Analysis

The rhetorical situation shows that “Co-parents, but not romantic partners” represents a series of interviews conducted by Makda Ghebreslassie, reporter and video-journalist for CBC News, Canada. The topic of the interview is co-parenting. The intended audience of the news clip consists of the people who watch the news segment and of people who might also be interested in co-parenting. 

In terms of composition, the text takes the form of multiple interviews with people who have decided on co-parenting and with experts on the matter. 

The style of language used in the text is a mix of formal and informal. Formal features are mainly used by the reporter and experts, while informal features can be seen in the answers of people involved in co-parenting. When it comes to rhetorical devices, the text is filled with metaphors, direct address, and repetition. 

The forms of appeal used in the text are pathos, ethos, and logos. The interviewer, for example, draws on ethos when she presents the opinions of experts. Logos is used when the need for co-parenting is supported by logical arguments, while pathos is built through the personal stories of the people who are interviewed. 

The intention of the text is to present the idea of co-parenting and show that is a valid alternative for people who cannot have a conventional family. The text, therefore, focuses on the reasons why people might choose co-parenting.

You can read a full analysis of the text in the following pages.

Further help

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