INTRODUCTION TO RHETORIC Chapter One

What is rhetoric? “The faculty of observing in any given case the available means of persuasion.” -- Aristotle A thoughtful, reflective activity leading to effective communication, including rational exchange of opposing viewpoints Communication of any kind whose purpose is to appeal to and persuade an audience Examples: clothing, architecture, visuals and pictures, writing, speeches

Rhetorical triangle Speaker Audience Message

Ethos Created through the speaker Demonstrates that he or she is credible and trustworthy Established by being an expert in a field or providing thorough, convincing support a trustworthy person with a good reputation

Logos Appeals to the reason of the argument Offers clear, rational ideas Established by providing facts and figures showing that you’ve considered your argument carefully (well-reasoned)

Pathos Creates an emotional connection in the audience Established through shared values and connection between the speaker and audience tugging on your emotions

Other important terms Counterargument – anticipates your opponents objections Refute – to deny the validity of your opponent’s argument Concede – to agree that an opposing argument may be true These techniques strengthen your argument. They appeals to logos by demonstrating that you considered your subject carefully.

Lou Gehrig’s farewell speech Persona – common man who is modest and grateful; facing a crisis Exigence – (motivation) between games of double header; celebration of a career and life-threatening diagnosis Audience – fans and colleagues in the stadium and on air

Lou Gehrig speech Subject – humility; gratitude; optimism; acceptance Purpose – (goal that the speaker wants to achieve) to thank fans, colleagues, and family for their support; to assert his optimism and courage in the face of his diagnosis Subject – humility; gratitude; optimism; acceptance Thesis/Claim/Assertion – He’s the luckiest man on earth.

Lou Gherig speech synthesis Lou Gherig gave his farewell to baseball speech in front of an audience of fans and colleagues, both in the stadium and over the air, upon his retirement from the game and a devastating diagnosis of ALS. His purpose was to thank fans, colleagues, and family for their support and assert his optimism and courage in the face of his diagnosis as he expressed humility, gratitude, optimism, and acceptance.

With your partner… Identify two examples each within the speech of ethos pathos logos