Select a speech to analyze. Locate a speech regarding a civic issue of importance to you. Be certain that the source of the video is credible, consider using websites such as AmericanRhetoric.com.
Advocate:
Who is the speaker and what group is the speaker advocating on behalf of?
What is the collective identity of the group and what is the position of the speaker in regards to this?
What is the historical context of the issue?
Message:
What is the message? Is it actionable?
What is the claim, evidence, warrant?
What persuasive techniques are used? Ethos, Pathos, Logos?
How was language used or misused?
What fallacies are utilized? Carefully consider the author’s deliberate manipulation of language.
Audience:
Who is the audience and what is their collective identity? Consider concepts such as privilege, stereotypes, etc.
What is the audience’s position in regards to the issue and the advocacy group.
