The goal of a rhetorical analysis is not to analyze what a writer is arguing about concerning an issue, but how the author
crafts the argument. You will do this by analyzing the use of rhetorical strategies.
Purpose: This assignment prompts you to identify the strategies employed in Food Inc. and the contexts in which the
film’s argument appears in order to evaluate its persuasive effectiveness.
Subject: You will first provide an objective analysis of the strengths and weaknesses in the documentarians’ use of ethos,
logos, and pathos within their argument(s) and then determine whether the argument successfully persuades its audience.
• Ethos deals primarily with credibility. You will want to examine the reputation, authority, and/or expertise of the
filmmakers. You also want to consider the credibility of their source material. Do they provide credible support
for their claims? What experts do they interview? Do you find them to be credible? Why or Why not? These
factors, as well as the argument, they make will either improve or detract from the filmmakers’ credibility. The
basic question here is whether you trust the filmmakers or not?
• Logos is concerned with the logic of their argument. In considering the use of logos, you will analyze issues such
as the quality and quantity of supporting evidence. You may also want to consider any bias the filmmakers might
have toward the subject and the effect of that bias upon the argument being presented. Is their reasoning sound?
Do you identify any logical fallacies? In short, you will want to address any weaknesses and/or strengths in the
logic of the argument.
• Pathos deals with emotion. You should identify any attempts to evoke a particular emotion from the audience.
Additionally, you will want to consider whether or not appealing to emotion is an effective persuasive strategy.
Do the filmmakers manipulate their audience’s emotions? If so, to what purpose? Does their use of emotion
weaken their argument?
• The argument’s effectiveness is determined in large measure by whether you think the filmmakers have achieved
their purpose. Therefore, you must examine their purpose by discussing what you think the filmmakers want their
audience to think, believe or do after watching the film. You must then decide whether they achieved their
purpose by providing examples from the film to illustrate your conclusion.
Remember the following points: a) consider the argument’s audience and determine who you think is the intended
audience and explain how and why you came to that conclusion; b) consider context and determine the relevant historical,
social and cultural contexts film’s argument; c) determine whether these appeals to shared backgrounds, values and beliefs
play a significant role in persuading the audience; d) finally, remember you are not developing an argument that advocates
in favor of or against the film’s position/issue but are analyzing its argument and its effectiveness.
Requirements: This is an analytical, academic assignment, and, as a result, your writing should reflect that. Your paper
should, therefore, be written in an elevated and sophisticated style that makes use of correct grammar and usage. You
should make a clear and precise argument as you analyze the rhetorical strategies employed in the text that you are
examining.
Specific guidelines for this assignment are as follows:
• Clear introduction and conclusion.
• Address all three rhetorical appeals: ethos, pathos, and logos.
• Address the issue of context.
• Adherence to MLA format (including a work(s) cited page) with correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
• 4 pages in length.