Rhetorical Analysis Of Serial

Serial, is a Podcast produced by an investigative journalist and a former reporter for the Baltimore Sun named Sarah Koenig. Serial is a spinoff produced by the WBEZ 91.5 Chicago radio station and This American life. This specific podcast addresses the 1999 case of Adnan Syed vs The State of Maryland. In this case, Adnan is being accused for the murder of his former girlfriend Hae Min Lee. More than fifteen years later, this case once again sparked controversy when aired in 2014 through the podcast. In Serial, reporter Sarah Koenig intended to seek justice for Adnan by portraying him as innocent, which listeners can tell through the three rhetorical appeals; ethos, pathos and logos which she presents throughout the case along with interviews, evidence and personal statements.
In the first episode of Serial, Koenig begins to present Adnan’s credibility to the audience in order to portray his innocence. During
During this episode one interview, Rabia (2014) states “He was an honor roll student, volunteer EMT… He was the homecoming king. He led prayers at the mosque” (7:43). Koenig goes on to interviewing various personalities such as close friends and family thorough the series who say positive things about Adnan’s character. Koenig also gives details about Adnan’s exemplary character by giving examples of how he remains a role model even in prison. In episode 9, Koenig (2014) states “…he got one called the Distinguished Gentleman’s Award for your consistent display of character, mannerism, self-control, and ability to manage adversity, signed by the warden”(41:17). Not only does this strategy portray the use of ethos but it also gives the audience an understanding of who Adnan is as a person. Reporter Michael Smerconish from the Philadelphia Inquirer, mentioned in his report how Koenig’s