What is Rhetoric?

What is Rhetoric?
The word "Rhetoric" comes from ancient Greek and originally
referred to speech, especially speech that owed easily and
pleasantly over the ears of the listener.
For the purposes of this class, and your academic careers,
think of rhetoric as a comprehensive "art" or set of
techniques for eec4ve language use.
Rhetoric concerns the eec4ve, or persuasive, use of
language.
Since there are two parBes involved in persuasion, rhetoric
concerns both the
1) producBon of a text and
2) its recep4on



(aka: author and audience)

Rhetorical SituaBon
Rhetorical acts are situated. In other words, every rhetorical act has a
specic set of circumstances. These circumstances vary based on genre
(i.e. speech, academic arBcle, blog response, etc)
Circumstances are not given or xed they are discovered and
interpreted. What seems like a situaBon that demands a rhetorical
response to one person may not seem so to someone else.
Examples:
1)
2)
3)

MarBn Luther Kings I have a Dream Speech may not have been as
rhetorically eecBve if delivered by Beowulf to the Danes.
Rhetorical techniques you use to ask your mother may be dierent to the
way you ask your father, or a friend.
In your wriBng, the rhetorical techniques you use in wriBng an email to a
friend may dier if you were wriBng to a potenBal employer.

The same exact words do not have the same eect in a dierent
rhetorical situa5on.

Rhetorical Triangle
Communica4on is
an act involving 4
elements

Name the four elements of the

following rhetorical situa4ons.

QuesBon 1:

Our class right now!

QuesBon 2:

QuesBon 3:

Aristotles Rhetoric
According to Aristotle, rhetoric is "the ability, in each par5cular case, to see the available means of
persuasion." He described three main forms of rhetoric, or means of persuasion, as ethos, logos, and
pathos. In order to be a more eec5ve reader and writer, you must understand these three terms.

Ethos
Ethos is appeal based on the character of the speaker. An ethos-driven document relies
on the reputaBon or credibility of the author/speaker.
Logos
Logos is appeal based on logic or reason. Giving reasons is the heart of argumentaBon,
and cannot be emphasized enough.
Pathos
Pathos means persuading by appealing to the reader's emo5ons. We can look at texts
ranging from classic essays to contemporary adverBsements to see how pathos,
emoBonal appeals, are used to persuade. Language choice aects the audience's
emoBonal response, and emoBonal appeal can eecBvely be used to enhance an
argument.
Sources: hcp://courses.durhamtech.edu/perkins/aris.html

In Conclusion
Rhetoric is the eec4ve use of language.
Texts can be widely varied from a literary text to music
video or internet media. We will learn how to cri4cally read
these dierent texts and approach many kinds of rhetorical
situa4ons.
Language is acquired in a community, not a vacuum.
Your class community is going to be very important because
you will be learning together through various techniques,
including peer-review, wri4ng for each other, blogs, etc. It is
a constant reminder to always pay aMen4on to your
rhetorical situa4on.

PracBce with Rhetoric*

Each group is responsible for a dierent
means of persuasion
Imagine afer class you are walking back to
your car and you see an ocer wriBng you a
Bcket for parking in a space where the meter
just expired.
Make an argument using your means of
persuasion to get out of the Bcket.

*Rhetoric is the eec5ve use of language.