Rhetorical Analysis

1. Rhetorical Analysis Calvin and Hobbes

2. Calvin and Hobbes Comic Strip

3. Rhetorical Analysis • Not all arguments are explicitly stated. • When looking at this comic strip, pay attention to not only what Calvin literally says but what Hobbes implies.

4. Rhetorical Analysis • This strip has two arguments: the character’s argument (Calvin’s) and the artist’s argument (Hobbes’).

5. Rhetorical Analysis • Take a minute to write down what you think the arguments are.

6. Important Things to Know When Analyzing Comic Strips • The artist is using humor to make a point (in this case, through exaggeration).

7. Important Things to Know When Analyzing Comic Strips • The argument literally stated by the characters are rarely the artist’s actual argument.

8. Important Things to Know When Analyzing Comic Strips • The artist often leaves visual clues hinting at his or her true argument: • Background details • Foreground details • Character expressions • Etc.

9. Rhetorical Analysis • When breaking down any argument, it helps to move from big picture things to small picture things.

10. Rhetorical Analysis • Big Picture Analysis • What the characters are saying (claim) • What the characters aren’t saying (claim) • Why the characters are saying what they are (reasons/foundations)

11. Rhetorical Analysis • Small Picture Analysis • What foreground details did the artist include? • What background details did the artist include? • What kinds of facial expressions did the artist use on his or her characters? • How did the characters say what they did?

12. Rhetorical Analysis • Take a minute to look at your ideas about the arguments. • Have they changed any? • Can you add anything to them? • Remove/change anything?

13. Rhetorical Analysis • Let’s look at the big picture analysis of the Calvin and Hobbes comic strip…

14. Rhetorical Analysis: Calvin’s Claim • What is Calvin claiming?

15. Rhetorical Analysis: Calvin’s Claim • We should always have high self-esteem, so we should lower our expectations so we can always meet them.

16. Rhetorical Analysis: Calvin’s Reasons • What are some of the reasons behind this claim?

17. Rhetorical Analysis: Calvin’s Reasons • Some potential reasons: • Expecting too much of ourselves damages our self-esteem. • Expecting mediocrity means that any time we go above that standard, we receive higher self-esteem. • Why put in more effort than strictly necessary?

18. Rhetorical Analysis: Calvin’s Foundations • Some potential foundations: • Expecting too much of ourselves damages our self-esteem • …because, if we fail to achieve our high goals, we don’t feel good about ourselves.

19. Rhetorical Analysis: Calvin’s Foundations • Some potential foundations: • Expecting mediocrity means that any time we meet or exceed that standard, we receive higher self-esteem. • …because mediocrity means everyone succeeds.

20. Rhetorical Analysis: Calvin’s Foundations • Some potential foundations: • Why put in more effort than strictly necessary • …because if something is good enough, there’s no reason to continue.

21. Rhetorical Analysis: Calvin’s Claim • Keep in mind that this is the literal argument in this comic strip. • Now, let’s dig a little deeper and see what the artist’s real claim is.

22. Rhetorical Analysis: Hobbes’/Artist’s Main Claim • Spend a minute thinking about what the artist is really trying to say in this comic strip.

23. Rhetorical Analysis: Hobbes’/Artist’s Main Claim • Encouraging mediocrity for the sake of an inflated self-esteem is not good for the country.

24. Rhetorical Analysis: Hobbes’/Artist’s Main Claim • What indicates that this is the artist’s main claim? • Think on this for a minute and discuss it with your neighbor.

25. Rhetorical Analysis: Hobbes’/Artist’s Main Claim • Signs of the Artist’s True Argument: • Hobbes’ counterstatements • The incomplete snowman • The exaggerated emphasis on Calvin’s argument

26. Rhetorical Analysis: Hobbes’/Artist’s Reasons • What are Hobbes’/the artist’s reasons for his claim?

27. Rhetorical Analysis: Hobbes’/Artist’s Reasons • Potential Reasons: • Mediocrity does not produce the kind of innovation a country needs to remain competitive. • Mediocrity is bad for business.

28. Rhetorical Analysis: Hobbes’/Artist’s Foundations • Potential Foundations: • Mediocrity does not produce the kind of innovation a country needs to remain competitive. • …because innovation, particularly technological innovation, is vital to many of our industries. • …because non-innovative countries fall behind innovative ones. • …etc.

29. Rhetorical Analysis: Hobbes’/Artist’s Foundations • Potential Foundations: • Mediocrity is bad for business . • …because businesses which can’t keep us with customer demand go out of business. • …because mediocre employees lead to mediocre products and services. • …etc.

30. Rhetorical Analysis: Smaller Picture Items • Things to observe: • The unfinished snowman • Calvin’s apparent pride in his unfinished snowman • Hobbes’ less than enthusiastic expression in the last box

31. Rhetorical Analysis: Smaller Picture Items • Things to observe: • The way that Calvin connects homework to self-esteem • Hobbes’ counterarguments • His negative interpretation of Calvin’s statements • Hobbes saying, “Remind me to invest overseas.”

32. Rhetorical Analysis: A Few Final Notes • There are many potential reasons and foundations behind a claim, so it can be hard to tell at times why an author/artist claimed what he or she did.

33. Rhetorical Analysis: A Few Final Notes • That said, however, we can still get a pretty good idea with thorough enough analysis.

34. Rhetorical Analysis: A Few Final Notes • Arguments are not always straightforward.

35. Rhetorical Analysis: A Few Final Notes • Also, arguments are often supported by unstated reasoning.

36. Rhetorical Analysis: A Few Final Notes • When analyzing an argument, like analyzing sources, start with big picture items (what was being said) and move to smaller picture items (how things were being said).

37. Rhetorical Analysis: A Few Final Notes • Thoroughly analyzing an argument takes time and requires a lot of attention to detail.

38. Rhetorical Analysis: A Few Final Notes • Analyzing arguments, like analyzing sources, is impacted by your own personality, background, biases, etc. • That said, however, it is possible to get the gist of a claim and its reasons and foundations.