10/15/12

A rhetorical analysis  is a "close reading of a text to find how and whether it works to persuade" (97).  A rhetorical analysis does not debate the argument being made by the author, but rather how the author uses evidence and analysis in order to persuade the reader to the point being made. 

I realize I must effectively answer the questions: what is the purpose, who is the audience, what emotional appeals does the author implement, how facts are used to persuade, and who is making the argument?  By answering these questions I will have a better understanding of the argument being made, and then I can effectively provide my own rhetorical analysis.  

When the authors says "show readers where and why an argument makes sense," he means that the readers must first be informed about the issue.  Then, you must "show" the readers your evidence by laying it out in a clear and concise way that makes sense and persuades the reader to your position.  This is different than "telling" the reader because "telling" a position doesn't always mean that you were  successful in attempting to persuade.  By showing the reader an argument and why it makes sense, you have successfully provided sufficient material to make your claim believable.   As the old saying goes "seeing is believing."