rhetorical principlesv1

8/13/2019 Rhetorical Principlesv1

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Rhetorical Principles: Introduction

Materials

Preparation Time

Activity Time


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Rhetorical Principles

Introduce you to the skills of critical thinking,

reading, and writing.

Help you define and assess the rhetoricalsituation in which a certain argument is made.

Teach you to understand and critically evaluate

the arguments presented in various sources towhich you refer.

Provide guidance as to how to create an effective

argument in your own writing.


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Definitions: Rhetoric

Rhetoric is the art of dressing up some

unimportant matter so as to fool the audience

for the time being

Ezra Pound

How do you understand this definition ofrhetoric? Do you agree with it? Why (not)?


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Definitions: Text

What is text? Are the these examples of text? Why (not)?
http://www.mcdonalds.com/


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What other examples of a text can you

think of?

Web pages

Posters

Bumper stickers Television/movies

Architecture

Vehicles/industrial design Art/Sculpture


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Rhetorical Triangle

Chose any text (mentioned previously) andanswer the following questions:

- Who created this text?

- Who did they create this text for?

- Why did they create this text?Author

Audience Purpose


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Rhetorical Triangle: Audience

Audience

who is the message intended for?

Age, gender, social/cultural group, politicalaffiliation, etc

Where do we look for information about the

audience?


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Rhetorical Tools

Considering the definition of rhetoric, what

are the different ways we can use rhetoric?

What are the rhetorical tools? Can you thinkof any examples?


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Rhetorical Appeals

Ethos

LogosPathos


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The Rhetorical Appeals: Ethos

Ethos- Credibility

- Ethics

- trustworthiness of the speaker/writer

Credibility based on audiences view of author andsubject.

For Academic Argument, an author must:

- Exhibit good sense

- Demonstrate high moral character

- Good will


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The Rhetorical Appeals: Logos

Logos - Logic

Attempt to appeal to the intellect

Everyday arguments vs. academic arguments

Common ways to appeal to logos?The most valued appeal in academic argument.Accomplished through inductive or deductivereasoning, or specifically

Definition, Evidence from other sources, or

Expert testimony


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The Rhetorical Appeals: Pathos

PathosPathetic, sympathy, empathy Appeal to emotions;

Arguments in popular press;

Manipulative;

Effect?

Appeals to emotion are accomplished through

Sensory description

Value-laden diction

Anecdotes

Objects of emotions (peoples, abstract concepts,etc.)

Rh t i l T i l d Rh t i l


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Rhetorical Triangle and Rhetorical

Appeals

Our job is to see how the rhetorical triangle

and rhetorical appeals work together to

create a message

These tools are not exclusive; all six should

be considered when evaluating a text

Logos

Ethos

Pathos

Author

Audience Purpose


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Tips for your own writing

How can you apply rhetorical principles to

your own writing? Think about

Yourself as the author

Your audience

The purpose of your message and how you will

achieve it


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A di Wh h ld k b


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Audience: What you should know about

your readers

How much do they already know about

your subject?

What do they expect to see in the document(style, format, organization)?

What preconceptions might they have about

your subject?

What do they need to know?

What are their interests?


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Homework Assignment: Plagiarism

Imagine you work for an academic policiesoffice and it is your job to come up with an adcampaign to persuade different audiences thatthey should avoid plagiarism. The purpose of

your writing is to persuade people who identifywith these groups to listen to you and believeyou. Do your best to meet the different needs ofthe defined target group! Make sure you use therhetorical principles effectively.

(Create an ad and be ready to present it to the restof the class)

rhetorical principlesv1

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