Individual Events (speech) - Individual Events - Public Address Events - Communication Analysis/Rhetorical Criticism

Communication Analysis/Rhetorical Criticism

Communication Analysis (CA), or Rhetorical Criticism (Rhet Crit) is an individual event in which the speaker (or rhetor) has ten minutes to present the speech. The speech structure usually consists of: an introduction, presenting a rhetorical artifact, a discussion of a communication theory or model, application of the communication theory to the artifact, implications of that analysis, and a conclusion.

The artifact may be anything that has rhetorical significance: a book, a speech, an advertising campaign, a protest movement, etc. The rhetor identifies the goals the artifact seeks to accomplish. He or she then selects a model form of analysis - typically borrowed from communication scholars - to determine the effectiveness of the artifact in reaching its goals. For instance, in analyzing an anti-smoking campaign, the rhetor might opt for a model discussing the most effective methods of employing fear in persuading a mass audience.

The rhetor would then apply the model to the artifact and draw various conclusions about the artifact's strengths and weaknesses, the success or failure of the model as an analytical tool and other insight gained from the analysis.

Most high school competitions do not include these events.

Major Competitions featuring CA/Rhet Crit: College - AFA (American Forensics Association) where it is referred to Communication Analysis, NFA (National Forensics Association) where it is referred to as Rhetorical Criticism, Phi Rho Pi, where it is referred to as CA.