Rhetorical Analysis – Documentary Film

AP English 11

L. Rhodes

  1. To the best of your ability, identify the following and tell what in the film gives you this information:
  • Subject of the film –
  • Occasion which gave rise to the need for this film (recall: in addition to time and place, occasion can refer to the context that encouraged the rhetoric to occur) –
  • Intended audience for the film –
  • Purpose of the film –
  • The speaker/persona of the film –
  • The tone the film takes toward its subject (alarming, casual, humorous, etc.) –

Finally, what is the main argument (thesis) of the film (this is somewhat subject to interpretation, and you may not be able to answer this until the end, though you should look for a “thesis statement” in the beginning. This is also directly related to what you wrote for purpose above.) –

2.Examine the ways in which the thesis and/or aim of the film’s argument is supported through the particular style and manner of the film’s construction, that is, through rhetorical strategies and film techniques. In particular, make note of:

Establishing ethos (credibility of the “speaker” or persona) through visual elements:

Establishing ethos through written elements:

Appealing to logos (rational/logical arguments) through expert testimony:

Appealing to logos through data:

Appealing to logos through inductive reasoning (recall: using observed examples to support a conclusion):

Appealing to logos through deductive reasoning (recall: using accepted propositions to support a conclusion):

Appealing to pathos (the audience’s emotions) through visual elements:

Appealing to pathos through personal anecdote:

Appealing to pathos through humor:

3. Interpret/explain, in terms of your thesis, why you made the particular compositional choices you did (i.e. #2) in an effort to forward their main argument (i.e. #1). You should ask the ‘so what?’ question; these choices are not arbitrary, therefore you should interpret why you have made certain compositional/stylistic choices. Again, support all claims with specific examples from the film.

Consider how the film is organized (i.e., the plotline of the film, what types of scenes are included at which points, where cuts and transitions occur, etc.), as well as cinematic techniques you use to build your argument throughout (such as screen shots, camera angles, use of narration, symbols, soundtrack, data and other informative language, etc.).