1. INTRODUCTION TO RHETORIC
Chapter One

2. What is rhetoric?
“The faculty of observing in any given case the available means of persuasion.” -- Aristotle
A thoughtful, reflective activity leading to effective communication, including rational exchange of opposing viewpoints
Communication of any kind whose purpose is to appeal to and persuade an audience
Examples: clothing, architecture, visuals and pictures, writing, speeches

3. Rhetorical triangle
Speaker
Audience
Message

4. Ethos Created through the speaker
Demonstrates that he or she is credible and trustworthy
Established by
being an expert in a field or
providing thorough, convincing support
a trustworthy person with a good reputation

5. Logos Appeals to the reason of the argument
Offers clear, rational ideas
Established by
providing facts and figures
showing that you’ve considered your argument carefully (well-reasoned)

6. Pathos Creates an emotional connection in the audience
Established through
shared values and connection between the speaker and audience
tugging on your emotions

7. Other important terms
Counterargument – anticipates your opponents objections
Refute – to deny the validity of your opponent’s argument
Concede – to agree that an opposing argument may be true
These techniques strengthen your argument. They appeals to logos by demonstrating that you considered your subject carefully.

8. Lou Gehrig’s farewell speech
Persona – common man who is modest and grateful; facing a crisis
Exigence – (motivation) between games of double header; celebration of a career and life-threatening diagnosis
Audience – fans and colleagues in the stadium and on air

9. Lou Gehrig speech Subject – humility; gratitude; optimism; acceptance
Purpose – (goal that the speaker wants to achieve) to thank fans, colleagues, and family for their support; to assert his optimism and courage in the face of his diagnosis
Subject – humility; gratitude; optimism; acceptance
Thesis/Claim/Assertion – He’s the luckiest man on earth.

10. Lou Gherig speech synthesis
Lou Gherig gave his farewell to baseball speech in front of an audience of fans and colleagues, both in the stadium and over the air, upon his retirement from the game and a devastating diagnosis of ALS. His purpose was to thank fans, colleagues, and family for their support and assert his optimism and courage in the face of his diagnosis as he expressed humility, gratitude, optimism, and acceptance.

11. With your partner… Identify two examples each within the speech of
ethos
pathos
logos