Rhetoric an Introduction

“The faculty of observing in any given case the available means of persuasion” --Aristotle In other words, rhetoric is the study of effective, persuasive language use. Rhetoric is everywhere!!!!! What is Rhetoric?

The Rhetorical Triangle According to Aristotle, when considering how to compose a speech or argument, the speaker must consider 3 things: The speaker The audience The subject/argument These 3 elements are connected, and can be graphically represented by the Rhetorical Triangle, which describes the interaction between the 3 elements. The Rhetorical Triangle

The Rhetorical Triangle Speaker The relationship is reciprocal… Audience Subject The Rhetorical Triangle

Rhetoric is situational It has context—the occasion, time, and place for which it was intended. Context may be historical, social, economic, etc. And it has a purpose—the goal the speaker or writer wants to achieve. Rhetoric is situational

Speaker The argument is built AROUND the context… Context Audience Subject Purpose …and PURPOSE is the foundation of the argument.

Rhetorical Tropes and Schemes Tropes and schemes are stylistic devices that authors employ to increase the effectiveness of their writing. Trope: The use of a word, phrase, or image in a way not intended by its normal signification. Examples: hyperbole, simile, metaphor, irony, pun, metonymy Scheme: A change in standard word order or pattern. Examples: anaphora, parallelism, antithesis Rhetorical Tropes and Schemes

Rhetorical modes refer to the way a text (argument) is presented or organized. Text arrangement is important—is the text arranged in the best way to achieve its purpose? The structure of a text depends on the author’s intended purpose and effect. Some texts may follow one mode; others may use several. Rhetorical Modes

Common Rhetorical Modes Narration—telling a story or recounting a series of events Often follows a chronological pattern Writers often use narration as a way to introduce their topic or thesis Description—emphasizes the senses by painting a picture of how something looks, sounds, smells, tastes, or feels. Definition—establishing the meaning of a word or idea for further discussion in a text Often a fundamental part of a discussion Common Rhetorical Modes

Common Rhetorical Modes Process Analysis—explains how something works, how to do something, or how something was done Successful process analysis requires clarity and logic Exemplification—provides a series of examples such as facts, specific cases, or instances Makes a general idea more concrete Analogy—an argument that draws a parallel between the author’s subject and a similar scenario to help the audience understand Common Rhetorical Modes

Common Rhetorical Modes: Comparison and Contrast—juxtaposes two things to highlight their similarities and differences Can be organized either subject-by-subject (analyzes first one subject then the other) or point-by-point (analyzes specific points of the subject) Classification and division—sorting and separating information into categories Cause and Effect—a discussion of an event and its outcome Common Rhetorical Modes:

Rhetorical Appeals—Ethos Appeals to character (ethos)—speakers demonstrate that they are credible and trustworthy to speak on a particular topic. Ethos is established both by who you are and what you say. Appeals to ethos often emphasize shared values between the speaker and the audience. In some cases, a speaker’s title or status automatically brings ethos to the argument. “In this grave hour, perhaps the most fateful in history, I send to every household of my peoples, both at home and overseas, this message, spoken with the same depth of feeling for each one of you as if I were able to cross your threshold and speak to you myself.” Beginning of The King’s Speech, King George VI (September 3, 1939) Rhetorical Appeals—Ethos

Think of a situation in which you are presenting your view on the same subject to two different audiences. For instance, you might be presenting your ideas texting and driving to 1) the State Legislature and 2) to a group of high school students. Write a few sentences about how you would establish ethos in each situation. In Your Groups…

Rhetorical Appeals—Logos Appeals to logic (logos)—speakers appeal to reason by offering clear, rational ideas and using specific details, examples, facts, statistics, or expert testimony to back them up. One way to appeal to logos is to acknowledge a counterargument—there is ALWAYS another side! After acknowledging the counterargument, you can offer a refutation, which ultimately strengthens your argument. “Half of the 6 billion tons of coal burned globally each year is burned in China. A spokesman for the Sierra Club, which in recent years has helped to block construction of 139 proposed coal-fired plants in America, says, “This is undermining everything we’ve accomplished.” From King Coal: Reigning in China by George Will Rhetorical Appeals—Logos

Think back to the topic of texting and driving Think back to the topic of texting and driving. What logical elements could you employ to strengthen your argument? What counterarguments could you acknowledge? How would you refute those opposing viewpoints? In Your Groups…

Rhetorical Appeals--Pathos Appeals to emotion (pathos)—speakers appeal to emotion to motivate the audience through values, desires, hopes, fears, prejudices, etc. Loaded words tend to create emotional responses (e.g. blessing, curse, courage, cowardice) Images can create strong emotional responses Humor can often create a connection between the audience and speaker “Today is a day for mourning and remembering. Nancy and I are pained to the core by the tragedy of the shuttle Challenger. We know we share this pain with all of the people of our country. This is truly a national loss.” The Space Shuttle Challenger Tragedy Address, President Ronald Reagan Rhetorical Appeals--Pathos

Refer one more time to our previous discussion topic: texting and driving. How could you appeal to your audience’s emotions? Remember that you are addressing two different audiences…is your emotional appeal the same for each, or different? In Your Groups…

Rhetorical Appeals (In General) Speakers generally don’t rely on a single appeal; they combine the three to create effective arguments. The appeals overlap to some extent: appeals to logic help build your ethos, personal anecdotes that appeal to the audience’s emotions can also establish your credibility, etc. Authors do not USE appeals in their writing; rather their language may appeal to a certain idea or concept. Rhetorical Appeals (In General)

Read the scenario you have been given Read the scenario you have been given. Discuss how you would establish your ethos and appeal to logos and pathos. In your groups…