Rhetoric an introduction
W2 Definitions: The art or strategy (science) of persuasion Written or spoken language designed to have an impressive/persuasive effect on its audience Aristotle called it "the faculty of observing in any given case the available means of persuasion. Three general categories of appeals: Logos Pathos Ethos
Slide 2 W2 (mackenzie's comments): discuss how you can't say "use ethos," you use an"ethos-based strategy" WILDCAT, 9/14/2016
W1 Logos a Greek concept variously translated as word, "ground," "plea, "opinion," "expectation," "speech," "account," "reason," and "discourse" An appeal to the audience s sense of logic and reason If, then -style arguments "Research compiled by analysts from NASA, as well as organizations from five other nations with space programs, suggests that a moon colony is viable with international support. Aristotle applied the term to refer to "reasoned discourse" or "the argument" in the field of rhetoric
Slide 3 W1 Aristotle believed that employing logos based strategies was more effective than pathos or ethos based strategies.. WILDCAT, 9/14/2016
Quick Partner Discussion: Explain how Thomas Jefferson builds a logic-based argument in The Declaration of Independence.
Pathos From Greek pathos suffering, disease, feeling, passion An appeal to the audience s emotion, feeling SPCA Commercial "Don t be the last person on the block to have their lawn treated you don t want to be the laughing stock of your community!"
Ethos From Greek ethos "habitual character and disposition; moral character; habit, custom; an accustomed place An appeal based on the speaker s/writer s/character s credibility "As a doctor, I am qualified to tell you that this course of treatment will likely generate the best results.
Quick partner Discussions: Is A Modest Proposal more a logic-based argument, or more a emotion-based argument? What is the main rhetorical mode of Brent Staples essay Just Walk on By: Black Men in Public Space?
Rhetoric in History The Greeks (and, later, the Romans) practiced, perfected, and then codified the main concepts in Rhetoric Greek architecture valued clean lines, clear balance, symmetry, harmony, mathematical perfection, and maximum impact of perspective. These same values underlie the Classical practice of Rhetoric. Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle Rhetoric was one of 2-3 main subjects studied in Greek schools.
Other famous rhetoricians: Abraham Lincoln Gettysburg Address is three minutes long, yet it s regarded as one of the cornerstone speeches in American history Martin Luther King Jr. I Have a Dream speech is still used today; how could the exigence of the piece still apply? Hitler How could so many normal people be led so terribly astray? Rhetoric isn t always persuasive towards positive thinking
Where will you encounter rhetoric? Politics } } Courtroom Government Advertising Propaganda Opera IKEA directions Play-by-play sports broadcasting Nutritional information What is the writer/speaker trying to convince its audience?
Strategic Thinking: the Key to Rhetoric The key to creating a rhetorical appeal begins with identifying the audience. What is likely to appeal to that group? What is not likely to appeal to that group? For example, what kinds of appeals would likely appeal to the TV audience for Monday Night Football? Once you ve answer that, you can start strategically constructing your appeal(s).
The Rhetorical Equation Going forward that is, when writing a rhetorical piece: Audience + Purpose (in the contexts of Exigence) determine the rhetorical piece
The Rhetorical Equation, part 2 Going backward that is, when reading a rhetorical piece: from the rhetorical piece From the rhetorical strategies and devices in the piece we can analyze the purpose strategically guess at the contexts of exigence, Make inferences about the likely audience, And then evaluate the success of the strategic rhetorical choices that the writer made
The Rhetorical Equation, part 3 In other words, We move forward through the rhetorical equation when writing and We move backward through the rhetorical equation when we are analyzing someone else s writing usually, a good one
Quick Practice: Brainstorm an argument, aimed at today s high school parents, that the college application process should be less competitive
Key Concepts Audience recipient of communication Purpose - seeks to manipulate the way that audience thinks about a given subject Exigence - an issue, problem, or situation that causes or prompts someone to write or speak Context, occasion, urgency Argument - course of reasoning aimed at demonstrating truth or falsehood Diction - choice of words and style of expression that an author makes Reasoning the various kinds of appeals the speaker / writer makes Tone attitude or approach the speaker takes toward the work s central theme or subject
Rhetorical Strategy or Rhetorical Device? RHETORICAL STRATEGY General approach a speaker/writer uses in a piece Used in arguments to support or disprove a conclusion Logos Pathos Ethos RHETORICAL DEVICE Specific type of rhetorical tool, easily identifiable Alliteration Onomatopoeia Simile Metaphor Testing note: think about WHY author has chosen to use a specific strategy or device (At this point, AP test-graders have gathered that Swift writes ironically in A Proposal, you need to explain why he decides to be so).
Some more practice: Argue that WLHS s cafeteria should become a mall-like food court with different individual restaurants Argue that a parking garage should be constructed at WLHS Argue that Winter Break is a religious holiday Argue that Spring Break is no longer needed Argue that WLHS sports teams should become gender-neutral Argue that AP classes at WLHS should be required to balance gender enrollment
Sources https://web.archive.org/web/20080916083515/http://www.public.iasta te.edu/~honeyl/rhetoric/rhet1-4.html http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=ethos http://www.artofmanliness.com/2010/12/21/classical-rhetoric-101- the-three-means-of-persuasion/ http://literarydevices.net/pathos/ http://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-ethos-logos-andpathos.html#jpiarwcpxtoyciww.99 http://grammar.about.com/od/ab/g/argmterm.htm http://www.csus.edu/owl/index/read/rhsqr.htm
The man: