Rhetoric

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Rhetoric

• The art of speaking or writing effectively

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Aristotle

• According to Aristotle, a Greek philosopher,
  rhetoric is the ability, in each particular
  case, to see the available means of persuasion.

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3 Main Forms of Rhetoric

• Ethos
• Logos
• Pathos

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Ethos

• Greek word for Character
• Refers to the trustworthiness or credibility of
  the writer or speaker
• Persuasion may come from the writers reputation
  alone, as it may exist independently from the
  message

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Examples of Ethos

• 9 out of 10 dentists recommend (dentists are
  experts in their field- shows credibility)
• Michael Jordan is a spokesperson for Nike
  (reputation)
• Backing from a credible teacher, police officer,
  fire fighter etc (credible sources that may have
  previous records of integrity)

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Examples of Ethos

• I am an A student, with a reputation of
  following the rules on this campus
• I am involved in several activities on campus
  and understand what we need for _________________
  first-hand
• The Surgeon General warns that

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Truth is

• You cant expect people to agree with your
  opinion(s) or be persuaded by your ideas, unless
  that person is sure you know what youre talking
  about! You need to be an expert on the topic of
  your choice!

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Logos

• Greek word for word
• Refers to the clarity of the claim
• Your opinion is supported with evidence, logic
  and reason!
• Your argument, above all, is logical.

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Examples of Logos

• 98 of the consumers experienced some kind of
  relief from pain(statistics)
• Out of 100 people surveyed, 90 were in agreement
  that (again, hard facts!)
• We all want a clean environment (appeal to logic)

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Examples of Logos

• Tackle football should be at AJHS because it is
  played at all of the Chandler high schools and we
  need to be prepared.
• The cafeteria should lower the price for a slice
  of pizza because I can purchase an entire large
  pizza from Little Cesars for 5.00, which is
  less than the cost of three slices at AJHS.

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Truth is

• It is difficult to argue with facts, statistics,
  and reason!

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Pathos

• Greek word for suffering and experience
• An emotional appeal
• The reader or audience can identify with the
  writers point of view
• Usually persuaded by a story

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Examples of Pathos

• Weight loss infomercials (stories)
• Motivational speakers
• State of the Union Address or Presidential
  speeches
• Editorials (Opinions)
• The Press- Newspaper and T.V.

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Examples of Pathos

• Describe a story about something youve seen on
  campus
• Provide an anecdote about something that has
  happened to you personally
• Ask someone to look at the situation from your
  point of view

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Truth is

• Many of us pass judgment or make decisions based
  on our emotions, rather than logic and evidence.
  If we feel passionately about a message, we will
  be compelled to take the next step and actually
  do something about it.

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Analyze These Examples for type and effectiveness

• 1. An advertisement for a food product for
  children states that "Moms who love their
  children, buy Huggies diapers.
• 2. Upon approaching a cashier at the grocery
  store she asks, "Will you help starving children
  today by adding 3 to your grocery bill?"
• 3. Referring to the United States White House as
  the president's "playground
• 4. The term "illegal immigrants" is now being
  replaced by "undocumented workers"
• 5. When at a restaurant, the server suggests,
  "Can I add some of our delicious sweet potato
  fries to your entree for a dollar more?"

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Rhetorical Tools

• Alliteration

• Repetition

• Occurs when a series of words in a row (or close
  to a row) have the same first consonant sound.
• Example "This generation of soldiers, sailors,
  airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen have
  volunteered in the time of certain danger. They
  are part of the finest fighting force that the
  world has ever known. Barak Obama Fort Hood
  Memorial Speech

• The repetition or restatement of an idea not only
  promotes clarity, but encourages the acceptance
  of an idea. Thus, other competing ideas seem
  inferior and are sometimes driven completely from
  of the audience's mind.
• Example serve together and fight together and
  bleed together.

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Rhetorical Tools Continued

• Rhetorical Questions

• Metaphor

• A question as that question that does not expect
  an answer. The speaker is implying that the
  answer is too obvious to require a reply or
  merely as a way of making a point.
• For Example Can we agree that this will not
  happen again? Or How can I ever repay you?

• The use of metaphors can often lure someone to
  your side as it illustrates strength or weakness
• Obama describes a light military strike as being
  a pinprick and stated that, Let me make
  something clear The United States military
  doesnt do pinpricks.

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Rhetorical Analysis Continued

• Allusion Using historical references or literary
  references. For example
• http//www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/hendrikhertz
  berg/2013/01/obamas-inaugural-allusions.html

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Bias

• Definition prejudice in favor of or against one
  thing, person, or group compared with another,
  usually in a way considered to be unfair.
• Which sentence shows the authors bias?
• A. The group of people walked into the company
  presidents office.
• B. The people entered the company presidents
  office.
• C. The mob rushed into the company presidents
  office.
• D. The men and women met with the company
  president.
• Which sentence shows the authors bias?
• A. I noticed the smell of food cooking when I
  entered the kitchen.
• B. I noticed the bitter stench of burnt food when
  I entered the kitchen.
• C. I noticed that food was cooking on the stove
  when I entered.
• D. I noticed that both my father and my mother
  were preparing dinner.