Rhetoric 1

Rhetoric: what is it? Rhetoric (definition): the art or technique of persuasion through the use of oral, visual, or written language rhetoric consists of reasoned arguments in favor of, or against, a particular belief or action 2

More Rhetoric… Rhetoric is about understanding what (content) is communicated through language and how (style & delivery) it is communicated. Rhetoric is always situational and has: CONTEXT : the occasion (the time and place and audience) PURPOSE: the goal that the speaker or writer wants to achieve CLAIM: the speaker or writer’s central point (thesis) 3

Persuasive Appeals An effective persuasive argument generally includes three basic types of appeals: Logos: appeal to logic Pathos: appeal to emotion Ethos: appeal to character/credibility 4

Logos Writers and speakers appeal to logos (logic) by offering clear, rational ideas that stimulate the audience’s mind and intelligence. Appealing to logos can be achieved by using logical reasoning, examples, facts, statistical data, and/or expert testimony to support one’s claim. Another way to appeal to logos is to acknowledge a counterargument and then refute it. 5

Pathos Writers and speakers appeal to pathos (emotion) by stimulating the audience’s emotions (such as fear, sympathy, love, or patriotism). Appealing to pathos can be achieved by using loaded words (words with strong connotations or emotional associations), vivid description, and emotional anecdotes/examples. Emotional appeals sometimes contain very little factual information and instead often rely on highly charged language that triggers intense feelings within the audience. 6

Ethos A writer or speaker appeals to ethos by demonstrating that he/she is credible and trustworthy. Appealing to ethos can be achieved by revealing one’s expertise, experience, trustworthiness, fairness, respect, and/or sincerity. A speaker's/writer’s ethos can also be determined by his or her usage of proper spelling, grammar, and language. 7

Practice! Directions: read the set-up below, and with a partner, come up with 1 appeal to logos, 1 appeal to pathos, and 1 appeal to ethos that you could use in this situation Context: Time- Friday evening during the school year; Place - your home; Audience - your tired parent Purpose: to persuade your parent to let you go out with your friends to a party Claim: I should be allowed to go out with my friends tonight and attend a party. 8