1. The Rhetorical Triangle
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The Rhetorical Triangle

2. What is rhetoric?
The art or study of using language effectively and persuasively. [American Heritage College Dictionary]
“Rhetoric may be defined as the faculty of observing in any given case the available means of persuasion.” [Aristotle]

3. Aristotle believed that from the world around them, speakers could:
observe how communication happens and
use that to develop sound and convincing arguments.

4. What is Rhetoric? What is said (message) Who is saying it (speaker)
Who is listening (audience)
Where / when it is being said (context, appeals)
Why it is being said (purpose)
How it is being said (tone, style)

5. Aristotle said that when a rhetor (speaker) begins to consider how to compose a speech, he/she must take into account 3 elements: the message, the audience, and the speaker.
Speaker
Audience
Message

6. What is the Rhetorical Triangle?
Shows the relationship between speaker, audience, message, style, purpose, tone
Understanding these rhetorical elements makes both writing and analysis much clearer

7. Speaker The writer/speaker uses: who they are,
what they know and feel, and
what they’ve seen and done
to find their attitudes toward a subject and their understanding of audience.

8. The Author / Speaker
Gender / racial / geographical/ socioeconomic/ political orientation of author
Author Bias / hidden agenda
Other important biographical information may affect text

9. Audience The writer/speaker:
speculates about audience expectations and knowledge of subject, and
uses own experience and observation to help decide on how to communicate with audience.

10. The Audience Are they friend or foe? (hostile or sympathetic)
How will they receive the message?
How will they affect tone? style?
Who is the intentional audience?
Who is the unintentional audience?
Over time, does the message/effect of the message change as the audience changes?

11. Message The writer/speaker:
evaluates what he/she knows already and needs to know,
investigates perspectives (researches), and
determines kinds of evidence or proofs seem most useful (supports assertions with appropriate evidence).

12. The Message
What is the main point being made? In other words, what is the writer’s / speaker’s thesis?
Look at the message as an argument / position being sold to the audience. What is the author trying to convince the audience of?

13. The Message Consider this when trying to identify the exact message:
What is the topic (1-2 words) about which the piece is written?
What is the most important aspect or perspective about that topic that the author wants you to understand?
What, exactly, does the author want the reader to think/do/feel/say?
What is the “no” on the other side of the author’s “yes?” (And vice versa)

14. Context and Purpose
Context: the situation in which writing and reading occur
Purpose: the emerging aim that
underlies many of the writer’s
decisions

15. The Tone
What is the author’s attitude about his / her subject / message?
What words in the message let you know the tone?
How does the selection of the tone affect the audience’s reception of the message? Is it appropriate for the occasion/subject matter?