GREETINGS!

1. GREETINGS! Electronics off and away Notebooks out and ready Prepare to answer: What is rhetoric?

2. Rhetoric • First defined by the Greek philosopher Aristotle (384-322 B.C.E.) as “the faculty of observing in any given case the available means of persuasion” • Or: “the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing, esp. the use of figures of speech and other compositional techniques”

3. What are some common forms of text?

4. …Trick question… • For the purpose of this course, we will refer to any cultural product that can be read as a “text”

5. Occasion • Time and place the text was written or spoken • This goes beyond 8:05, Ms. Nipper’s classroom • Think about what events or social movements are happening during this time

6. Context • Circumstances, atmosphere, attitudes, and events surrounding the text • Think back to the article “From Ancient…” that we worked on and the significance of where it appeared and when • Think of the general public opinion surrounding the atrocities at Abu Ghraib

7. Purpose • Purpose can be defined as the goal the speaker wants to achieve • “From Ancient…”: What was Robin’s purpose? Was it simply to give a background on the history of language and war? Or to give the American reader another perspective to create their own informed opinion rather than running with whatever muck they perceive as their own opinion from the media?

8. Rhetorical Triangle Speaker Audience Subject Text

9. Persona • Difference between speaker in real life and the role the speaker plays when delivering the speech

10. Audience • Listener, viewer, or reader of a text or performance

11. Subject • Subject is the topic that is being addressed • Do not confuse subject with purpose

12. SOAPStone • Mnemonic device used as a practical means to approach the concept of a rhetorical situation • Together: SOAPStone Einstein’s speech • For homework: SOAPSTone George W. Bush’s speech