RHETORIC The Art of Persuasion
Audience Who am I targeting with my argument? Advertisers target specific demographics: gender, age, race, interests categories. They do this through word choice, subject matter, humor, situations.
Purpose (Telos) What am I trying to accomplish? To persuade someone to… Buy something? Eat something? Do something? Believe something?
Position Statement Your position or belief regarding an issue or topic.
Claims and Counterclaims Claims are reasons that support your position. Counterclaims are arguments against the support of a position.
Setting (Kairos) What is the time, place, and situation of my argument? Time: After a mass shooting, An Accident, Beginning of school year Places: Newspapers, magazines, TV shows, even public places Situation: Speech, Letter, Editorial, Advertisement
Where would you place a protein bar advertisement? What t.v. shows would you use to advertise cereal?
Rhetorical Appeals
Credibility (Ethos) Appeals to our sense of believability Examples of Ethos: Endorsements by Athletes, Celebrities, Oprah, Someone who would know, etc. What are some ways credibility can be hurt?
Emotion (Pathos) Appeals to one’s emotions: humor, fear, safety, love, attraction
Logic (Logos) Appeals to one’s logic: facts, statistics, factual statements