1. An Introduction to Rhetoric from The Language of Composition
Chapter 1
An Introduction to Rhetoric
from The Language of Composition

2. Glossary of Rhetorical Terms (pages 36 - 38)
COMMIT TO MEMORY THE FOLLOWING TERMS:
audience
concession
connotation
context
counterargument
ethos
logos
occasion
pathos
persona
polemic
propaganda
purpose
refutation
rhetoric
rhetorical appeals
rhetorical triangle
SOAPS
speaker
subject
text

3. Rhetoric: what is it?
Joshua Bell
Violin virtuoso

4. So...what is rhetoric? We use rhetoric daily… It’s persuasion…
In speeches, essays, editorial cartoons, photographs, and advertisements…a/k/a texts (cultural products that can be “read”--not just consumed and comprehended, but investigated.

5. As citizens and AP LANG STUDENTS
“It is part of our job as informed citizens [students] and consumers to understand how rhetoric works so that we can be wary of manipulation or deceit, while appreciating effective and civil communication. And it is essential that each of us communicates as effectively and honestly as possible” (1).

6. “Farewell Speech” by Lou Gehrig (pages 2-3)
Original video

7. Questions to Address: Why is this an effective speech? So…
Occasion (time and place the text is written or spoken)
Context (circumstances, atmosphere, attitudes, events)
Purpose (the speaker or writer’s goal he/she wants to achieve)
So…
What is the occasion?
What is the context?
What is Gehrig’s purpose?

8. The Rhetorical Triangle a/k/a Aristotelian Triangle
Relationship among the speaker, audience, and subject
= Rhetorical Triangle
Person or group who creates a text
Speaker
Listener
Viewer
Reader
TEXT
Topic
Audience
Subject

9. ACTIVITY
Using the Rhetorical Triangle, re-examine Gehrig’s speech; discuss how the three components work together in his speech.
P.S. Sometimes, who the speaker is in real life and the role the speaker plays when delivering his/her message differs--we call this a persona (Greek word for “mask”).

10. SOAPS S = subject O = occasion A = audience P = purpose S = speaker
Use this acronym as a practical way to approach the concept of the rhetorical situation--another tool to place in your toolbox for AP Lang (and life, in general).

11. ACTIVITY: Working in Pairs
Using SOAPS, analyze the rhetorical situation in President Bush’s 9/11 Speech on pages 6-7 in your textbook. Create a chart and be thorough with the information. :)
Be ready to share.

12. Rhetorical Appeals: ETHOS, PATHOS, LOGOS
These three terms--ethos, pathos, logos--are the foundational supports for building effective arguments.
ETHOS: Greek for character; used to demonstrate that the speaker or writer is credible and trustworthy.
Let’s look at how a speaker’s title brings ethos to the rhetorical situation in the following example--we call this “Automatic Ethos”
Text on pages 8-9

13. How does Cofer build ethos?
Building ethos
So, what if you’re not a king? Writers and speakers build their ethos by explaining their credentials or background to their readers and listeners--basically their qualifications to be able to write or speak on certain topics.
PAGE 10, from “The Myth of the Latin Woman: I just Met a Girl Named Maria” by Judith Ortiz Cofer
How does Cofer build ethos?

14. Rhetorical Appeals: ETHOS, PATHOS, LOGOS
PATHOS: Greek for “suffering” or “experience”; an appeal to emotions, values, desires, and hopes OR fears and prejudices; an effective speaker or writer understands the power of evoking an audience’s emotions by using such tools as figurative language, personal anecdotes, and vivid images.
Read from “The Checkers Speech” by Richard Nixon (p.13-14)
How is this a direct example of pathos?

15. Images and Pathos
How does this image appeal to pathos?

16. Rhetorical appeals: ETHOS, PATHOS, LOGOS
LOGOS: Greek for “embodied thought”; means thinking logically; having a clear main idea and using specific details, examples, facts, statistics, or expert testimony to back it up.
You can appeal to logos by acknowledging a counterargument- -anticipating objections or opposing views. You agree (concede) that an opposing argument may be true or reasonable, BUT then you deny (refute) the validity of all or part of the argument. Concession and refutation will strengthen your own argument.

17. Rhetorical Appeals: ETHOS, PATHOS, LOGOS
Combining all three rhetorical appeals creates an effective argument.
ACTIVITY: Working with a partner, select one of the rhetorical situations on pages and build your written argument by establishing ethos, pathos, and logos. Be prepared to share. :)

18. Images and Ethos, Pathos, and Logos
H.W.--locate three images that appeal to ethos, pathos, and logos; be prepared to explain and share via Google Classroom;