Wednesday, September 29, 2021

Rhetoric Appeals

I Can Statements:

. I can define rhetoric.

. I can identify rhetoric. 

. I can analyze rhetoric.

Rhetoric (n): The art of speaking or writing effectively.

. Rhetoric in its simplest form is the art of persuasive speech or writing.

. Forms of Rhetoric:

 Political speech
 Commercials
 Art
 Television
 Movies
 Newspapers
 Magazine Articles
 Everyday conversations

Aristotle’s (a famous philosopher) Triangle consists of:

 Logos
 Pathos
 Ethos

Aristotle’s definition of Rhetoric: Rhetoric is "the faculty of discovering in any particular case all of
the available means of persuasion."

Through Aristotle’s triangle, we are able to have a pictorial analysis of the speaking or writing
situation.

In order for a speaker or writer to speak or write, he or she MUST consider both the audience and
purpose.

Example: When you talk to your friends, your topic, diction, and tone are different than when you
talk to your parents or teachers.

The speaker uses different approaches to influence the audience’s attitude toward the subject.

These are the three ways you can appeal to an audience.

-> Logos

-> Ethos

-> Pathos
Logos (Logic):

. refers to any attempt to appeal to the intellect. Everyday arguments rely heavily on ethos and
pathos, but academic arguments rely more on logos. 

. Use clear and reasonable ideas with proof (any statistic): Logos appeals to the audience with facts,
statistics, definitions, historical proof, and quotes from experts

. Effect of appeal: Evokes a cognitive and rational response.

Example:

. Nine out of ten dentists prefer Crest toothpaste.

. If you have a good education, you are more likely to find a good job.

. Think of the commercials that have a sports star or celebrity giving statistics about and their own
endorsement of a product.

Ethos (Ethical or Credibility):

. refers to the trustworthiness of the speaker/writer.

. The overall appeal of the speaker or writer himself or herself; it is important that this person have
impressive credentials, a notable knowledge of the subject, and/or appear to be a likeable and moral
person. Thus, you must be credible and knowledgeable about the content about the speech or piece
of writing.

. It’s an effective persuasive strategy because when we believe that the speaker does not intend to
do us harm, we will more likely listen.

. Ethos appeals to the audience with a calm, trustworthy, seemingly sincere approach. 

. Effect of appeal: Demonstrates author's reliability, competence, and respect for the audience's
ideas and values

Example:

 A high school football player gives a speech about the time and discipline required to be a
successful football player.
 Think of a commercial of a doctor in a white lab coat telling the audience all about how a
new medicine can help treat one’s symptoms. We listen because we trust the doctor, who
appears to be well-spoken and knowledgeable about his subject.

Pathos (Emotions):

. Pathos is related to the words pathetic, sympathy and empathy. 

. Whenever you accept a claim based on how it makes you feel without fully analyzing the rationale
behind the claim, you are acting on pathos.

. As the writer or speaker, you try to appeal to their emotions. By appealing to the audience’s
emotions, the speaker or writer can make the audience feel sorrow, shame, sympathy,
embarrassment, anger, excitement, and/or fear.
. Pathos appeals to the audience through the use of figurative language, imagery, vivid descriptions,
an emotional choice of words, or examples that are designed to make you FEEL a certain way.

. Effect of appeal: Evokes a personal and emotional response.

Examples:

 The commercials about the starving children or dogs use pathos to appeal to your emotions
hoping to persuade you to believe in their purpose.
 Think of an ad or an article showing our servicemen in uniform holding their tiny newborns
or hugging their child and wife, with tears streaming down their eyes.

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Thursday, September 30, 2021

Rhetoric Appeals (Part 2)

Task 1:

King made a valid argument; his argument was that “Black people are not given the same
opportunities and rights as White people”, King later insists on the importance of placing policies to
solve this racial issue. King makes sure to include evidence and he even gets sympathetic by
including the story of his own children; his multiple ways of persuading the audience manages to
make his argument stronger and so it would only make sense that I stand by him if this issue was
ever taken into court.

Task 2:

Pathos: “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not
be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”

Explanation: King uses an approach in which he mentions his own dream, and this captures an
emotional response from the audience due to the fact that it manages to make the audience feel
pity for King’s children and the way they are treated.

Pathos: “Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends.”

Explanation: In this quote, King creates a feeling of hope in the audience, and he makes them feel
like there is a better future in America waiting for everyone including the Black people. He also
manages to do this by using a friendly tone and referring to the audience as his “friends’.

Logos: “When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the
Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to
fall heir.”

Logos: “Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed
the Emancipation Proclamation.”

Explanation: King uses the Emancipation Proclamation and the Declaration of Independence, both
external sources, to strengthen his side of the argument which is that “everyone deserves equal
rights in America regardless of race.”

Ethos: “I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations.”

