Understanding Rhetoric A look at the role of persuasion

What is RHETORIC? According to Aristotle, rhetoric is “the faculty of observing in any given case the means of persuasion.” Today, rhetoric is simply defined as the ability to use language effectively. There are many different factors to consider in order to be an effective rhetor.

The RHETORICAL SITUATION

The RHETORICAL SITUATION One needs to be aware that a rhetorical situation exists EVERY TIME he writes or speaks. One needs to adapt his writing or speaking depending upon his purpose and his audience.

The WRITER (speaker) Can be called the writer, speaker, or rhetor. Personal characteristics and interests affect what one writes about and how one writes about it.

WRITER relevant issues… Age Experiences Gender Location Political beliefs Education Parents and peers Religion

The AUDIENCE The writer (speaker) must consider who they are addressing. Many of the same factors which affect the writer also affect the audience Age Social class Education

Creating PURPOSE Every writer (speaker) must have a purpose for the text they are creating. He/she will then use their language to reach this intended purpose.

Possible PURPOSES To invoke a response (i.e. sympathy, pity, pride, etc.) To create a following To create a call to action To force action To educate Etc…

Using Rhetorical Appeals

What are APPEALS? Rhetorical appeals are created by writers/speakers through the use of specific rhetorical (literary) devices. A rhetorical appeal is not something a writer/speaker does or uses. For example: Dr. King’s use of repetition in his famous I Have a Dream speech works to create pathos. The continual repetition of the phrase evokes feelings of possibility and pride in listeners. **Dr. King USES repetition to CREATE pathos…

LOGOS A method of argumentation that appeals to a person’s reasoning skills— think LOGIC Statistics Facts Cause/effect

PATHOS A method of argumentation that appeals to a person’s emotions—think PITY or PATHETIC A writer or speaker will always appeal to a specific emotion (fear, anger, pride, nostalgia, etc.)

ETHOS A method of argumentation that appeals to a person’s ethics (his or her morals, values, beliefs…what he or she may believe to be right or wrong)— think EXPERT Expert testimony References to God