RWS: Day Two

“Rhetoric” is often used to describe the bombastic and largely empty talk of politicians and pundits…

Our use will focus on facilitating discussion by foregrounding ideas and perspectives and helping to locate common ground or consensus and to understand the motivations and beliefs that shape those views.

Our use will focus on facilitating discussion by foregrounding ideas and perspectives and helping to locate common ground or consensus and to understand the motivations and beliefs that shape those views.

Our focus here is on learning to read and write more persuasively, not on the content of the issues themselves.

Rhetoric as the basis of democratic society- the need for a number of viewpoints and perspectives to be aired, discussed, debated, and eventually voted on.

This is part of what it means to be an educated person This is part of what it means to be an educated person. You develop particular ways of thinking through multiple perspectives to arrive at a decision. You seek and evaluate a variety of information before determining the most appropriate response or action.

Things you must consider when doing a rhetorical analysis:

Audience: Who is the intended audience Audience: Who is the intended audience? Who might be secondary audiences? How is the text shaped to target those people?

Purpose: What is a text trying to get people to do or understand?

Context: When and where was the text written and where is it intended to be read/seen/heard?

Ethos: is the author credible Ethos: is the author credible? What specific features of the text support the author’s ability to be believable or not?

Pathos: what kinds of emotional appeals is the author using Pathos: what kinds of emotional appeals is the author using? Are they relevant and persuasive in this situation? Why or why not?

Logos: what kinds of logic, facts, or data are used to support an argument? Are these appropriate and effective? Why or why not?

Kairos: the often narrow window within which one can speak out to affect an issue, identifying the opportune moment or season when an action or response will make the most sense/have the potential for impact

Finally, consider that speeches and writing are not the only ways people communicate- communication and argument are multimodal- meaning that everything from images, video, gestures, body language, color, sound, spatial distance, and more contributes to meaning. Rhetoric is everywhere.

As you watch, pay attention to how this trivial act is full of rhetorical issues. The character is asking:   How does this language present me? What persona does it construct? What tactic will be most effective? What moves should I make, how will this make me seem? How should I think of my audience? What is my purpose? How do I avoid embarrassment?

Weekend homework: Write me an e-mail.   Considering issues of audience, context, purpose, persuasion, strategy, ethos, pathos, and logos in email messages. Situation: The syllabus says that the instructor (me) does not accept late work and that if you miss class you will be penalized. Nevertheless, you miss three classes (out of 15 total) and try to hand in the second major assignment a week late. If the instructor doesn’t accept your work you will fail the class. Write me (scottmbruner@gmail.com) a brief email explaining the situation and asking for an exception to my policy. Use the headline “Rhet Homework.”