Rhetorical Analysis Evaluating someone’s argument

What is rhetorical analysis? Examines rhetorical strategies Lists and describes persuasive techniques Assesses author’s effectiveness Writing, speaking, or advertising It is stopping to think critically about how you are being persuaded by something

Rhetorical Analysis To Do List: 1st task: Take Seriously Rhetorical Analysis To Do List: 1st task: Take Seriously Praise good writing Critique poor writing 2nd task: Make Strong Claims Analyze word for word 3rd Task: Mine texts for evidence Find and Cite

When Choosing a Piece Consider… Interest level Researchablity Style Your comfort level (text, add, speech)

Does this advertisement convince?

Examine 3 Types of Appeal Ethos—CHARACTER Pathos—EMOTION Logos—EVIDENCE

Find an example of ethos, pathos, and logos in this ad

Ethos is apparent with the sole use of celebrities as models for the ad. He’s SUPERMAN! Need I say more? Pathos comes into play as the ad is presented in a way that celebrates the superhero image, and suggests that drinking milk is the way to get it. Logos in the add suggests that drinking milk develops muscles, strength and bones of steel.

You need to know… What is a claim? An argument/hypothesis Ex: Using a cell phone while driving is dangerous.

What is an assumption or premise? Values upon which writers and researchers base their work. Ex: We should discourage behaviors that contribute to accidents.

Question the Data/Evidence: Enough? Original? Complete? Reliable? Unbiased?

What is a logical fallacy? A flaw in an argument! Many people make false our unsupported arguments. EX: Appeal to authority I’m not a doctor, but I play one on television and because I do, you should take my advice.

Ad Hominem Attacks the source, or author, of the argument not anything within the argument itself. Ex—Before you listen to my opponent, may I remind you that he has had several extra- marital affairs. Ex—Don’t listen to what she says, she’s a Democrat.

Ad Misericordiam An appeal to pity Ex: I have a game tonight and won’t get home until after 10 and will be exhausted from the full day of school and football; please don’t assign homework. Ex: If you don’t give me an A, I’m going to lose my 4.0 and not achieve my dream of getting into Harvard.

Begging the Question Also known as circular reasoning. This fallacy occurs when one uses the conclusion as a premise. He has not given reasons to establish the conclusion. EX: I’m not lying, so you know I have to be telling the truth. EX: President Kennedy was an excellent speech giver because he delivered exceptional speeches.

Dicto Simpliciter This fallacy occurs when one makes a sweeping statement and expects it to be true of every specific case (stereotyping people or places). EX: That is the richest sorority on campus; so Mackenzie, who belongs to that sorority, must be one of the richest women on campus. EX: All Canadians are kind; therefore, Lydia, the Canadian, must be kind.

Either-or Occurs when the writer builds an argument on the assumption that there are only two choices or possible outcomes when actually there are several. EX: Either you cheat a little bit, or you will not do well in college. EX: Either do the practice review, or you will not pass this test.

False Analogy When reasoning by comparison the fallacy occurs when the comparison is irrelevant or very weak. EX: Students should always be allowed to take open-book tests; after all, carpenters have blue-prints to guide them while they are building a house. EX: Taking away my cell phone is like taking away my life.

Hasty Generalization Jumping to conclusions; leaping to a conclusion on the basis of inadequate or unrepresentative evidence. (Opposite of dicto simpliciter). EX: This man is a doctor; all doctors are good; therefore, she must be a good person. EX: Mrs. C is a Michigan fan; all Michigan fans are arrogant; therefore, she must be arrogant.

Hypothesis Contrary to Fact Asserting that if hypothetically X would have occurred, then Y would have been the result; it is not a fair assertion due to the lack of evidence. EX: If I had only not broken with him, he wouldn’t have turned to alcohol to relieve his pain.

Non Sequiter Does not follow; Stating as a conclusion something that does not strictly follow from the premises (flawed deductive reason, for example). EX: All these students have high grades in their classes, so they must be excellent writers. EX: Briley should go out with Drew; he has a really nice car.

Oversimplification or Single Cause This fallacy occurs when it is assumed that there is one, simple cause of an outcome when in reality the outcome may have resulted from more than one reason. EX: The Detroit Lions stink because they have a terrible quarterback. EX: We lost the game because our punter fumbled the ball.

Post hoc Leaping to the conclusion that event A caused event B because event B happened in time right after event A. EX: As soon as I started watching the game, my team started to lose. EX: I just washed my car, so it just had to rain.

Slippery Slope Also known as the “Domino fallacy”-When a relatively insignificant first event is suggested to lead to a more significant event, which in turn leads to a more significant event, and so on, until some ultimate, significant event is reached, where the connection of each event is not only unwarranted, but with each step, it becomes more and more improbable. EX: I don't think it's a good idea to lower the drinking age. Next thing we know kids will get to drive at age ten, and vote at fifteen. Let kids be kids and adults be adults.

Poisoning the Well This sort of "reasoning" involves trying to discredit what a person might later claim by presenting unfavorable information (be it true or false) about the person.  EX: "Before turning the floor over to my opponent, I ask you to remember that those who oppose my plans do not have the best wishes of the university at heart.” You are told a particular teacher is a real jerk, then when you meet him, everything you hear him say is tainted. He has no chance.