The noticeable features of a text (things like "big words" or "swear words") work kind of like gang signs. 

When the author flashes his gang signs, he's trying to communicate with his audience in certain ways.  Just like with gang signs, features like big words are meant to

• intimidate or challenge some people (like other gang members)

• create group feeling with other people (members of "your gang")

• annoy other people ("show resistance" to teachers or police)

• shock some people (the general public)

Rhetorical Analysis and Mind Control

I'm wearing the tinfoil hat to block the rhetorical rays from the text that are trying to control my mind.

This is to remind you when you do a rhetorical analysis, you're always interested in how the text (the writing) is trying to control, influence, or affect the reader.

NOT Psychological Analysis In a rhetorical analysis, we're not interested in the writer's psychology -- what the writer thinks, what the writer feels.  You'd never say:  "The writer used this imagery because he was very angry." Instead, we're interested in how the writer is strategically using language to affect the reader in some way. You'd say:  "The writer uses this imagery to make the reader angry ... or to shock the reader ... or to convince the reader of his seriousness.  (The handout.)

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