Introduction to Rhetoric Why we write? Source: Bullock, R. (2006). The Norton Field Guide to Writing (3 rd ed.). New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company.

What is rhetoric? Whenever we write, whether it’s a text to a friend, a toast for a wedding, an English essay, or a resume, we face some kind of rhetorical situation. Rhetoric: the use of language to achieve a particular purpose – When examining rhetoric, we examine how language is being used by the author in order to achieve a purpose For example, an author is going to use different wording when s/he want to persuade somebody versus when they want to inform somebody. This is the art of rhetoric!

How do we examine rhetoric? In order to understand rhetoric, we need to examine the following components: – Purpose: why is the writer writing – Speaker: who is the writer – Audience: who is the intended reader – Subject: what is the topic being written abut – Context: what is the occasion, time period, situation, etc. that is prompting the writer to write – Stance: what side, attitude, or opinion is the writer taking and why – Tone: what is the speaker’s attitude/feelings about the subject and/or audience

The Speaking Triangle Greek philosopher Aristotle developed this triangle to illustrate the key components to rhetoric. Aristotle believed that the structure and language of an argument are determined by the interaction between the speaker, audience, and subject of a text. SpeakerAudience Text Subject

Aristotle said that when a rhetor or speaker begins to consider how to compose a speech (or text)— that is, begins the process of invention (or writing)—the speaker must take into account three elements: the subject, the audience, and the speaker. The three elements are connected and interdependent; hence, the triangle.