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ARGUMENT. Introduction to Rhetoric. Aristotle (Greek Philosopher): the first to study and define rhetoric Rhetoric – “ The faculty of observing in any given case the available means of persuasion ” The art of persuasion.
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Introduction to Rhetoric • Aristotle (Greek Philosopher): the first to study and define rhetoric • Rhetoric – “The faculty of observing in any given case the available means of persuasion” • The art of persuasion. • It is a thoughtful, reflective activity leading to effective communication including rational exchange of opposing viewpoints.
Rhetoric always has: • Context – The occasion or the time and place it was written or spoken • Purpose – a goal that the speaker or writer wants to achieve
Aristotelian Triangle Speaker Audience Subject
APPEALS to the AUDIENCE • ETHOS: How does the author establish credibility? How does he/she show good sense, trustworthiness, good will, or good character? • PATHOS: How does the author appeal to emotions/interests? • LOGOS: How does the author appeal to the audience’s rational side? – Information provided? Facts? Statistics? Stories? Terms?
The Rhetorical Situation • Exigence: What were the circumstances surrounding the original delivery and/or publication of the piece? • Audience: For whom was the piece written? • Purpose: Why did the author write the speech/work?
The Three Appeals: • Logos: The logical arrangement of the piece • Does the argument make sense? • Ethos: The authority the author and, by association, the piece has • Is the author believable? • Pathos: The emotion the writer tries to elicit from the audience • What does the piece make you feel?
Organization/Structure/Form • Fiction or Nonfiction? Written or Spoken or Visual? • Rhetorical Mode (0rganizational method) Narration Description Process Analysis Example Definition Classification Compare/Contrast Cause/Effect Argument/Persuasion
Surface Features • Diction: Word Choice • Why does the writer choose specific words? • Syntax: Sentence Structure • What does the sentence structure reveal about what the writer thinks/wants to emphasize? • Imagery: Language that appeals to the five senses • What sensation is the writer exploiting? • Figurative Language (Tropes and Schemes Terms) • Metaphor • Personification • Juxtaposition • Anaphora
Modern Connotation… • Unethical way to deceive people. Its connotation has changed over the years, but the true definition is the structure/art of argumentation. • How is the definition used in this sentence? • Rhetoric is a poor substitute for action, and we have trusted only to rhetoric. If we are really to be a great nation, we must not merely talk; we must act big. Theodore Roosevelt