An Overview of Rhetoric Robert Herrick
Rhetoric “Systematic study and intentional practice of effective symbolic expression.” Symbolic?
Rhetor * anyone who composes discourse that is intended to affect an audience’s or broader community’s thinking or actions.
Goals of Rhetoric Achieving clarity Awakening sense of beauty Bringing about mutual understanding
6 Characteristics Rhetoric is planned How would this relate to:
6 Characteristics Rhetoric is adapted to an audience Enthymeme*: the rhetor provides a tenable premise and expects the audience to “fill in” or arrive at the desired conclusion, based on shared values, beliefs, concerns, or knowledge; shared but unstated assumption
How is this adapted to audience?
6 Characteristics Rhetoric reveals human motives
“We have this fantasy that our interests and the interests of the super rich are the same. Like somehow the rich will eventually get so full that they’ll explode. And the candy will rain down on the rest of us. Like there’s some kind of pinata of benevolence. But here’s the thing about a pinata: it doesn’t open on it’s own. You have to beat it with a stick.” — Bill Maher
6 Characteristics Rhetoric is responsive (to a situation or previous rhetorical statement)
6 Characteristics Rhetoric seeks persuasion Argument – claim, reason, evidence Appeals Arrangement Aesthetics
6 Characteristics Rhetoric addresses contingent issues Contingent – no definite or unavoidable answers; weighing of options necessary Deliberate: reason through various alternatives
Social functions of rhetoric Testing ideas for both rhetor and audience By public – i.e. abolition of slavery Assisting Advocacy Distributing power Personal power – express self effectively Psychological power – shape thinking of others Political power
Social functions of rhetoric Discovering facts Locating evidence Evaluating evidence Shaping knowledge Social role, rhetor & audience Building community Example of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr