The Rhetorical Situation and Appeals Rhetoric Aristotle defined

The Rhetorical Situation and Appeals

Rhetoric: ▪ Aristotle defined rhetoric as “The faculty of observing in any given case the available means of persuasion. ” ▪ Writing to persuade

The Rhetorical Situation ▪ https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=A-e. Rycqjzbg ▪ Analyzing the rhetorical situation is always a good place to start.

Rhetorical Situation

Rhetorical Appeals ▪ Aristotle discussed authors using the tools of rhetoric to persuade an audience. ▪ He called these tools rhetorical appeals. ▪ Three main appeals: ethos, pathos, logos

https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=gf 81 d 0 YS 58 E

Ethos ▪ Ethos- Greek for “character. ” ▪ This is used to demonstrate that the speaker is trustworthy. ▪ Often emphasize shared values between the speaker and the audience. – For example, when parents speak to other parents in the same community, they share a concern for the well being of their children.

Ethos ▪ Ethos can also be established immediately through someone’s title or reputation. – Example, the Prime Minister, expert testimony, scholars in a particular field, etc. ▪ If a person is speaking in a field in which they are an expert, they automatically bring ethos to the text by title or credentials.

Ethos ▪ In other cases, a person can bring ethos to the text by what they say. ▪ Can be done by sounding reasonable, knowledgeable, acknowledging other opinions, being well informed, etc. ▪ The speaker’s ethos- expertise, knowledge, experience, sincerity, common purpose with audience, or a combination of these factors, gives the audience a reason for listening to a person on this subject.

Logos • Logos is Greek for “embodied thought, ” and it means to think logically. • Speakers appeal to logos, or reason by offering clear, rational ideas. • In writing, this means having a clear main idea and using specific details, examples, facts, statistics, or expert testimony to back it up.

Logos • Evidence from expert sources and authorities, facts, and quantitative data can be quite persuasive if selected carefully and presented accurately. • Information can be represented in charts, graphs, maps, etc. , but more often writers weave this evidence into their writing.

Logos • Another way to appeal to logos is to acknowledge the counterargument- to anticipate the objections of opposing views. • This does not poke a hole in your argument, in fact you are more vulnerable if you ignore ideas that counter your own.

Pathos • Pathos is an appeal to emotions, values, and desires. • It can also be an appeal to fear and prejudices.

Pathos • An argument that appeals exclusively to pathos is weak. • These types of arguments are typically propagandistic • (ideas purposefully spread to harm a person or idea. Usually in deceitful manner).

Pathos • An effective speaker or writer knows the power of evoking an audience’s emotions through tools such as figurative language and personal anecdotes • Words with powerful connotations (the feelings associated with a word beyond the dictionary definition) also elicit an emotional response.

Pathos • You can appeal to pathos through use of vivid imagery in your writing. • So, it should be no surprise that images frequently serve the same purpose. • A well placed, well chosen photograph, for example, could lend a significant emotional response from the reader.

Pathos • Another way to appeal to pathos is through humor. • Our first reaction to information that challenges what we think or believe is to get defensive. • So, advertisers use humor to rhetorically wrap a challenge to our beliefs in something that makes us feel good.

Pathos • The use of humor can go for the idea being presented, but it can also be used for the person who is presenting the ideas as well. • A person may use humor or irony to make a point without sounding as though they are “preaching” about the topic.

Combining Ethos, Pathos, and Logos • Most authors do not rely on a single type of appeal to persuade their audience. • Appeals should be combined to form an effective argument. • The appeals themselves are inextricably bound together.

Combining Ethos, Pathos, and Logos • For example: If you lay out your argument logically, it helps build your ethos. • It’s only logical to listen to an expert on a subject, so your ethos is laying the foundation for your logos.

Combining Ethos, Pathos, and Logos • It is also possible to build your ethos based on pathos. • For example, who better to speak on the pain of losing a loved one than someone who has personally gone through it? • They are building their ethos, through a topic filled with pathos.

Combining Ethos, Pathos, and Logos • Another example: The best political satirists are both perfectly logical and completely hilarious. • Thus, they appealing to logos and pathos simultaneously.

Story of an Hour Prompt • Authors frequently use literature to express opinions on controversial topics. They usually try to make their points subtly, as overt preaching often has a negative effect on an audience. Read the following short story and determine theme and tone of the story. In a well-organized essay, explain how Chopin subtly reveals her attitudes, and explain why a large portion of her 1894 readers might object.