Analysis

Here are the elements which will help you with you your analysis of Niall Ferguson’s book excerpt Empire: How Britain Made the Modern World. 

The rhetorical situation is that the sender is Niall Ferguson, a Scottish historian who is famous for his positive views regarding the British Empire. The excerpt you have to analyze is part of the conclusion of his book called Empire: How Britain Made the Modern World. 

The composition of the excerpt can be split into three parts. Although it is only a fragment of a larger work, the text can also be analyzed individually. The excerpt provides an opinion and several arguments that defend it, so it can easily stand on its own. 

Ferguson’s style of writing is mainly formal, as the excerpt is part of a book about the history and legacy of the British Empire. At times, touches of informality and metaphors make the text more appealing to all categories of readers. 

Some of the rhetorical devices used by Ferguson are antithesis, humor, and repetition. The rhetorical devices help Ferguson engage his readers and are intended to show that the British Empire, despite its flaws, had a positive contribution over the world.

When it comes to forms of appeal, Ferguson mainly relies on pathos and logos, which help him give arguments that support his belief that the British Empire had a positive influence over the world. 

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

Further help

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