1. Common Core State Standards ELA
What is Rhetoric?
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Common Core State Standards ELA

2. According to Aristotle…
Rhetoric is “the faculty of observing in any given case the available means of persuasion.”
Huh? Rhetoric is a thoughtful, reflective activity leading to effective communication, including the rational exchange of opposing viewpoints.
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Common Core State Standards ELA

3. Aristotle’s Rhetorical Triangle
Speaker
Context Aim/Purpose
Audience Subject
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4. assertion/thesis/claim
a clear and focused statement
Ex: Lou Gehrig speech
(Appreciation Day,
July 4, 1939)
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5. Common Core State Standards ELA
context
Rhetoric is always SITUATIONAL—context is the occasion or the time and place it was written or spoken
What was the context for Gehrig’s speech?
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6. Common Core State Standards ELA
Delivered the speech between games of a doubleheader
Poignant contrast between the celebration of his athletic career and the life-threatening diagnosis he had received
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A note about context…
Be aware that sometimes context may arise from current events or cultural bias (bias: prejudice toward one side of an issue)
Ex: Someone writing about freedom of speech in a community that has experienced hate graffiti must take THAT context into account and adjust the purpose of the piece so as not to offend the audience (graffiti on a synagogue, swastika spray-painted on a garage door, etc.)
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8. Common Core State Standards ELA
purpose/aim
The goal the speaker or writer wants to achieve
Trying to win an argument?
Persuade us to take action?
Evoke sympathy?
Make someone laugh?
Inform? Provoke? Celebrate? Put forth a proposal? Secure support? Bring about a favorable decision?
What was Gehrig’s purpose when he wrote and then delivered this speech?
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9. He shows his purpose is…
To remain positive by looking on the bright side and downplaying the bleak outlook
HOW DO WE KNOW THIS IS HIS PURPOSE?
One reference to the diagnosis
Straightforward language of strength: he got a “bad break” (no blame, no self-pity, no plea for sympathy)
Maintains his focus: to celebrate the occasion and get back to work—playing baseball
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10. Common Core State Standards ELA
subject
The main idea
What is Gehrig’s subject?
Baseball…specifically, the New York Yankees (doh!)
His disease (briefly); the things for which he is thankful
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11. Common Core State Standards ELA
writer/speaker
the author, speaker, or the person whose perspective (REAL or IMAGINED) is being advanced in a speech or piece of writing
persona: speaker, voice, or character assumed/adopted by the author of a piece of writing
Are you speaking as a poet, comedian, or scholar?
Are you speaking as an expert on swimming or popular music?
Are you speaking as a concerned citizen in your local community?
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12. Common Core State Standards ELA
What do we know about Gehrig as the speaker? Does he use a persona? What does knowing this tell us about his approach, the language choices he makes?
Understands his audience: He presents himself as a common man, modest, glad for the life he’s lived
He’s a baseball player; doesn’t “put on airs”
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13. Common Core State Standards ELA
audience
One’s listener or readership; those to whom a speech or piece of writing is addressed
Who will read/hear your writing/speech and what will they be expecting?
College application  admissions officers at a university
Resume  prospective employer
Letter to the editor in local newspaper  entire community
What does the audience know about the subject?
What is the audience’s attitude towards it?
Is there common ground between the writer’s and reader’s views on the subject?
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14. Choosing rhetorical strategies
What is a strategy?
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15. Common Core State Standards ELA
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16. The “three musketeers”: Ethos, Logos, and Pathos
Types of Appeals
The “three musketeers”: Ethos, Logos, and Pathos
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17. Common Core State Standards ELA
Ethos
A writer’s/speaker’s appeal to character to demonstrate that s/he is credible and trustworthy
The speaker’s expertise, knowledge, experience, training, sincerity
Often emphasizes shared values between the speaker and the audience
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18. Examples of Appeals to Ethos
Rhetorical Situation
Speech discouraging children from using alcohol
As a parent speaking to other parents in the community
Appeal to Ethos
Stressing you are a concerned parent, psychologist specializing in alcoholism, recovering alcoholic
Showing that you share a concern for their children’s education or well-being
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19. Other ways to establish ethos…
Reputation
Being a scholar
Being known as an expert in your field
The discourse (writing or speaking) itself
Making a good impression (setting a tone of goodwill) from the type and thoroughness of the information presented
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20. Common Core State Standards ELA
How does Lou Gehrig establish ethos in his speech-- what makes him credible, sincere, trustworthy?
How do teachers establish ethos with students?
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21. Common Core State Standards ELA
Logos
An appeal to reason by offering clear, rational, logical ideas
Gehrig’s speech may seem largely emotional, but considering his thesis “I am the luckiest man on the face of the earth,” what two points (facts) also support this thesis?
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22. Common Core State Standards ELA
Gehrig’s logos…
(1) his seventeen years of playing baseball (FACT)
(2) his belief that he “never received anything but kindness and encouragement from [his] fans” (FACT/EVIDENCE)
