Whose Rhetoric is it Anyway?

1. Whose Rhetoric is it Anyway? Advanced Rhetorical Writing

2. What the heck is “Rhetoric?” • The word rhetoric usually means: • The misleading language of politicians or used car salesmen. • An obsolete term for Argumentation. • The art or science of persuasion (or chicanery). • The study of “effective communication.”

3. Rhetoric Gets Bad Press • “Bush escalates war-on-terror rhetoric” • He warns of 'totalitarian' terrorists – as other officials attack his critics as 'defeatists' and 'appeasers.’ • Christian Science Monitor • Bush Re-Tools His War Rhetoric • President Bush: "A worldwide network of radicals that use terror to kill those who stand in the way of their totalitarian ideology.” • ABC News • Once Again, Reality Versus Rhetoric • During this past Saturday's radio address, George W. Bush ran through his now familiar laundry list on Iraq: We didn't ask for this war, but September 11th ... • E Pluribus Media

4. The O’Reilly Factor • "Other interview news shows are guest-driven," says Emmy award-winning broadcast journalist Bill O'Reilly. "'The O'Reilly Factor' is driven by me. I will not stand for 'spin.' I look for guests who will stand up and verbally battle for what they believe in." • "The O'Reilly Factor" uncovers news items from the established wisdom and goes against the grain of the more traditional interview-style programs. O'Reilly's signature "No Spin Zone" cuts through the rhetoric as he interviews the players who make the story newsworthy.

5. Some Famous Definitions • Aristotle: • “The faculty of discovering all available means of persuasion in any given situation.” • Quintilian: • “A good man speaking well.” • Kenneth Burke: • “The use of language as a symbolic means of inducing cooperation in beings that by nature respond to symbols.”

6. Where is Rhetoric? • Rhetoric is everywhere. • Advertisements • Ads use a variety of techniques to interest you in buying a product, voting for a politician, or identifying with an image. • Speeches • Speeches can serve a variety of purposes. They can rally support, incite public outrage, praise or blame someone, or simply entertain an audience. • Everyday Language • You and those around you frequently try to persuade other people to do things or think a certain way about issues that are important to you.

7. Subtle Rhetoric • Rhetoric doesn’t have to be intentional. • Clothing • The way you dress can say a lot about the type of image you want to project and the social groups you identify with. • Body Language • The way you move can reveal a lot about your attitude towards a situation or person. • Writing and Speaking • You don’t talk the same way to a young child as you do to your parents or to a police officer.

8. Why study rhetoric? • Although you may “pick up” some useful rhetorical techniques just by experience, a systematic study yields much faster and better results: • Learn to write and speak eloquently, with passion and sincerity that will win support for the issues you care about. • Learn to recognize when rhetorical techniques are being used against you, and how to counter them effectively.

9. Aristotle’s Three Appeals • Pathos • Appeals to the emotions • Logos • Rational or logical arguments • Ethos • Appeals based on the character or reputation of the speaker

10. What’s rhetorical about that?