Analysis

Our analysis of the article “Bad or Mad?” by Sean Spence is inspired by the rhetorical pentagram model.

In what follows, we will look at the topics of the article – the nature of evil and how neuroscience should shape the way we deal with criminals.

We will present the writer and his position on the topics of the article, as well as the way he relates to his target audience.

We will also examine the reader – the potential readers of the text and the writer’s target audience. 

We will analyse how the writer uses language tools to achieve his intention. We will look at the sentence structure, choice of words, the writer’s tone, and at how the writer appeals to the audience’s trust and reason.

We will discuss the circumstances of the article, looking at the cultural circumstances and the circumstances when the article was written.

Lastly, we will consider the writer’s intention to inform readers about the new findings in neuroscience and persuade them to rethink the way they look at evil and at those who commit evil acts.

You can find the entire analysis in what follows.

Further help

Do you want additional help with analysis of non-fiction? See our general guide to non-fiction analysis.