The fact that he has gotten a “bad break” does not negate (cancel) these two FACTS
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23. Another way to use logos…
counterargument: to anticipate objections or opposing views
(remember…ignoring opposing views makes you VULNERABLE)
concede you agree that an opposing argument may be true, but then you refute deny the validity of all or part of the argument
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24. Common Core State Standards ELA
How does Gehrig address a counterargument in his speech?
He concedes what some of his listeners may think—that his bad break is cause for discouragement or giving up—but he disagrees because he “has a lot to live for” (a contrasting way of viewing his situation)
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25. Common Core State Standards ELA
Pathos
An appeal to emotion
Usually includes:
Vivid, concrete description
Figurative language
Visual elements (think about ads)
Note: Writing should not rely exclusively on pathos
propagandistic: designed to sway opinion rather than present information
polemical: an argument against an idea (philosophy, politics, religion)
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26. SNRPDP: Common Core State Standards ELA
Einstein’s Letter
Read Einstein’s letter to sixth-grader Phyllis and respond to the prompt
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27. Common Core State Standards ELA
Review…
Can you explain the following to your neighbor?
Aristotle’s Rhetorical Triangle (5 parts)
The difference between speaker and persona
How one develops ethos
The difference between logos and pathos
Bias
Counterargument (define  concede, refute)
Define  polemical and propagandistic
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28. Arrangement: Classical Model
Introduction: introduces the reader to the subject under discussion
draws readers into the text by piquing their interest, challenging them, or getting their interest
often where the writer establishes ethos
Narration: provides factual information and background on the subject
establishes why the subject is a problem that needs addressing
length and development of this section depends on audience’s knowledge of the subject
often appeals to pathos because the writer attempts to evoke an emotional response about the importance of the subject
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29. Common Core State Standards ELA
Confirmation: includes the development or the proof needed to make the writer’s case
usually the major part of the text
“nuts and bolts” of the essay
contains most specific and concrete details in the text
generally makes the strongest appeal to logos
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30. Common Core State Standards ELA
Refutation: addresses the counterargument
Usually appeals to logos
Provides a bridge between writer’s proof and conclusion
Conclusion: brings the essay to a satisfying close
May remind the reader of the ethos established earlier
Usually appeals to pathos
Does not repeat earlier ideas; brings it all together and answers the question “so what?”
These are the words the audience is most likely to remember
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description: emphasizes the senses by painting a picture of how something looks, sounds, smells, tastes, or feels
Often used to establish mood
Essays are not usually entirely descriptive; can be used to make writing more persuasive (makes it easier for them to empathize with you)
Description is often used in conjunction with other rhetorical modes
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32. Common Core State Standards ELA
Recitation/Review
Explain the following to your neighbor:
Aristotle’s rhetorical triangle
Another word for thesis
Difference between speaker and persona
What is ethos, logos, and pathos?
Define  refute, concede, polemical, propagandistic, implicit
What are the 4 (main) rhetorical modes?
What is unique about mode of description?
What is a trait that is unique to narrative writing?
What mode would process analysis fall under? Why?
What are the five sections of the classical model (in order!)?
What is an implied thesis?
What is the “key” to a good process analysis?
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33. Common Core State Standards ELA
exemplification: providing a series of examples—facts, specific cases, or instances—to turn a general idea into a concrete one
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34. Common Core State Standards ELA
comparison and contrast: juxtaposing two things to highlight their similarities and differences
used to analyze information carefully, revealing insight into the nature of the information being presented
required OFTEN on exams
can be organized in two ways:
subject by subject (discusses all elements of one subject, then turns to another)
point-by-point (organized around specific points of the discussion)
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35. Common Core State Standards ELA
classification and division: sorting of material and ideas into major categories
“What goes together and why?”
Most of the time, writers develop their own categories to find a way to break down a larger idea or concept into parts
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Common Core State Standards ELA

36. Common Core State Standards ELA
classification
can be:
(1) binary  breaks down into two parts (those with a certain feature and those without it)
smokers/non-smokers, runner/non-runners, believers/ non-believers
(2) complex  may have to sort into multiple categories and subcategories
thesis statement  lets readers know WHY you are classifying
make sure that categories you choose don’t overlap
make sure you include all essential categories
might want to outline first with headings and subheadings
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37. division (also: analysis)
slicing into parts (not categories)
separate the subject into its elements  infer their meanings  explore the relations among them  and draw a conclusion about the subject
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38. Common Core State Standards ELA
definition: to ensure that writers and their audiences are speaking the same language, definition may lay the foundation to establish common ground or identify areas of conflict
oftentimes the first step in a debate or disagreement
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