OliviaJames
New member
- Joined
- Feb 24, 2026
- Messages
- 8
I need to share my failure so maybe someone else avoids it. First rhetorical analysis essay of the semester. I picked a political ad, watched it once, and wrote three pages about how it made me feel and whether I agreed with it. Got a D.
The feedback just said "this is summary and opinion, not analysis." I was SO confused. Isn't analysis just saying what you think?? NO. Apparently a rhetorical analysis essay isn't about whether you AGREE with the message, it's about HOW the message tries to persuade you . You're supposed to be neutral, like a scientist studying a specimen. You look at the rhetorical appeals (ethos, pathos, logos), the arrangement, the style, the context . Not whether you like it or not.
My professor gave me a second chance and I rewrote the whole thing focusing only on the strategies, not my feelings. Got a B+.
Still not amazing but way better. The lesson: check your opinions at the door. You're analyzing the machine, not judging the product.
The feedback just said "this is summary and opinion, not analysis." I was SO confused. Isn't analysis just saying what you think?? NO. Apparently a rhetorical analysis essay isn't about whether you AGREE with the message, it's about HOW the message tries to persuade you . You're supposed to be neutral, like a scientist studying a specimen. You look at the rhetorical appeals (ethos, pathos, logos), the arrangement, the style, the context . Not whether you like it or not.
My professor gave me a second chance and I rewrote the whole thing focusing only on the strategies, not my feelings. Got a B+.
Still not amazing but way better. The lesson: check your opinions at the door. You're analyzing the machine, not judging the product.