1. ARGUMENT

2. Types of Argument #1 – To Inform
Provide Information – still argue something
Signs “STOP!”
Newspaper Headlines
First step in selling something (ads)
“Best Movie of the Year!”
Political Campaigns

3. #2 – TO CONVINCE Convince a behavior or belief is correct
Go Green Campaigns
The Truth – shards of glass
Government decisions – Health Care Reform

4. #3: TO MAKE DECISIONS Provides pros and cons of a situation
Best computer to buy
Choosing a major

5. “The Onion” Stephen Colbert & John Stewart Personal Stories
#4: To Entertain
“The Onion”
Stephen Colbert & John Stewart
Personal Stories

6. Introduction to Rhetoric
Aristotle (Greek Philosopher)
Rhetoric – “The faculty of observing in any given case the available means of persuasion”
The art of persuasion.
It is a thoughtful, reflective activity leading to effective communication including rational exchange of opposing viewpoints.

7. Rhetoric always has:
Context – The occasion or the time and place it was written or spoken
Purpose – a goal that the speaker or writer wants to achieve

8. Aristotelian Triangle
Speaker Audience Subject

9. APPEALS to the AUDIENCE
ETHOS: How does the author establish credibility? How does he/she show good sense, trustworthiness, good will, or good character?
PATHOS: How does the author appeal to emotions/interests?
LOGOS: How does the author appeal to the audience’s rational side? – Information provided? Facts? Statistics? Stories? Terms?