British Literature September 14, 2008 Ms. Spretnjak

Bellringer - 10 minutes: Take a look at the following advertisements. In your spiral notebook for this class, identify the following regarding this ad: -The Subject (or product) -The Audience -The Tone

Agenda: 1.Discussion of Advertisements 2.Rhetorical Appeals - Take notes in your spiral notebook. 3.Practice with the Rhetorical Appeals - Small group work.

Rhetorical Appeals: We have already utilize SOAPStone to identify some of the characteristics of effective argumentation. As writers, we will use SOAPStone to maximize how we deliver our messages. We must also begin to address how to best target our audience, establish context, and represent ourselves in order to fit our purpose and subject. To achieve this “best,” we use Rhetorical Appeals.

Record in your notebook: Rhetorical Appeals: Tools that help the writer make his or her argument more appealing to the audience. Ethos / Pathos / Logos

Ethos = “ethical appeal” How does the speaker present him or herself? As an effective writer, you can control how your audience perceives you. Speakers often use allusions, quotes, and references to build their own ethos.

Ethos Example Politicians. In politics, it’s all about perception. Consider how politicians use their appearance, dress, speaking characteristics, and mannerisms to affect how we perceive them.

Pathos = “emotional appeal” How well does the speaker appeal to the audience’s emotions? The emotions need to match the subject, purpose, and context. As writers, we need to consider how to manipulate our reader’s emotions. Emotional appeals can be effective or overwhelming - consider Hallmark commercials.

Pathos Example Wedding speeches and eulogies. When giving these types of speeches, the speaker is almost always aware of the audience’s expectations. For wedding speeches and toasts, the audience typically expects to be entertained and reminded of love. In a eulogy, the audience members are already emotional, and they expect the speaker to match their serious and sad state.

Logos = “logical appeal” How well does the speaker use his or her own text to make an effective argument? Is the argument rational and well- constructed? How well does the speaker support his or her thesis? Speakers will often use facts, statistics, and references to create logos.

Logos Example Legal documents. Most effective laws and legal decisions rely heavily on logos. For example, within the United States’ judicial system, the punishment is supposed to fit the crime. Faulty logic may lead to unequal punishments, which is typically not tolerated.

Rhetorical Appeals - Balance The Rhetorical Appeals must be used together. BALANCE of the three is important. Too much of one is likely to produce an argument that readers will either find unconvincing or that will cause them to stop reading.

Practice with the appeals - Group Work You will work in the same groups in which you have worked already. You will be given a selection of advertisements that utilize rhetorical appeals. You will identify: –The product being advertised –The appeals being used (many of these ads will use more than once) –The effectiveness of the advertisement - does it work to sell the product? Why or why not?

Homework: For tomorrow’s – Tuesday’s – class, you need to obtain a print advertisement. It may be from a magazine, newspaper, or internet source. You also need to identify the following rhetorical appeals for your advertisement: –Ethos –Pathos –Logos