Explanation: the quote above reveals that King has experience and is informed of political matters; in
simple words, it has an ethical approach considering that King is the experienced figure in this case.
The audience would most likely listen to king since he knows what he is talking about.

Ethos: “I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest
demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.”

Explanation: by referring to his speech as “the greatest demonstration for freedom”, king is implying
that he is about to give an outstanding speech that will change America which further indicates that
King is convincing the audience to listen to him by using the fact that he is an experienced speaker
who is about to deliver a life-changing declaration for freedom.

Sunday, October 3, 2021

Rhetorical Devices

I Can Statements:

. I can identify rhetorical techniques.

. I can analyze the rhetorical techniques the author uses to express his/her point of view or purpose.
Recap:

1. Ethos, it seems as though the advertiser has been in a situation where bad breath has held
him/her back and is convincing the reader to buy the product by warning him about his/her
past situation.
Correct answer: Pathos, since the phrase knocks some sense into the reader and convinces
the reader to buy the product since the phrase creates feelings of embarrassment.
2. Logos, it uses images as visual representation to support the fact that Solowin is the new
science of skin care.
Correct answer: logos.
3. Ethos, since it wants to show the reader that they are experienced about these types of
products, and this would convince the reader to buy the product.
Correct answer: Ethos.

In rhetoric, a rhetorical device is a technique that an author or speaker uses to convey to the
listener or reader a meaning with the goal of persuading him or her towards considering a
topic from a different perspective. Pathos, Logos and Ethos, are examples of rhetorical
devices.

More Examples of Rhetorical Devices:

Repetition:

Definition:
The technique of repeating the same word and phrase.

Effects:
. Highlights key messages
. Reinforces important points
. Links different parts of the text

Example
That class is boring, boring, boring.

Lists of 3:

Definition:
Three nouns, adjectives, or verbs will be used in a list within a sentence

Effects:
. Creates an image in the reader’s mind
. Highlights important ideas

Example:
School uniforms are uncomfortable, unattractive, and unfashionable

Alliteration:
Definition:
Within a sentence, a series of words will begin with the same sound.

Effects:
. Draws attention to the key words
. Can be used to reinforce ideas / concepts
. May be used for humorous effect

Example
Politics is probably pointless.

Alliteration is considered both figurative language and rhetoric devices but not all figurative
languages are rhetoric devices. For example, Similes are not rhetoric devices!

Audience Involvement / Direct Address:

Definition:
The writer involves the reader by relating the subject to their lives
Look for ‘you’ / ‘we’ / ‘us’ / ‘our’

Effects:
. Makes the reader care about the subject
. Establishes a relationship between the reader and writer
. The writing is less intimidating

Example:
We all know how bad school lunches are!

Expert Opinion / Quotations:

Definition:
The knowledge of an expert is referred to by the writer

Effects:
. Can show an alternative point of view
. The reader trusts what the writer is saying
. Quotations are very persuasive

Example:
Dr. Martin believes that more needs to be done to improve the health of young people

Rhetorical Question:

Definition:
The writer will not expect you to answer this question – they suggest the answer for you.

Effects:
. Draws the reader into the text
. Introduces ideas / topics
. Makes the reader think

Example:
Should the UK leave the European Union?

Over-exaggeration:

Definition:
The writer uses superlatives and adjectives to make a situation seem much worse / better
than it really is

Effects:
. Shows the writer’s strong feelings
. Can be used in humorous or ironic ways

Example:
Many schools have become like learning factories.

Personal involvement / Anecdote:

Definition:
The writer incorporates aspects of their personal experience into the text – look for ‘I’

Effects:
. Appeals to the reader – makes the writer seem more human or involved
. Can be used for humor / pathos

Example:
I was shocked to find that many children don’t know the National Anthem!

Remember that writers will often combine several rhetorical devices within a section of text.
Example: Over 90% of us believe that Americans are dull-witted, boring, and quiet (no
surprise there then!). There is Direct Address, Lists of 3, and Logos.

Monday, October 4, 2021

Task 1:

Audience Involvement / direct address:

“In a sense we've come to our nation's capital to cash a check.”

Personal involvement / Anecdote:

Repetition:

The phrase “I have a dream today!” has been repeated in King’s speech.

IXL Practice:

My Answer: “to offer reassurance to his audience”

Correct Answer: “to offer reassurance to his audience” this is because he reassures the school
children of America that painful events such as this one is all part of the exploration process and that
these incidents happen.
My Answer: “He empathizes with his audience’s emotions”

Correct Answer: “He empathizes with his audience’s emotions”

My Answer: “It makes his audience feel that they are not alone in their grief”

Correct Answer: “It makes his audience feel that they are not alone in their grief”

Recap:

Rhetoric (the art of persuasion)  Rhetorical Devices (a.k.a techniques)  Appeals (logos, pathos,
and ethos) / other devices (e.g., list of 3)