What are Rhetorical Strategies?

What is rhetoric? And why bother studying it? Def. rhetoric - the art of effective expression (speaking & writing) and the persuasive use of language We study rhetoric because: We are told we have to in the curriculum it helps us to better appreciate appeals to our ethos, pathos, & logos it helps us to become more effective persuasive speakers and writers

Examples? Where do we see examples of rhetorical strategies/devices being used?

Some Examples from Life: Formal Diction leads readers/listeners to believe something is ethically or legally important Ex. ICEs, textbooks, dissertations, contracts Emotional Diction (sometimes called “sensationalism”) leads readers/listeners to recognize that ideas expressed are important ONLY to the writer/speaker Ex. News Media, BuzzFeed, TMZ, People Allusion can associate a new idea to a traditionally respected source Biblical Allusions, folktales, etc.

Another Real Life Example… Authoritarian Principals, some teachers, people in leadership. positions, etc

Basic Ways to Persuade an Audience: Greek philosopher Aristotle argued that there are three basic ways to persuade an audience that you are right. Ethos, Pathos, Logos

Ethos Def. ethos - persuasive appeal of one’s character. Tells us that the writer/speaker is reliable and competent (per the writer/speaker) Essentially, it is your resume Beginning of all political campaigns Example: “I am a father, a taxpayer, and have served you as senator for 20 years. I deserve your vote to continue my service.” AK Senator Hollis French

Pathos Def. pathos - appeals to emotion; meant to evoke emotional response) Middle of a political campaign (name-calling) P.S.A.s

Logos Def. logos - appeals to reason; evokes a rational response Think “logical” End of a political campaign (threats) Example: Texas’ bridges are in a state of disrepair. Without quality bridges, these could collapse injuring countless and innocent people and children. Therefore, we must use state funds to fix our bridges to prevent senseless deaths.

What are these - ethos, pathos or logos (or both or all three)?

Rhetorical Strategies The following strategies are some of the ways to make your writing/speaking more persuasive, i.e. to get people to do what you want them to do.

Parallel Structure Parallel Structure - repetition of grammatically similar words, phrases, clauses, or sentences to emphasize a point or stir the emotions of a reader/listener. Used to create a sense of rhythm, balance, and order in writing or speech.

Parallel Structure Coach Johnson told the players: “You will get some sleep tonight, you will not eat right before the game, and you will stretch before the game.”

Rhetorical Question Rhetorical Question – question without a real answer because, to the writer/speaker, the answer is obvious Used in persuasion to encourage the reader/listener to reflect on what the answer must be. “How much longer must our people endure this injustice?” - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Rhetorical Devices

Allusion Short, informal reference to a famous person, event, story. Relies on reader/listener to be familiar with the reference and hidden meaning. Used to stimulate ideas, associations, add extra information.

Analogy Comparison between two things that are alike in certain respects. Used in persuasion to demonstrate the logic of one idea by showing how it is similar to an accepted idea. Ex. “Pupils are more like oysters than sausages. The job of teaching is not to stuff them and then seal them up, but to help them reveal the riches within.”-Sydney Harris

Alliteration Repetition of initial consonant sounds. Used to call attention to a phrase and fixes it in the reader’s/listener’s mind. Ex. “Let us go forth to lead the land we love.”- John F. Kennedy Inaugural speech

Humor Humor can be used to make you like the writer/speaker and “win you over” Hyperbole- exaggeration for emphasis/effect “At night she needs a paint scraper to take off her makeup.” Sarcasm “I know understand why some animals eat their young.” Irony - verbal, situational, dramatic. “It’s too bad the alarm store was broken in to.” Understatement From Monty Python: Army officer loses a leg, “Stings a bit.”

S.O.A.P. Audience When attempting to persuade, consider your audience. For example, you would not use sarcasm to persuade a potential employer to hire you.

Active Voice v. Passive Voice Active Voice - doing something The boy hit the ball. The subject of this sentence actively hits the ball. Passive Voice – not doing something The ball was hit by the boy. The subject sits passively, doing nothing while some outside agent performs the action.

What’s Better – Active or Passive? Active sentences are shorter. The fighter punched Ali and dodged the uppercut. (Active= 8 words) Ali was punched by the fighter, and then an uppercut was dodged by him. (Passive= 14 words)

Active Sentences are Clear and to the Point When you use passive voice, you have to use boring phrases like “by so-and-so” (leave this out and your sentences become unclear). The airplane was flown to Bermuda (By the pilot? On the back of a bird?). My car has been driven to Dallas. (By whom? A car thief? The teletubbies?)

To Identify the “Evil” Passive Voice Use of “to be” verbs such as is/am/are/was/were/be/being/been/? Passive voice used “to be” verbs Need to insert “by so-and-so” after the verb for clarity The dog was fed (By the owner? By the cat?) ID the subject and main verb. Is the subject “doing” the action or sitting passively