Work

The Power of Words: a Rhetorical Analysis of Emily Doe’s Court Statement

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: : This paper focuses on the rhetorical strategies in Emily Doe's victim impact statement following her sexual assault by Brock Turner. The analysis is conducted within the discourse analysis theoretical framework to explore how Doe employs specific rhetorical devices such as pronouns, metaphors, antithesis, parallelism, and triplets to construct her narrative and convey her message. The findings show that Doe's effective strategic use of these rhetorical devices emphasizes her pain, resilience, and quest for justice, helping her reclaim her voice and identity. The research contributes to a deeper understanding of the rhetorical power in victims' narratives.

Source: VNU Journal of Foreign Studies

DOI: 10.63023/2525-2445/jfs.ulis.5357

Author: Minh Huyen Vu

Institutions: University of Languages and International Studies, Vietnam National University, Hanoi

Language: English

Topic: Rhetoric and Communication Studies

Subfield: Philosophy

Field: Arts and Humanities

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Peace, justice, and strong institutions, Gender equality

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W4407995978

FWCI:

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