Below are the components of a rhetorical story structure:

I. Situation

• Which dramatic event neatly encapsulates the problem (example)?
• Which dramatic event shows the impact of the problem (effect)?
• Which dramatic event was the trigger for the problem (cause)?

II. Nutshell paragraph

Revelation

• What culpable act does the perpetrator commit?
• What are the worst consequences?
• How does this connect to other recent events?

III. Ethos appeal

Method

• How did you conduct the investigation?
• Why are you an authority? What is your personal experience with the subject?
• Why are your sources reliable?

Rebuttal

• How does the responsible party (perpetrator) defend themself?
• Does this defence actually support your conclusion?
• Does it have no bearing on your conclusion (unimportant)?
• Is it unrelated to the facts (irrelevant)?