What are Rhetorical Strategies?

What is rhetoric? And why bother studying it? “the art of effective expression (speaking & writing) and the persuasive use of language” We study rhetoric because: it helps us to make more informed decisions it helps us to better appreciate appeals to our decision making process it helps us to become more effective persuasive speakers and writers

Here is a real-life example of rhetoric in action… If you were trying to persuade a student to get to class on time, you might say, “it is WHS policy that students serve detention after three tardies”. What makes this statement effective?

What appeals to us? Ethos, Pathos, Logos Greek philosopher Aristotle argued that there are three basic ways to persuade an audience that you are right.

Ethos Persuasive appeal of one’s character. Tells us that the author is reliable and competent 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 Appeal to emotion (of course, meant to evoke emotional response) Example: “Imagine for a moment a tragic collision on the Parks Highway. A family is killed and many others are injured. The cause is determined to be frost heaves. We must use more state funds to pay for road improvements.”

Logos Appeal to reason (evokes a rational response) Example: “Alaska’s roads are in a state of disrepair. Without quality roads, our transportation system will falter and hinder our economy. Hence, we must use more state funds to pay for road repairs.”

Rhetorical Strategies The strategies that follow are just some of the ways to make writing/speaking more persuasive…

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. Chiasmus=“inverted parallelism” (i.e. eat to live, not live to eat)

Parallel Structure "I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed…I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood... I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." —Martin Luther King, Jr. "Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears; I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him." —William Shakespeare

Rhetorical Question Rhetorical Question-question not answered by writer because the answer is obvious or obviously desired. Used in persuasion to encourage the reader/listener to reflect on what the answer must be.

Rhetorical Question “Aren't you glad you use Dial? Don't you wish everybody did?" (1960s television advertisement for Dial soap) “Can we forge against these enemies a grand and global alliance, North and South, East and West, that can assure a more fruitful life for all mankind? Will you join in that historic effort?” –JFK Inaugural Address

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.

Analogy “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 “My momma always said, "Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get." -Forrest Gump

Humor Humor can be used to make you like the writer/speaker and “win you over” Hyperbole-exaggeration for emphasis/effect Sarcasm Irony (verbal, situational, dramatic) Understatement

Humor “at night she needs a paint scraper to take off her makeup” From Harry Potter: ‘Listening to the news! Again?’ ‘Well, it changes every day, you see,’ said Harry. “it is ironic that the window store had all of its windows broken by vandals” From Monty Python: Army officer loses a leg, “Stings a bit.”

Aphorism a statement of truth or opinion expressed in a concise and witty manner.

Aphorism The man who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones. [William Faulkner] Life’s Tragedy is that we get old too soon and wise too late. [Benjamin Franklin] Yesterday is but today’s memory, and tomorrow is today’s dream. [Khalil Gibran] The simplest questions are the hardest to answer. [Northrop Frye] Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind. [Rudyard Kipling]