RHETORIC ITS HISTORY AND ELEMENTS

GREECE: THE CRADLE OF DEMOCRACY Democracy: government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system.which ONE PERSON: ONE VOTE!

RHETORIC Commonsense Definition: The art of speaking and writing well. Whatley’s Definition: The art of adapting discourse to its end. Aristotle’s Definition: The art of observing in a given situation the available means of persuasion.

THE HISTORY OF RHETORIC The History of Argumentation

CORAX AND TISIAS The Scene: "Corax and his pupil Tisias were reputedly the first Sophists. Like many young men with an appetite for worldly success, Tisias sought training from Corax in the hope of being able to sue his way to wealth and influence. Wishing to make sure he was not duped by his teacher, Tisias contracted to pay Corax only after he had actually won a law suit. On this condition his training commenced and soon enough was over. But Tisias became complacent. Years went by and Tisias brought no suits against anyone. Corax had been willing to wait to be paid, but not forever, so he brought a suit against Tisias to recover his fee" -- Britannica.com Tisias: Your Honors, I stand before you today in humility of spirit and purity of motive. I ask only that you listen patiently and judge rightly in issuing your verdict. Your Honors, I charge Corax for failing to teach me well the art of Rhetoric. The proof of this charge is here before us today. For if I should lose my case, it will surely prove that I was not taught Rhetoric very well. And this being the case I should NOT have to pay the tuition. For no one should have to pay for services that weren't rendered according to what was promised. On the other hand, if I win the case, it shows that I had enough sense and talent to figure out the art of Rhetoric out on my own, despite the negligence of my instructor. But even this is not necessary to my case. For a ruling against Corax, is a ruling for me. And a ruling for me means I do not have to pay tuition. In either case, then, I should NOT have to pay tuition.

CORAX AND TISIAS Corax: Your Honors, I, too, stand humbly before you. I, too, recognize, in years far more experienced than that of my adversary, your outstanding record of prudent and just decision making on behalf of those whose cause is just. We are indeed fortunate to gain a hearing before you. This, then, is my case. I have given Tisias the very best education in rhetoric of which I am capable, on the condition that he would at some point in his career pay my tuition. This he has not done. Now, if you rule against me -- that is if Tisias does in fact win his case -- it serves to show that I taught him Rhetoric well, in which case he should be required to pay my tuition. If, however, Tisias does not win his case, that would show him to be a poor, or rather bad, student. (We already know he is poor.) Those who are wise well know that a teacher is not to be faulted if, in discharging his services well and faithfully, the student is simply too stupid or too lazy (or too both) to take advantage of those services, expertly rendered. But even this is unnecessary to my case. For a ruling against Tisias is a ruling in favor of me. Such a ruling would, of course, mean that Tisias must pay my tuition. In either case, then, my tuition should be paid. At Issue: Has Tisias won or has Corax won?

THE VERDICT The Decision: "KAKOU KORAKOS KAKON OON" Translation: "From a bad crow, a bad egg." Or, "When a mischievous bird of prey lays an egg, the egg too is mischievous." Verdict is a play on words: Corax means "crow"; Tisias means "eggs" The case was, in effect, thrown out of court.

SOPHISTRY a subtle, tricky, superficially plausible, but generally fallacious method of reasoning.subtle

ELEMENTS OF RHETORIC S-Situation. What is the situation for which the speech is being prepared? Generally in this class, it will be for a classroom presentation. P-Purpose. What is the purpose of the speech? There are three general purposes for speaking: To Persuade; To Inform; and To Entertain. Remember the acronym PIE. The I is in the middle because ALL SPEECHES ARE INFORMATIVE. A-Audience. Who is the audience for whom the speech is being prepared? Generally in this class, the audience will be the English 10 speech class. M-Method. What method(s) will you use to achieve your purpose? There are three artistic methods: Logos, Pathos, and Ethos.

LOGOS/PATHOS/ETHOS Logos— Arguments that are based on logic. These arguments use your evidence to support your thesis. We will discuss types of reasoning when we do persuasive speaking. The best place to put these arguments is in the body of your speech. Pathos— Arguments that are based on emotion. These arguments appeal to the emotions of the audience…pride, anger, fear, compassion, sense of humor. Ethos— Arguments that are based on credibility of the speaker. These arguments rely on the perceived reputation of the speaker. To achieve these arguments, use good sources, choose a topic for which you are qualified to speak, and be ethical in your arguments.

ASSIGNMENT: Find five advertisements that have different situations, audiences, and methods. Identify the situation for the ad. Identify the purpose for the ad. Identify the audience for the ad. Identify the method(s) the ad uses. Explain your answers. See the models on the next two slides.

RHETORICAL ANALYSIS Situation: Most likely this ad was prepared for the beginning of summer. because of the greenness of the background and its sunny look. Purpose: To persuade the audience to buy Coke. Audience: The audience is probably primarily young male athletes. Method: The major method of persuasion in this ad is pathos. Drinking Coke is healthy and invigorating.

RHETORICAL ANALYSIS Situation: The Presidential election of Audience: American voters. Purpose: To persuade voters to cast their ballots for Ronald Reagan and George Bush. Method: This ad uses pathos with the flag to appeal to patriotism and ethos with the statement that Reagan and Bush have brought America back.