads like you talk. I couldn't focus as I normally can. The music was waayyyy to distracting.

[@smzxvv771]

2:21 next part of video

[@hekisjwhdifosihsfyithhioa7728]

That store that repeats it's jingle is home depot

[@marisaklages3909]

This is a great video- and I'd love to use it with my students, but the speaker talks SO FAST and the music is terrible.

[@kylestedman]

That's totally a rhetorical analysis you did right there! :)

[@PresenceofthePhoenix]

Such a helpful video!

[@bism8068]

tip: slow down to .75

[@calebmulholland4946]

Yall been talking about the horrible background music, but it's actually pretty good music. Also, if you think he speaks too fast, slow the video down to .75 speed

[@ramirez368]

Thanks for the video, but please don't put background music, it is distracting.

[@ipkyouosrs8421]

So is it like a persuasive essay too?

[@amarouchemelissa5959]

examples that were used were so efficient but the author was talking soooooo fast 😔

[@kylestedman]

Sorry! I realized that when I recorded it, and that's why I typed out closed captions, in hopes that it would help.

[@AshleighVasi]

Yes love the video but it is too fast for me as well

[@ttaayylloorr796]

i have a question. how can you choose your topic? can it be anything, or does it have to be argumentative?

[@kylestedman]

It depends on why you're doing rhetorical analysis, and who's going to read it. For example, if it's for a class, your teacher might want you to pick something that's argumentative, or they might not. (You should ask!) With that said, I think it's easier to do rhetorical analysis if the text is argumentative in some way, even if it's just subtly argumentative. Like, the waiter's offensive t-shirt is kind of an argument, if you want to see it that way--but it's probably easier to write a whole analysis of a complex speech rather than just a tshirt. But again, it all depends on who is reading your work.

[@nathanditto1825]

This vid slaps, 🙏 🙏

[@princess8961]

Very helpful, I had no idea how to begin writing a rhetorical analysis. I was just assigned one!

[@syrupman2887]

it’s so creepy, but because it’s so creepy, it’s so good ahah

[@DocF7499]

A perfect example is when I go to a Chinese restaurant and they are playing top 40 US songs... really? The whole establishment has the Chinese theme and you play top 40 music? Totally ruins my mood because at the time I want to be immersed in that particular culture.

[@KampsKnows]

+Fernando Fustero NO CHOPSTICKS FOR YOU!

[@DocF7499]

Kampipie Plays :-(

[@virnan]

If you want to be immersed, then go to a deep- town Chinatown resty where an interpreter is needed.

[@kadourelmahdibenhaddou5350]

To fast isn’t it ?

[@gregcody9266]

shout out enc1101

[@remphz3321]

ayeeeee

[@tonklar9910]

Many many many thanks lol 😁😁

[@Sun-soilproductions]

great video ! entertaining for teens lol thanks

[@zhodinoi]

God I wish you were my English teacher

[@brendasanchez2632]

great video i have an rhectoric arugmentive essay ? any videos or help in that please !!!!!! :)

[@reymarkplacer5423]

Is this based on Perelman's New Rhetorics? Or Aristotle's?

[@Dom-lj2dw]

anyone here from Dr. Piercy class?

[@SitiYustanti]

Dude talks so fast you can audibly hear him smack his lips and gasp for air several times. Like I had to rewind this shit a million times to catch the basis of what was actually being said so I could understand. 😒

[@camalasholes6315]

*Where can I buy an essay?*

[@kylestedman]

My answer to that depends in part on whether or not you're currently a college student. If you are, you're probably already paying for your classes and lots of services, and hopefully some of them help you learn to write essays. So if all that is true, you've actually already bought an essay, from a certain point of view.

[@omnicave3183]

The audio kind of shit the bed half way through, but otherwise, good video. I actually have a better understanding of what the hell a rhetorical analysis is!

[@JamaalBloom]

hi

[@Nephelli]

How *dare* you insinuate my hands are creepy!

[@kylestedman]

Sorry, I actually meant everyone but yours.

[@markbeshay9597]

speaking too fast couldn't understand anything

[@jomigvillanueva6485]

After watching this I still can't understand anything :D

[@crow_nah1278]

It's ironic that it teaches you how to give good messege, but it has these distracting music and fast pace talking

[@kylestedman]

Yes! It's begging you to write a rhetorical analysis of it!

[@Jay-fq8uz]

The music in the background almost gave me a seizure

[@erischnimd]

You're talking too fast.

[@kylestedman]

I agree--I was just so worried about the video being long and boring, so I overdid it on the speed angle, which I know can make it hard to catch everything. I did type captions out, if that helps! (Click the little cc.)

[@joycegifford8826]

Rhetoric is nothing more than subjective, overly emotional, and judgemental nonsense masquerading as critical thought.

[@kylestedman]

Plato thought so too!

[@azezaawdi4205]

you talk to fast

[@user-cg4sc6ti6e]

Thank Jesus for rtx voice so I dont have to hear that trash music

[@tannercovello6313]

Try not to talk so fast. Thank you though

[@Mrpurrify]

So ignoring, why are speaking so fast man, slow down. Make a rhetorical analysis before posting the video, there is a lot of people who don't have english as there mother language!

[@kylestedman]

Sorry! That's why I typed the captions, though, so you could read along or download the transcript. Hope that helps!

[@Mrpurrify]

Thank you kyle, sorry for the frustration

[@victortellini4319]

who else came from Mrs. Webb

[@allthatgirlcoronado]

Victor Torres yo momma