Working with ChatGPT: Rhetorical Analysis Student Guide [Strategies]
Working with ChatGPT: Rhetorical Analysis Student Guide [Strategies]
10-15 minute read
Jonahs Kneitly
What You Will Learn in This Section
By the end of this tutorial, you will be able to utilize a specific formation of generative AI (GenAI)—the prominent Large Language Model (LLM) ChatGPT—as an aid within the rhetorical analysis writing process to
- identify rhetorical situations and strategies
- evaluate applied logic within a text
- locate bias and logical fallacies within a text
Additionally, you will be able to develop critical evaluation skills to avoid the possible pitfalls from using GenAI for performing rhetorical analysis.
What key terms should I know within artificial intelligence (AI) discourse?
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Artificial Intelligence, often referred to as AI, encompasses computational systems created to imitate human behaviors and cognitive processes. In essence, computer scientists strive to design AI that can augment or replicate specific human cognitive functions, such as problem solving, experiential learning, pattern recognition, and decision making.
Generative AI (GenAI)
Generative AI is a branch of artificial intelligence trained on vast datasets (text, images, audio, code, etc.) in order to generate contextually relevant outputs. ChatGPT is a well-known formation of GenAI designed to generate human-like language in response to a prompt; in fact, the “G” in ChatGPT stands for “generative” to reflect this nature. However, GenAI covers a great variety of generators, such as image generators like Midjourney and DALL-E 2, or voice generators like Eleven Labs. Amid these various formations, ChatGPT belongs to a specific subcategory of GenAI called Large Language Models.
Large Language Models (LLMs)
Large Language Models are a specific subset of GenAI designed to process and generate human language. These models, trained on extensive textual data, can understand, generate, and manipulate text in ways that resemble human communication. LLMs include popular chatbots like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Microsoft’s Bing, Google’s Bard, and more.
What should I know about rhetorical analysis as a skill before I begin this tutorial?
A Brief Overview
Most academic writing demonstrates strong argumentation skills. However, texts can also entertain, instruct, or inform. One thing most texts have in common are attempts to persuade. Influencing your audience with a convincing argument is a major part of everyday writing and a key component of academic writing .
Writing a rhetorical analysis can be one of the most challenging assignments required within a composition and rhetoric classroom. A rhetorical analysis evaluates the success of an article’s argument and determines what rhetorical strategies and devices were used to persuade the audience. Composing a rhetorical analysis requires that readers go beyond simply trusting what they read. Readers must critically engage with the expressed truth, value, and appropriateness of a text’s content. In