What is rhetoric?

There are many definitions, but “the art of speaking and writing well” is among the most straightforward.• This definition is attributed to

Aristotle.

Aristotle’s Rhetorical Triangle

Ethos—the authority and credibility of the author; how a writer presents him/herself to the audience.

Pathos—emotional appeals to the audience.

Logos—reliance on logic or reason to make an argument.

• Related to ethos because who or what the writer deems logical must also be considered logical by the audience.

Speaker/ethos

Purpose/

Kairos

(or timeliness)

Audience/

pathos

Subject/

logos