Rhetorical Devices What are they?

Rhetorical Devices All the strategies, modes, and devices a writer can employ to convince the reader to accept an understand their point of view Pathos Ethos Logos Kairos

Ethos Ethos = Ethics To make the audience decide right or wrong about what is being presented to it Political issues, national beliefs, religious issues, etc Typically has contrasting colors symbolizing the difference between good and evil Is it Ethical? moral character In an appeal to ethos, also known as an ethical appeal, the speaker emphasizes the strength of his or her own moral character and experience in order to establish personal credibility.

Pathos Pathos: Emotion To make the audience feel something about what is presented to it Children, animals, illness, memories, etc… “Tugs at your heart strings” Does it make you feel a strong emotion? An appeal to pathos attempts to elicit an emotional response from the audience.

Logos Logos: Logic To make the audience think about what is presented to it Statistics, facts, authorities, etc… Very straightforward, and not “fluff”. It has a very scientific, factual approach. Does it make you use your sense of reason? reason, logic, words. An appeal to logos relies on the use of rational analysis and persuasive language.

Kairos Kairos: time as in the “right time”; opportune moment Similar to Greek chronos, but not quite the same Kairos is knowing what is most appropriate in a given situation; for our purposes, let's think of it as saying (or writing) the right thing at the right time. Appeals to kairos in written form try to make use of the particular moment—attempting to capture in words what will be immediately applicable, appropriate, and engaging for a particular audience According to Kinneavy, kairos is "the appropriateness of the discourse to the particular circumstances of the time, place, speaker, and audience involved"

Kairos Other scholars suggest that "kairos refers to a struggle, at the point of rhetorical intervention, between situational factors" Phillip Sipiora suggests, it is "a dynamic principle rather than a static, codified rhetorical technique“ the Goldilocks rule of writing: you don't want your message to be too big, too small, too soft, or too hard; it should be just right. consider how rhetors try to persuade audiences based on unique timing and current events

Kairos Possible examples: The call to "Act Now!" An appeal to some particular fast-approaching moment is often a rhetor's attempt to create a perfect kairotic moment for his or her message by creating a sense of urgency. You've likely seen a commercial or infomercial that pleads with the viewer to "Call now!" to receive some important prize or to avoid missing some sort of opportunity; this type of commercial or informercial employs kairos. The use of deadlines or goals. Such appeals to kairos are often seen as part of fundraising literature: by connecting a reader's or listener's response to a particular deadline or goal, the writer creates urgency and excitement. References to "current crises" or impending doom. Such references are prevalent in political and social campaigns. Consider, for example, the large number of financial bills, laws, and investigations undertaken by legislative bodies throughout the country after the most recent economic recession. Lawmakers were responding to and taking advantage of the kairotic moment created by the crisis in order to persuade their fellow lawmakers and constituents to support a particular fiscal policy.

Other Types Ambiguity Contradiction the quality of being open to more than one interpretation; inexactness. Contradiction a combination of statements, ideas, or features of a situation that are opposed to one another. a person, thing, or situation in which inconsistent elements are present. the statement of a position opposite to one already made.

Other Types Subtlety the quality or state of being subtle. (especially of a change or distinction) so delicate or precise as to be difficult to analyze or describe. making use of clever and indirect methods to achieve something

Other Types Paradox a seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement or proposition that when investigated or explained may prove to be well founded or true. a statement or proposition that, despite sound (or apparently sound) reasoning from acceptable premises, leads to a conclusion that seems senseless, logically unacceptable, or self-contradictory.

Other Types Irony the expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect. a literary technique, originally used in Greek tragedy, by which the full significance of a character's words or actions are clear to the audience or reader although unknown to the character.

Other Types Sarcasm Overstatement the use of irony to mock or convey contempt. Overstatement the action of expressing or stating something too strongly; exaggeration.