What is textual analysis similar to?

Textual analysis is similar to rhetorical analysis because both methods focus on understanding communication through the examination of texts, whether they are written, spoken, or visual. In rhetorical analysis, the emphasis is on the strategies used by the speaker or writer to persuade their audience, which entails breaking down the argument's structure, examining rhetorical appeals (such as ethos, pathos, and logos), and understanding the context of the message.

By comparison, textual analysis also delves into the content, structure, and context of a text, analyzing language, symbolism, and meanings while considering the intent behind the communication and its reception by the audience. Both approaches aim to uncover deeper insights and understand the implications of communication in various forms.

The other options, while valuable in their own domains, do not align as closely with the shared focus of textual and rhetorical analysis. For instance, scientific analysis typically employs empirical methods and seeks observable data, ethnographic studies concentrate on cultural contexts and human behaviors in their natural settings, and quantitative methods rely on numerical data and statistical techniques. These approaches differ significantly in their aims and methodologies from the interpretive and critical nature of textual and rhetorical analysis.