Rhetoric "He who does not study rhetoric will be a victim of it" found on a Greek wall from the 6th Century B.C.
What is it? The use of language to persuade an audience to a certain point of view The use of language to persuade an audience to a certain point of view Ethos- Ethical appeal Ethos- Ethical appeal Logos- Logical appeal Logos- Logical appeal Pathos- Emotional appeal Pathos- Emotional appeal
Ethos Ethical Ethical The credibility of the author The credibility of the author Personal experience with the subject Personal experience with the subject Educational experience Educational experience Professional approach to the subject Professional approach to the subject Character as displayed in the speech Character as displayed in the speech Sarcasm, cynicism, intelligence, wisdom, etc. will be seen through your word choice, tone of voice, and presence Sarcasm, cynicism, intelligence, wisdom, etc. will be seen through your word choice, tone of voice, and presence
Logos Use of factual evidence Use of factual evidence Use of language to support your position Use of language to support your position Deductive reasoning (A=B, B=C, therefore C=A) Deductive reasoning (A=B, B=C, therefore C=A) Inductive reasoning (using specific clues to come to a more general understanding, like Sherlock Holmes) Inductive reasoning (using specific clues to come to a more general understanding, like Sherlock Holmes)
Pathos The use of images, specific language, and ideas to pull an emotional response from the audience The use of images, specific language, and ideas to pull an emotional response from the audience Think of the ASPCA commercials (here’s one now: 2As&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode =1) Think of the ASPCA commercials (here’s one now: 2As&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode =1) Fear, pity, sadness, guilt Fear, pity, sadness, guilt
What is the situation? What is the situation? Why the need to persuade? Why the need to persuade? Who is the speaker and what is his or her intention? Who is the speaker and what is his or her intention? How is ethos (credibility) built? How is ethos (credibility) built? What is the main purpose of the speech (to attack, to defend, to praise, to blame, to teach…) What is the main purpose of the speech (to attack, to defend, to praise, to blame, to teach…)
What is the message? What is the message? Main idea? Reasoning used? Main idea? Reasoning used? What is the main appeal (logical, emotional)? What is the main appeal (logical, emotional)? What does the speech itself reveal about the current culture? What does the speech itself reveal about the current culture? Consider the issue and suggested solutions, allusions and references, the appeal and style Consider the issue and suggested solutions, allusions and references, the appeal and style
An Inconvenient Truth trailer at KETmi4&safety_mode=true&persist_safet y_mode=1 An Inconvenient Truth trailer at KETmi4&safety_mode=true&persist_safet y_mode=1 An Inconvenient Truth KETmi4&safety_mode=true&persist_safet y_mode=1 An Inconvenient Truth KETmi4&safety_mode=true&persist_safet y_mode=1
Context and Audience context-counts context-counts context-counts context-counts What happens when you take something out of context and/or when you don’t consider the audience? What happens when you take something out of context and/or when you don’t consider the audience?