Original PromptCAT Review Cheat Sheet
(Choices – Appeals – Tone)
Use this as a quick reference when analyzing texts, speeches, or writing your own rhetorical analysis.
🎨 Rhetorical & Stylistic Choices
What the author does with language
Syntax (Sentence Structure)
Type Example Effect
Simple “She smiled.” Creates clarity, speed, simplicity
Compound “She smiled, and he waved.” Shows balance or equal ideas
Complex “Although she smiled, her eyes were sad.” Shows contrast or nuance
Compound-Complex “She smiled...
This document serves as a comprehensive cheat sheet for conducting rhetorical analysis using the CAT framework, focusing on Choices, Appeals, and Tone. It provides detailed guidance on different rhetorical and stylistic choices, including syntax and diction, along with examples and effects of various sentence structures. Additionally, it outlines rhetorical devices and appeals such as ethos, pathos, and logos, illustrated with examples for each. The document also includes a tone analysis framework to help identify the author's attitude and tonal shifts in texts, along with modes of development that authors may use to structure their arguments. A rhetorical analysis process checklist is provided to guide readers through initial and active reading, analyzing choices, appeals, and tone, as well as synthesizing insights to draft a coherent analysis. The resource is particularly useful for students and writers looking to enhance their understanding and execution of rhetorical analysis in texts.