1. Defining Rhetoric And Understanding the Rhetorical Triangle

2. A Definition Rhetoric can be understood as Rhetoric can be understood as “The art that humans use to process all the messages we send and receive” AND “The art that humans use to process all the messages we send and receive” AND As the language choices made by both sides that make a “text” meaningful, purposeful, and effective. As the language choices made by both sides that make a “text” meaningful, purposeful, and effective. Notice that both the producer and the receiver of a message are involved in a rhetorical situation. Notice that both the producer and the receiver of a message are involved in a rhetorical situation.

3. Why Rhetoric? No text exists in a bubble; No text exists in a bubble; instead, a text represents the interplay of several elements, and being aware of these elements is a rhetorical awareness. instead, a text represents the interplay of several elements, and being aware of these elements is a rhetorical awareness.

4. Why Rhetoric? Understanding Rhetoric allows you to Understanding Rhetoric allows you to Plan, write, and speak well; Plan, write, and speak well; Discern and critique messages; Discern and critique messages; Analyze a text or situation and see that there are choices to be made; Analyze a text or situation and see that there are choices to be made; And analyze a situation and understand its context, what has already been said, and what you can add to the situation. And analyze a situation and understand its context, what has already been said, and what you can add to the situation.

5. Why Rhetoric? There is a moral component to Rhetoric: There is a moral component to Rhetoric: According to Aristotle, Rhetoric is based on a common search for truth. According to Aristotle, Rhetoric is based on a common search for truth. Cicero—rhetoric is intertwined with ethics, because it implies self-control, an understanding of the world, and a search for truth and justice. Cicero—rhetoric is intertwined with ethics, because it implies self-control, an understanding of the world, and a search for truth and justice.

6. The Rhetorical Triangle Rhetor Rhetor Subject Audience

7. The Rhetor Why not say “Author” or “Speaker”? Why not say “Author” or “Speaker”? Persona Persona Normally educated, trustworthy, considerate, and well-intentioned. Normally educated, trustworthy, considerate, and well-intentioned. Tone – Tone – The rhetor’s attitute towards their subject. The rhetor’s attitute towards their subject.

8. The Subject Must be open to interpretation in order to be a rhetorical situation. Must be open to interpretation in order to be a rhetorical situation. The subject is what the text is about, and the evidence used to achieve the purpose. The subject is what the text is about, and the evidence used to achieve the purpose. The basic format of evidence is “claim- plus-support.” The basic format of evidence is “claim- plus-support.”

9. The Audience The Rhetor makes choices based on what they know about the audience and based on what they think the audience already knows. The Rhetor makes choices based on what they know about the audience and based on what they think the audience already knows. The audience brings background knowledge about the subject and the rhetor. The audience brings background knowledge about the subject and the rhetor.

10. Logos, Pathos, and Ethos The Rhetor will appeal to the audience The Rhetor will appeal to the audience Logically (called Logos) Logically (called Logos) Emotionally (Pathos) Emotionally (Pathos) And by developing his or her own credibility (Ethos) And by developing his or her own credibility (Ethos)