Analysis of Nonfiction Essay Prompt
When speakers give persuasive speeches, they utilize a variety of appeals and rhetorical devices to convey their
message and achieve their ultimate purpose. Choose one of the speeches from the list below, and write an essay in
which you analyze the rhetorical devices the speaker uses to persuade his/her audience and to achieve his/her
purpose.
What rhetorical strategies are used particularly effectively in this speech, and for
what purpose?
PROMPT:
! Print and annotate your speech using the “Rhetorical Analysis: Things to Consider” handout as a guide.
! Choose at least three rhetorical devices that make the work appealing and effectively contribute to the
author’s purpose. Then write a thesis statement that identifies the devices and your opinion about their
contribution to the work.
! Support your thesis statement with precise and relevant examples from the speech. These examples
may be direct quotations, paraphrases, and summaries of the text. Never drop “naked” quotes into your
essay. Give your evidence CONTEXT such as with a transitional/ lead-in sentence (see example below).
Example: Patrick Henry began his speech using a respectful tone that was meant to disarm the
men present and make them feel as if he were united with them. His opening statement to the
House, “Mr. President: No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as well as
the abilities of the very men who have just addressed the House” (80), was an ethical appeal to
get his audience to trust him because he claimed to respect them and support their patriotic
ideals.
! Provide explanation for each example you draw from the text. The explanation should detail how the
device effectively contributes to the overall purpose of the speech. Your argument should be the bulk of
the paragraph. Do not just string one quote after another. You need to weave your explanation/argument
and the evidence together so that your essay flows smoothly from one idea to the next.
! Since this essay involves more than one example of more than one rhetorical device, organization is of
utmost importance. Organize paragraphs about devices used by order of importance and organize
details and examples within each paragraph chronologically (the order in which they appear).
! The final essay must be typed, single-spaced, in 12-point, Times New Roman font and be in proper MLA
format. Submit on Turnitin.com on: ______________.
SPEECH CHOICES:
• SOCRATES: excerpt from: Defense/Apology to Athens Jury
(http://people.wku.edu/jan.garrett/103/Apol_Velasq_Tr.htm)
• PATRICK HENRY: “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death”
• FREDERICK DOUGLASS: “The Hypocrisy of American Slavery”
• JOHN F. KENNEDY: 1961 Inaugural Address
• MARTIN LUTHER KING, Jr.: “I Have a Dream”
• BARBARA JORDAN: 1976 Democratic Keynote Address
• REAGAN: “Remarks at Brandenburg Gate, 1987
Or . . . a speech of your choice – approved by your teacher – of at least 1000 words. You might want to take a
look at this website: http://www.onlineuniversities.com/blog/2010/04/50-incredible-historical-speeches/ for more
choices.