1. The Language of composition
Chapter One
An Introduction to Rhetoric: Using the “Available Means”
The Language of composition
Reading, Writing, Rhetoric

2. What is Rhetoric?
Defined by Aristotle as “the faculty of observing in any given case the available means of persuasion.”
Leads to effective communication
And it’s important because…
use the “available means,” acquire a position of strength

3. Key Elements of Rhetoric
Rhetoric can be studied in relation to both spoken and written words
July 4, 1939 – Lou Gehrig delivers a
speech to baseball fans
** Alt version of audio

4. Key Elements – Context / Purpose
What is context?
What was Gehrig’s context?
- between double header
- contrast between celebration and “bad break”
What was his purpose?
- remain positive
- is straightforward, honest, focused
Other general purposes?
Beware of contextual bias

5. Key Elements – Thesis / Speaker
Claim, Assertion, Thesis: clear and focused
Gehrig: “luckiest man on the face of the earth”
Subject: baseball! Gehrig knows it well
Speaker: common man, baseball player, modest, courageous, not orator… he explicitly showed these traits of himself
All of theses elements combined to make Gehrig’s speech one of the most famous of the early 20th century

6. Rhetorical / Aristotelian Triangle
Shows interaction
Interaction determines structure and language of “argument”
Speaker
Audience
Subject

7. Rhetorical / Aristotelian Triangle
Subject: topic, background, evidence
Speaker: sometimes author, sometimes persona
Persona examples: student, concerned citizen, activist, expert, etc.
Audience: knowledge? attitude? bias?
How do these interactions affect the argument?

8. Rhetorical Appeals - Ethos
Ethos is the appeal to the character of the speaker, to demonstrate that they are credible and trustworthy
Sometimes reputation is enough
Sometimes tone is enough
Often an appeal to ethos is found explicitly within the argument
Ethos gives the audience a reason for listening

9. Rhetorical Appeals - Logos
Logos is an appeal to reason (logic) by offering clear, rational ideas
Achieved through clear thesis with specific and sufficient support
Based on an assumption or underlying belief (Gehrig example: Bad breaks are natural and inevitable)
Logos includes counterargument: concession and refutation

10. Rhetorical Appeals - Pathos
Pathos is the appeal to emotions of the audience
Not often effective by itself
Accomplished through choice of language, personal anecdotes… whatever engages emotions of audience
Language = connotation
Visuals can add to pathos
Propaganda – relies almost wholly on pathos… unique situation because of audience

11. Ethos, Pathos and Logos in Practice
Read aloud: Article “We Can Afford to Give Parents a Break” on Page 6-8

12. Ethos, Pathos and Logos in Practice
“Our government” – she is part of it, she is critical on behalf of audience
Her credentials as researcher
Location (context) of publication/audience establishes ethos

13. Ethos, Pathos and Logos in Practice
Her frame as an economic issue is appeal to logic
Uses cause/effect examples
Addresses the opposition – “myths”

14. Ethos, Pathos and Logos in Practice
Occasion of Mother’s Day– even though she doesn’t ID herself as a mother

15. Synthesizing our learning…
If time allows: Article on Twitter, in pairs Collected Homework: Assignment, pg 9 (Albert Einstein letter) – follow instructions in book.

16. Visual Rhetoric
Elements of Rhetoric can also be applied to visual texts
Political cartoons, advertisements, visual aids
Sometimes satirical, not always
Rosa Parks cartoon, pg 11: subject, speaker, audience, context, purpose, ethos, pathos, logos

17. Rhetoric from Literature
Literature is also persuasive
Example: Julius Caesar speech
How does Antony appeal to ethos, pathos and logos??

18. Arrangement Organization of a piece is also part of rhetoric
Beginning, middle, end - - intro, body, conclusion
Arrangement depends on purpose and intended effect
Not always conscious, but should be considered

19. Classical Model
Introduction – Any number of paragraphs. Piques interest in some way. Establish ethos.
Narration – Factual and background material. Establishes the “why.” Appeal to logos OR pathos.
Confirmation – Development of proof. Examples. Appeal to logos.
Refutation – Addresses counterargument. Can appear anywhere within argument. Appeal to logos.
Conclusion – Answers the question “so what?” Brings it all together. Appeal to pathos and ethos (reminder)

20. Patterns of Development
Arrangement according to purpose
Author’s purpose suggests a particular method of arrangement
Organize an entire text, or paragraphs within one

21. Narration Telling a story or recounting events
Based on personal experience or observation
Usually chronological, detailed
Has a point of view and sometimes dialogue
Think of it as crafting a story… that supports your thesis!
Often used as a way to introduce topics

22. Description Often with narration Emphasis on details, not story
Establish a mood or atmosphere
Not used alone… ineffective
Vivid description can make your writing more persuasive
Examples: Ehrenreich and Orwell

23. Process Analysis
Explains how something works, how to do something, or how it was done
Clarity
Logical, chronological, thorough
Ex. Writing about a scientific experiment or survey. In Psych, papers start with methodology

24. Exemplification Providing a series of examples: facts, specifics
Makes argument clearer and more persuasive
Inductive reasoning: a series of examples leads to a conclusion
A few very thorough examples can be just as convincing as several brief ones

25. Comparison and Contrast
Juxtaposing two things to highlight similarities and difference
Use to analyze information, to reveal insights
Some AP prompts are like this! Analyze differences in style
Subject by subject: discuss all elements of one, then the other ORRRR
Point by point: organized around specific ideas of comparison

26. Classification and Division
Sorting material into major categories
Writer’s task is to develop own categories, find a way to break it down into parts
Example: Amy Tan’s “Englishes” classification

27. Definition Lay common ground in an essay
Ex: define “successful” if that’s what your essay is addressing
Can be a simple paragraph, or the point of an entire paper
Ex: essay defining family

28. Cause and Effect
Be wary of establishing factual causes: not every “cause” directly causes an effect (logic flaws)

29. Patterns of Development
Assignment: pg. 26 – examine arrangement / patterns of development in “We Can Afford to Give Parents a Break”