1/13/10


What
is
Rhetoric?

  
Rhetoric
is
the
study
and
practice
of
communication

to
target
audiences
that
persuades,
informs,
inspires,

or
entertains
in
order
to
change
or
reinforce
beliefs,

values,
habits
and
actions.


  Rhetoric
is
basically
the
strategic
use
of

The
Art
of
Discourse
 communication
to
accomplish
the
purpose
of

persuading
a
target
audience.

It
should
be
used
for

ethical
purposes
but
can
often
be
used
for
unethical

purposes.

  Rhetoric
is
"the
art
of
winning
the
soul
by
discourse

(verbal
communication)."
–
Plato


  It
is
basically
the
art
of
persuasion
or
argument.


When
is
Rhetoric
Used
 The
Ancient
Art
of
Argument

  Rhetoric
is
often
studied
in
institutions
of
higher
   Rhetoric
is
one
of
three
ancient
arts
of
discourse

education
such
as
universities
and
colleges.

However,
 (verbal
communication),
along
with
grammar,
and

most
people
practice
rhetoric
all
the
time
without
 logic.

consciously
applying
it
or
studying
it,
just
as
we
can
all
   Grammar
is
the
mechanics
of
a
language;
logic
is
the

think
without
having
to
study
philosophy
or
psychology.

 "mechanics"
of
thought
and
analysis;
rhetoric
is
the

  Many
speakers
and
writers
deny
that
they
are
using

use
of
language
to
instruct
and
persuade.


rhetoric.
However,
the
most
powerful
forms
of
rhetoric
are
   Another
way
to
describe
it
is:

those
that
hide
their
own
strategies
and
intentions,
which
   Logic
is
concerned
with
the
thing
as‐it‐is‐known;

seem
to
be
simply
informative
or
artistic.
   Grammar
is
concerned
with
the
thing‐as‐it‐is‐
  Rhetoric
is
not
limited
to
writing
and
speech,
but
occurs
 symbolized;

through
all
media
and
genres.
   Rhetoric
is
concerned
with
the
thing‐as‐it‐is‐
communicated.


Why
Learn
About
Rhetoric?
 The
Rhetorical
Triangle

  We
can
find
examples
of
effective
or
ineffective
   Handout*

rhetoric
in
books,
magazines,
and
on
television,
   The
Rhetorical
Triangle
is
a
useful
way
of
formulating

among
other
places.

 your
thoughts
and
presenting
your
position.

  Our
society
continually
teaches
people
how
to

communicate
in
certain
situations
or
to
achieve

certain
purposes.


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The
Three
Components
of
Rhetoric

  Ethos
=
credibility
or
character
as
a
reflection
of
the

appeal
of
the
communicator.
Often,
ethical
appeals

are
based
on
trust
and
community.


  Logos
=
facts,
data,
statistics
of
the
message.
The

logos
is
the
appeal
of
the
information
presented
as

fact.



  Pathos
=
deals
with
the
emotions,
specifically
those

of
the
audience.
It
is
extremely
important
that
the

communicator
understands,
analyzes,
and
appeals
to

the
emotional
wants
and
needs
of
the
audience.

Emotional
appeals
might
inspire
patriotism,

happiness,
sadness,
anger,
and
other
emotions
in
the

audience.



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