1. Understanding Rhetoric
A look at the role of persuasion

2. What is RHETORIC?
According to Aristotle, rhetoric is “the faculty of observing in any given case the means of persuasion.”
Today, rhetoric is simply defined as the ability to use language effectively.
There are many different factors to consider in order to be an effective rhetor.

3. The RHETORICAL SITUATION

4. The RHETORICAL SITUATION
One needs to be aware that a rhetorical situation exists EVERY TIME he writes or speaks.
One needs to adapt his writing or speaking depending upon his purpose and his audience.

5. The WRITER (speaker) Can be called the writer, speaker, or rhetor.
Personal characteristics and interests affect what one writes about and how one writes about it.

6. WRITER relevant issues…
Age
Experiences
Gender
Location
Political beliefs
Education
Parents and peers
Religion

7. The AUDIENCE
The writer (speaker) must consider who they are addressing.
Many of the same factors which affect the writer also affect the audience
Age
Social class
Education

8. Creating PURPOSE
Every writer (speaker) must have a purpose for the text they are creating.
He/she will then use their language to reach this intended purpose.

9. Possible PURPOSES
To invoke a response (i.e. sympathy, pity, pride, etc.)
To create a following
To create a call to action
To force action
To educate
Etc…

10. Using Rhetorical Appeals

11. What are APPEALS?
Rhetorical appeals are created by writers/speakers through the use of specific rhetorical (literary) devices.
A rhetorical appeal is not something a writer/speaker does or uses.
For example:
Dr. King’s use of repetition in his famous I Have a Dream speech works to create pathos. The continual repetition of the phrase evokes feelings of possibility and pride in listeners.
**Dr. King USES repetition to CREATE pathos…

12. LOGOS
A method of argumentation that appeals to a person’s reasoning skills— think LOGIC
Statistics
Facts
Cause/effect

13. PATHOS
A method of argumentation that appeals to a person’s emotions—think PITY or PATHETIC
A writer or speaker will always appeal to a specific emotion (fear, anger, pride, nostalgia, etc.)

14. ETHOS
A method of argumentation that appeals to a person’s ethics (his or her morals, values, beliefs…what he or she may believe to be right or wrong)— think EXPERT
Expert testimony
References to God