1. INTRODUCTION TO RHETORIC & ARGUMENT
AP English 11 / MS MEYER

2. RHETORIC – WHAT IS IT?
Aristotle's definition: “the faculty of observing in any given case the available means of persuasion.”
Our definition: meaningful, persuasive argumentation. This can come in many forms  speeches, advertisements, movies, political cartoons, visuals, fiction texts, poetry, and nonfiction (any cultural text).
Audience: the people being manipulated. The group who needs to change how they think or feel.
Are we the audience?

3. Become a detective – look for the manipulation
Become a detective – look for the manipulation! Don’t be somebody’s ploy!
Subject  the topic (in general terms). Do not confuse with purpose.
OCCASION  the circumstances, atmosphere, attitudes and events surrounding the text
Audience  The listener, viewer, or reader (may have multiple audiences). The speaker needs to relate to them in order to manipulate them.

4. PURPOSE  the speaker’s goal (you can interpret multiple purposes but always choose one to focus on)
Speaker Person who created the text (often has a persona – this is a role the speaker adopts)
Tone  the author’s attitude (use emotion words – avoid negative/positive – go deeper). How do you decipher tone?
SOAPStone  Always brainstorm with this before you begin writing about a text.

5. How do authors manipulate?
The WAY a text is constructed influences how the text is perceived
Style
Rhetorical devices (more on this as the year progresses)
By appealing to:
Our emotions (what does the author want us to feel?)
Our sense of logic (does the author’s text make sense?)
Our ethics (how does the author appear credible AND how does the author build the moral high-ground?)
The best authors will use a mix of all three in one piece.
An author uses all three (style, devices, and appeals) to accomplish a purpose.

6. MANIPULATION IN COMMERCIALS (the more obvious = the weaker the text is)
Michelin Tires  z7Nieo
Pedigree  v5I_KA&list=PLngHCyu6kPEC- 1pBBWT3TY3zm8vYzmDpH

7. Appeals Chart Pathos (Emotion) Logos (Logic) Ethos (Credibility) Humor
Facts
Celebrity endorsements
Anecdotes/stories or testimonials
Statistics & data
Relevant biographical information
Drawing from religion or spirituality
Definitions of terms
Experience and authority (status)
Imagery/vivid descriptions or images
Drawing from philosophy & logic
Use of credible sources
Powerful diction
If, then statements
Appropriate language
Figurative language
Cause and effect
Appropriate tone
Personal connections
Counterargument and rebuttal
Emphasizing shared values