Scribd
Upload
3 views

Rhetoric One_ The SOAPSTone Analysis Method - Google Docs

The document outlines the SOAPSTone analysis method for rhetorical analysis, which involves examining the Speaker, Occasion, Audience, Purpose, Subject, and Tone of a text. It emphasizes the importance of understanding a writer's rhetorical strategy to effectively convey messages and achieve intended purposes. The document also provides a practical exercise using a speech by George Graham Vest to apply the SOAPSTone method.

Uploaded by

alamsoto77
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
3 views

Rhetoric One_ The SOAPSTone Analysis Method - Google Docs

The document outlines the SOAPSTone analysis method for rhetorical analysis, which involves examining the Speaker, Occasion, Audience, Purpose, Subject, and Tone of a text. It emphasizes the importance of understanding a writer's rhetorical strategy to effectively convey messages and achieve intended purposes. The document also provides a practical exercise using a speech by George Graham Vest to apply the SOAPSTone method.

Uploaded by

alamsoto77
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 4

‭1‬

‭Rhetoric One: The SOAPSTone Analysis Method‬

‭Not brute force but only persuasion and faith are the kings of this world‬‭--Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881)‬

‭Rhetoric‬‭-‬‭The art or study of using language effectively‬‭and persuasively.‬

‭ hetorical analysis‬‭- The examination of texts to determine‬‭how the author shapes the content to achieve a‬
R
‭purpose for a given audience. In other words, finding what the writer wants the reader to understand by‬
‭analyzing his or her language usage, literary and rhetorical techniques.‬

‭ hen we are mindful of a writer’s rhetorical strategy while reading, we are better able to understand the‬
W
‭message. When we are mindful of our own rhetorical strategy as writers, we are better able to advance our‬
‭point of view and achieve our purpose.‬

‭ se the SOAPSTone acronym and corresponding questions described below as a model to rhetorically‬
U
‭analyze a text:‬

‭Speaker‬
‭ he communicator who produced the work. Consider: what has gotten under the‬
T
‭communicator’s skin? What can you infer about his or her background? Is he or‬
‭she credible and trustworthy?‬

‭Occasion‬
‭ he time, place, context, and/or current situation that prompted the work.‬
T
‭Consider: is the work in response to a specific event or person?‬

‭Audience‬
‭ he group of readers to whom the work is directed. Generally there is a primary‬
T
‭and secondary audience; the primary audience is the particular individual or group‬
‭the writer is addressing, while the secondary audience is the individual or group‬
‭other than the intended audience who will also read the piece. Consider: what‬
‭assumptions can you make about the audience in terms of gender,‬
‭socio-economic status, education, beliefs, etc.?‬

‭Purpose‬
‭ he reason why the work was created. Consider: is the work meant to inform,‬
T
‭persuade, or explain? What does the writer want the reader/listener to do?‬

‭Subject‬
‭ he general topic, content, and ideas contained in the text. Consider: how has the‬
T
‭subject been presented? Is the subject explicitly stated or is it implied?‬

‭Tone‬
‭ he speaker’s attitude. Consider: what striking uses of diction, syntax, details, and‬
T
‭imagery help convey the speaker’s attitude?‬
‭2‬

‭(CCSS RI 9-12.6)‬

‭Rhetorical Analysis Practice‬

‭Read the speech below, then use the SOAPSTone method to identify the rhetorical elements in the speech.‬

‭George Graham Vest, a lawyer and U.S. Senator from Missouri, delivered “Tribute to the Dog” (1855)‬
‭when representing a man who sued another for killing his dog. Vest won the case.‬

‭ entlemen of the Jury: The best friend a man has in the world may turn against him and become his enemy.‬
G
‭His son or daughter that he has reared with loving care may prove ungrateful. Those who are nearest and‬
‭dearest to us, those whom we trust with our happiness and our good name may become traitors to their faith.‬
‭The money that a man has, he may lose. It flies away from him, perhaps when he needs it most. A man's‬
‭reputation may be sacrificed in a moment of ill-considered action. The people who are prone to fall on their‬
‭knees to do us honor when success is with us, may be the first to throw the stone of malice when failure settles‬
‭its cloud upon our heads.‬

