Rhetorical analysis is the process of examining a texts use of rhetorical devices and appeals to the audience. It involves breaking down the whole text into pieces for the purpose of examination. A rhetorical analysis considers all elements of the rhetorical situation, including the audience, purpose, medium, and context, within which a communication was generated and delivered. The goal of a rhetorical analysis is to explain what is happening in the text, why the author might have chosen to use a particular move or set of rhetorical moves, and how those choices might affect the audience. A strong rhetorical analysis will not only describe and analyze the text, but will also evaluate it, representing the writer's argument.

Some key concepts in rhetoric include the author's purpose, tone, and use of rhetorical devices. It is important to note that rhetorical analysis isn't a matter of choosing concepts in advance and applying them to a text. Instead, it starts with looking at the text in detail and asking the appropriate questions about how it works.

Rhetorical analysis is an art that involves the rhetorician developing strong reasoning for their judgement. The rhetorician must act as a rhetorical critic of their own work, examining the necessity of their research as well as the analysis. A rhetorician must also be able to defend the method of their analysis and the accuracy of their findings.