Rhetoric

Rhetoric as defined by Aristotle "The faculty of observing, in any given case, the available means of persuasion"

Modern Definition Rhetoric is defined as “the art or skill of speaking or writing formally and effectively especially as a way to persuade or influence people.” Rhetoric is the practice of using the language to persuade, inform, and influence

The Appeals Ethos (Credibility): This is used to convince the audience by focusing on the character of the author/speaker. “Ethos is often conveyed through tone and style of the message and through the way the writer or speaker refers to differing views. It can also be affected by the writer's reputation as it exists independently from the message- -his or her expertise in the field, his or her previous record or integrity, and so forth.” Pathos (Emotional): Used to persuade an audience by appealing to their emotions. Logos (Logical): Used to persuade by reasoning. This can be through factual evidence, statistics, logical reasoning, etc.

Writing What does rhetoric have to do with writing?

Rhetoric in writing is used to amuse, appease or persuade an audience. Rhetorical tools: Style Tone Voice Purpose/Intent Audience Awareness Rhetorical Devices Alliteration, similes, metaphors, etc.

Questions to Ask Questions to ask yourself when writing: Who is my audience? Who do I want to read my work? What do I want to convey? What is my overall purpose/intent? Which appeals will I use? How will I use my voice to effectively provide the overall tone of my writing?