The Rhetorical Triangle & Heffernan’s“Comment is King” IDS 3309 Readings – WEEK 2

Political Rhetoric Today ABC Story on the shootings in Tucson

What is rhetoric?

What is rhetoric? Rhetoric: “The art of using language to communicate effectively and persuasively.”

What is rhetoric? Rhetoric: “The art of using language to communicate effectively and persuasively.” A Western tradition with roots in Greek society; for centuries served as a central tenet of political discourse and an advanced education (along with Grammar & Logic)

What is rhetoric? Rhetoric: “The art of using language to communicate effectively and persuasively.” A Western tradition with roots in Greek society; for centuries served as a central tenet of political discourse and an advanced education (along with Grammar & Logic) With the growth of media outlets and infinite expanse of information brought on by the digital age of communication, rhetoric and the use of language to present information and arguments has become more relevant than ever.

The Rhetorical Triangle

The Rhetorical Triangle Logos (Rational appeal) Pathos (Emotional appeal) Ethos (Ethical appeal) facts case studies statistics experiments logical reasoning analogies anecdotes authority voices higher emotions belief in fairness love pity justice etc. lower emotions greed lust revenge avarice trustworthiness credibility reliability expert testimony reliable sources fairness

Clicker Poll! Think back on a recent argument or debate you may have engaged in. On which of the three elements of the Rhetorical Triangle did you rely most heavily? Logos (rational appeal) Pathos (emotional appeal) Ethos (ethical appeal)

A few examples of rhetorical arguments being made on the cable news networks Keith Olbermann on MSNBC Bill O’Reilly on FOX News

“Comment is King” Virginia Heffernan, NYT, April 26, 2009 Presents an analysis of comments made on the Op-Ed pieces of Anne Applebaum, columnist for the Washington Post Applebaum is pretty middle of the road, a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian, but you wouldn’t know that from the comments made on her articles: “liberal fool”; “a lapsed neo-con addict”; “Zionist stooge liar”; anti-Semitic Comments are not refereed; no “sustained or inventive analysis of Applebaum’s work” emerges from the commentary

“Comment is King” Virginia Heffernan, NYT, April 26, 2009 Heffernan argues that online commentary should become a “cogent part of online journalism” It is instead the “bête noire for journalists and readers alike”; journalists find it “stinging and distracting” while readers won’t take the time to dig through the comments unless they plan on making a comment themselves

“Comment is King” Virginia Heffernan, NYT, April 26, 2009 What’s the problem? Rhythms of the web: early assent, then dissent, early morning weirdness; then fact checking Never reaches the level of true analysis; instead, an echo- chamber develops Echo-chamber is “unpleasant, and it makes it hard to keep listening for the clearer, brighter, rarer voices nearly drowned out in the din.” Something should be done, but Heffernan seems at a loss as to what that “something” might be

Blogging Assignment: An Analysis of rhetoric in The New York Times Read Heffernan, the Rhetorical Triangle, and David Brooks’ critique of Amy Chua’s “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother” on the Op-Ed page of The New York Times. Click on the “Comments” section and read the top four comments Using Heffernan’s article and the Rhetorical Triangle, analyze carefully the arguments that are presented, both by Brooks and the most popular comments. Drawing on your understanding of Logos, Pathos and Ethos, reflect on why these particular comments were found to be convincing by so many other readers. Also, do you think the Times solution for sorting through comment is effective or eve necessary? 500 words (no more!) Due Sunday, January 23.

A final thought… John Stewart on Sarah Palin