‭ he one absolutely unselfish friend that man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the‬
T
‭one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous is his dog. A man's dog stands by him in prosperity and in‬
‭poverty, in health and in sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground, where the wintry winds blow and the snow‬
‭drives fiercely, if only he may be near his master's side. He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer. He will‬
‭lick the wounds and sores that come in encounters with the roughness of the world. He guards the sleep of his‬
‭pauper master as if he were a prince. When all other friends desert, he remains. When riches take wings, and‬
‭reputation falls to pieces, he is as constant in his love as the sun in its journey through the heavens.‬

I‭f fortune drives the master forth, an outcast in the world, friendless and homeless, the faithful dog asks no‬
‭higher privilege than that of accompanying him, to guard him against danger, to fight against his enemies. And‬
‭when the last scene of all comes, and death takes his master in its embrace and his body is laid away in the‬
‭cold ground, no matter if all other friends pursue their way, there by the graveside will the noble dog be found,‬
‭his head between his paws, his eyes sad, but open in alert watchfulness, faithful and true even in death.‬

‭Analysis Questions:‬‭Please write in complete sentences‬‭with correct mechanics and grammar.‬

‭1.‬ ‭Who is the speaker?‬


‭a.‬ ‭Answer:‬
‭2.‬ ‭Is he credible? Why or why not?‬
‭a.‬ ‭Answer:‬
‭3.‬ ‭What is the occasion?‬
‭a.‬ ‭Answer:‬
‭4.‬ ‭Who is the audience?‬
‭a.‬ ‭Answer:‬
‭5.‬ ‭What is the purpose of the work?‬
‭a.‬ ‭Answer:‬
‭6.‬ ‭What is the subject matter of the work?‬
‭a.‬ ‭Answer:‬

‭7.‬ ‭Is it explicitly stated or is it implied?‬


‭3‬

‭ .‬ ‭Answer:‬
a
‭8.‬ ‭How do you know?‬
‭a.‬ ‭Answer:‬
‭9.‬ ‭What is the speaker’s tone?‬
‭a.‬ ‭Answer:‬
‭10.‬‭Select a couple of examples from the text that help reveal that tone.‬
‭a.‬ ‭Example 1:‬
‭b.‬ ‭Example 2:‬
‭4‬

‭ OAPSTone Rhetorical Analysis-‬‭-The Colbert Report‬


S
‭ ext, you will view a video to practice rhetorical analysis using a‬‭clip from‬‭The Colbert Report‬‭(the‬‭six minute clip titled‬
N
‭“StePhest Colbchella '013 - Special Guest Stephen Colbert!” is from Aug. 6, 2013.‬
‭Response‬ ‭How Do You Know?‬

‭ peaker‬
S
‭Who is the speaker? What can‬
‭you infer about his or her‬
‭background? Is he or she credible‬
‭and/or trustworthy?‬

‭ ccasion‬
O
‭What is the time, place, context,‬
‭and/or current situation that‬
‭prompted the work? Is it in‬
‭response to a specific person or‬
‭event?‬

‭ udience‬
A
‭To whom the work is directed? Is‬
‭there is a primary and secondary‬
‭audience? What assumptions can‬
‭you make about the audience?‬

‭Purpose‬
‭Why was the work created? Is the‬
‭work meant to inform, persuade‬
‭or explain? What does the‬
‭speaker want the reader/listener‬
‭to do?‬

‭Subject‬
‭ hat is the general topic? How‬
W
‭has the subject been presented?‬
‭Is the subject explicitly stated or‬
‭is it implied?‬

‭Tone‬
‭What is the speaker’s attitude?‬
‭What striking uses of diction,‬
‭syntax, details, and imagery help‬
‭convey this view?‬

‭Did Colbert achieve his purpose with this segment? Why or why not?‬‭...‬

You might also like