The Language of Composition Chapter 1: Using the Available Means

1. The Language of CompositionChapter 1: Using the Available Means ELA7 – Senior English How have people, both in our past and present, successfully brought about change through persuasion? How can we most effectively challenge current ways of thinking and bring positive change to our world? How can we evaluate, interpret, and dissect information in our world to determine our own thoughts and opinions? What is the effect of advertising in our world? What is rhetoric? How does it work? Why does it matter?

2. What is Rhetoric? • According to Aristotle, rhetoric is the faculty of observing in any given case the available means of persuasion. Aristotle 332 BC

3. What is Rhetoric? • Rhetoric is “situational” • The key to understanding rhetoric is identifying the speaker’s context and purpose.

4. Speaker Aristotelian Triangle Audience Subject Rhetorical Triangle

5. Speaker Audience Subject Rhetorical Analysis 1. What is the speaker’s goal? Intent? How credible is the speaker? Aristotelian Triangle

6. Speaker Audience Subject Rhetorical Analysis 2. What is the subject? How well does the speaker know his/her material? Aristotelian Triangle

7. Rhetorical Analysis Speaker 3. How does the audience feel about the subject? Is it controversial? Is the audience receptive or resistant? Aristotelian Triangle Audience Subject

8. Rhetorical Analysis • Aristotle taught that a speaker's ability to persuade is based on how well the speaker appeals to his or her audience in three different areas: ethos, logos, and pathos.

9. Speaker Ethos Audience Subject Appeal to Ethos • An appeal to the speaker’s character, reputation, and/or credibility • How believable is the speaker?

10. Appeal to Ethos The speaker must: • prove that he/she is credible to speak about the given subject • emphasize values/ideas shared with the audience – make a connection

11. Appeal to Ethos • Speaker’s ethos can be established through his/her expertise, knowledge, experience, training, and/or sincerity.

12. Audience Speaker Ethos Logos Subject Pathos Appeal to Logos • Appeals to logos are an appeals to logic or reason • Appeals to logos offer clear and rational ideas

13. Appeal to Logos • Logos considers the subject from all sides, including the opposition’s. • These ideas may be conveyed via: • Shared Assumptions • Counterarguments

14. Speaker Ethos Logos Audience Subject Pathos Appeal to Pathos • Appeals to pathos appeal to the emotions. • Such appeals emotionally engage the audience with the subject.

15. Appeal to Pathos • Appeals to Pathos are achieved through the speaker’s point of view, use of connotative language, and figurative language.

16. Appeal to Pathos • Arguments that only appeal to pathos are rarely effective. Such arguments are merely propagandistic and polemical.

18. Speaker Ethos Logos Audience Subject Pathos Appeal to Pathos • Effective speakers and writers appeal to ethos, logos, and pathos in order to make use of all “available means” to persuade their audiences of their positions.

19. Visual and Literary Rhetoric • Rhetoric is employed whenever a “speaker” wants to convey an opinion, perspective, or argument.

20. Visual and Literary Rhetoric • Cartoons, photographs, songs, film, and literature all employ rhetoric. • So long as a message is being conveyed, rhetoric is being employed.

22. Speaker Audience Subject Visual and Literary Rhetoric • As such the elements of the Rhetorical/ Aristotelian Triangle are employed: Speaker—Subject –Audience.

23. Visual and Literary Rhetoric • Likewise, appeals to Ethos, Logos, and Pathos are also needed to attract, maintain, and “convince” an audience of your point of view.

24. Visual and Literary Rhetoric • All elements incorporated within the “text” must be employed to convey this point of view. • If they are not, they are impeding the rhetorical effectiveness of the “text.”

27. Rhetorical Arrangement • Rhetorical arrangement refers to how the “argument” is organized. • The arrangement of an argument is dependent upon its purpose.

28. The Classical Model • Introduction introduces the subject. The goal is to get the reader’s attention and develop ethos.

29. The Classical Model • Narration provides factual background information about the subject. • This represents the beginning of the body/development paragraphs. • The Narration presents the problem embodied within the subject.

30. The Classical Model • Confirmation provides the proof to support the speaker’s position. • This evidence must be specific, detailed, and concrete.

31. The Classical Model • Refutation provides the counterargument, which addresses possible objections to the speaker’s position. • The refutation provides a smooth transition from the Confirmation to the Conclusion.

32. The Classical Model • Conclusion appeals to pathos and reiterates the ethos established in the Introduction. • The Conclusion answers the “so what” question; it explains why the speaker’s position is relevant.

33. Rhetorical Arrangements Specialized Patterns: • Narration • Description • Process Analysis • Exemplification • Comparison-Contrast • Clarification-Division • Definition • Cause and Effect