RWS 100: Rhetorical Strategery

First Up, some bookkeeping…: Your papers. TAKE THEM FROM ME Here, have some hand-outs. My new conferencing times are also up. This weekend, you have a blog due, use the new rhetorical analysis template! The genre is: a book (don’t freak out, yet….we’ll talk about it at end of the class.)

Modes of persuasion… …and how to talk about them!

Pathos Pathos is a mode of persuasion using emotional arguments. When you are identifying the use of pathos, you can say, “The author is appealing to his audience’s emotions.” If you identify a rhetor using pathos in your papers, what do you also need to identify?

Logos Logos is a mode of persuasion using logical appeals. When you are identifying the use of logos, you can say, “The author is appealing to logic and/or his audience’s sense of reason.”

Ethos Ethos is a mode of persuasion where the author is developing her or his credibility or trustworthiness while making an argument. When you are identifying ethos, you can say, “The author is developing his ethos by...” You can’t say the author appeals to ethos…because it’s a bit different than pathos and logos. You develop, not appeal to, your credibility. Also…

Don’t say: Use: The author uses ethos, logos, or pathos. (They’re not tools or verbs, they’re a mode of persuasion.) Use: The author appeals to logic Appeals to emotion Develops credibility, develops ethos

So, ethos, pathos, logos are all modes of persuasion. They are the three major modes that people use to make their argument. (Practice this in real life the next time someone tries to get you to do something. Identify what they are appealing to.) Within the three modes, however, are a number of RHETORICAL STRATEGIES! These strategies are tools a rhetor uses which fit in one or more of the modes. (Expert testimony is a strategy that is sometimes used logically: an expert logically talking about her field, for instance. Sometimes it’s used emotionally: a social justice leader talking inspirationally.) In your papers, you’ll need to identify both the mode and the strategy. (it’s easy, though.)

But, wait, you say, what are these amazing RHETORICAL STRATEGIES that you are talking about? What are they? Where can I learn more about them? Step 1. Look at your hand-out. Step 2. Check out the following slideshow! (stand by for disconcerting Powerpoint aesthetic shift)

Nice work! Your assignment over the weekend is your Wordpress Blog post…and to get started on your paper. Your blog post will be on a…book. You don’t need to read a book this weekend. (Although, you really should be reading 1-2 novels a week.) You can do it on a book you have read, or a book you haven’t read that you have read ABOUT (a little research goes a long way). You DO need to use the Project, Argument, Claims, etc format this time. Last time, I promise. This one could be tricky. It’s ok to be wrong; it’s not okay to not try. Fill in every area of PACES with your best guess. Remember, too, that you now have to determine if the text is “effective.” USE THE NEW BLOG TEMPLATE. I will reward extra credit for creative posts.