Review a documentary film. The documentary film that I used was “Growing up Trans”

Review a documentary film and take observational research notes that examine rhetorical
elements used in the film to construct an argument. Use your observational notes and understanding of
rhetorical analysis to construct a thesis-based analysis of the central argument in the film.
Medium: A 3 or more page, 750 word, academically formatted composition, using a standard size 11 or 12
point font (such as Calibri or Times New Roman).
A Documentary Analysis asks you to examine an argument and evaluate the strength of the argument. You will
be asked to consider several elements of argument including author credibility, audience appeals, and
supporting evidence. Here are some questions to consider when doing rhetorical analysis of this kind:
What is the rhetorical situation?
 What is the cultural or historical context in which the text/argument was produced?
 What occasion gives rise to the need or opportunity for persuasion?
 What kinds of values or customs would the people have that would produce this?
Who is the author/speaker?
 How does he or she establish ethos (personal credibility)?
 Does he/she come across as knowledgeable? fair?
 Does the speaker’s reputation convey a certain authority?
What is the author’s purpose or intention in writing?
 To attack or defend? To praise or blame?
 To encourage or discourage certain action?
 To inform, to delight, or to persuade?
Who makes up the audience?
 Who is the intended audience?
 What values does the audience hold that the author or speaker appeals to?
 Who have been or might be secondary audiences?
What is the content of the message?
 Can you summarize the main idea?
 What are the principal lines of reasoning or kinds of arguments used?
 How does the author or speaker appeal to reason (logos)? To emotion (pathos)?
What is the form in which it is conveyed?
 What is the structure of the communication; how is it arranged?
 What oral or literary genre is it following?
 What effect could the form have, and does this aid or hinder the author’s intention?
How is language used?
 Does the author set a formal or informal tone?
 Does the author use a language unique to a specific discourse community? Technical? Slang?
 Does the author use dialogue? Quotations?
 What terms or phrases stick out to you as a reader? Is there repetition of important terms?