A rhetorical elements analysis on the argumentative essays in Islamica magazine

Argumentative essay as the product of writing aims at persuading the reader. People, today is not necessary to express their idea verbally, because there is more effective way to express the idea that is writing. Moreover, to obtain the goal of the idea, the writer should pay attention to the rhetorical elements namely, purpose, audience, and persona. Moreover, knowing the rhetorical elements will help the writer communicates clearly and effectively to the reader.

This research attempts to investigate the phenomena of rhetoric situation especially rhetorical elements used on argumentative essays in Islamica magazine. The research problem is how the rhetorical elements used on argumentative essays in Islamica magazine. To answer the research problem, formulation of research questions as follow: What is the purpose of the argumentative essays on Islamica magazine, what is the persona of the argumentative essays on Islamica magazine, who are the audiences of the argumentative essays on Islamica magazine, and what is the argument of the argumentative essays on Islamica magazine.

The descriptive qualitative method was used to conduct this research. This research describes and explains rhetorical elements used in argumentative essays on Islamica magazine. In analyzing the data, this study used the theory of Hairston, the elements of rhetoric (purpose, audience, persona, and argument). There are steps that are used in analyzing the data. Firstly, analyzing the elements of rhetoric (purpose, persona, audience and message) on the essays. Secondly, discussing and interpreting the founded data concerning with rhetorical elements. Finally, making conclusion as the result of the analysis on rhetorical elements.

Based on 17 data presented and analyzed at this study, it can be concluded that the rhetorical elements namely, purpose, persona, audience, and message are applied in those essays. Moreover, the purposes usually used in those data are predictive, and then followed by appraisive and corrective. In addition, the persona usually used in those essays is authentic voice and ethical appeal. Then, the audiences targeted are general audience and informed audience. And the argument mostly used is logical and non-logical.

Based on the research result, some suggestions concerning with the topic can be given to the students who learn concerning with the argumentative essay to pay attention to the use of rhetorical elements namely purpose, persona, audience, and argument as the basic elements of rhetoric. In addition, by knowing the use of rhetorical elements will help the students communicate effectively to the readers. Moreover, the researcher suggests to the next researcher who are interested in analyzing the rhetoric to expand the research and add sources or previous study in order to support and make the research more complete and perfect.