RHETORICAL TECHNIQUES

Lesson 2

MARTIN LUTHER KING

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smEqnnklfYs

BARACK OBAMA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzC135ql_wA

RHETORIC The study and practice of effective

communication.

The study of the effects of texts on audiences.

The art of persuasion.

"Rhetoric is the art of ruling the minds of men."(Plato)

When preparing a persuasive, argumentative

speech, you need to consider both matter (what you are going to say) and manner

(how you are going to say it).

Matter

When preparing the matter for a persuasive speech, the golden rule is ‘quality not quantity’. A brief and simple message has the dramatic and persuasive appeal that a long- winded presentation does not.

You want simply to deliver a clear and expressive message.

Openings

Tell them why they should listen.. Why you for this audience at this time on this subject.

Closings

Close: don't just stop.

Work the group to a conclusion and then ask them for some response, eg. "Now you know the problem, can we count on you to help with the project?"

Rhetorical Techniques:

There are several stylistic devices we can use for dramatic and persuasive effect.

Emotive language:

Words that appeal to the listeners’ emotions rather than to their powers of reason and logic. These are some-times called ‘loaded’ words as they contain a message that is subtly telling the listener what to think or believe.

pathos: Aristotle use of emotional appeals to alter the audience’s judgment.

This can be done through storytelling, or presenting the topic in a way that evokes strong emotions in the audience.

Aristotle used pathos as a corrective measure to help the speaker create appeals to emotion to motivate decision making.

George Kennedy claims that pathos was an early discussion of human psychology.

Strong emotions are likely to persuade when there is a connection with the audience

Rhetorical questions:

 A rhetorical question is one put by a speaker for effect, not to draw an answer. An example is:

‘Who would believe such nonsense?’

the implication being that no-one, would. The speaker is engaging the listener.

Balance   

Rhythmically balanced phrases and sentences appeal to the ear. They can have a hypnotic effect, persuading listeners to accept what is being said.

 

“I came to bury Caesar, not to praise him.”  Mark Antony

Ask not what your country can do for you, But ask what you can do for your country.     John F. Kennedy

Repetition: 

Like before, this has a convincing effect.

“We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender”   Winston Churchill

‘Crescendo’ effect:   Climax

Using a sentence that rhythmically builds up to a climax is dramatic and, therefore, convincing. This device is often used in the final sentence of an address to leave a lasting impression.

Bathos  -  Anti-climax:

Also called the ‘let down’  effect, the speaker leads the audience to expect a resounding high climax, only to let them down to an unexpected low note: 

“My father warned me against dealing in guns, drugs or health products”

“Attached you will find my stellar CV, replete with achievements, commendations, awards, honours and little athletics ribbons.”

The three effect:

For some reason, three balanced phrases or three strong, emotive or alliterative words have a particularly dramatic impact, for example.

I came, I saw, I conquered.  Julius Caesar

Of the people, by the people, for the people.  Abraham Lincoln

Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.  Winston

Churchill 

Inverted phrases:

Changing well know phrases by inversion or subversion can be extremely engaging.

We are no longer the lucky country; we must become the clever country”Bob Hawke

This is not the end.  It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is perhaps, the end of the

beginning.   Churchill

Alliteration and assonance

An excellent device is the repetition of consonants or vowels at the beginning of two or more words, eg. ‘radical ratbags’, and ‘unloved, unlovable and unlovely’. This is alliteration.

Where the internal vowel in two or more words has a similar sound, we have assonance, as in ‘this bumbling, stumbling lumbering idiot’.

Authorities

ethos: Aristotle’s theory of character and how the character and credibility of a speaker can influence an audience to consider him/her to be believable.

Quoting recognized authorities in your topic area verifies that you have both done your homework, and, also, know what you are talking about.

Document your factual information and references.

Never leave an audience member questioning where you got your facts...which means he or she is questioning the fact itself.

Experience

When you speak, you need to be regarded as an authority.

Your experience is one of the primary things that give you standing in the eyes of your listeners.

Make certain it is listed in the introduction bio, but, also, subtly, repeat it in the presentation through such phrases as, ”from what I learnt at the Design Akademie", or, " each of the many time we have run this project".

Statements like these add to your credibility.

Specificity

Which has more impact for you:

"The world is going to end.”

or, "The earth will be hit by an asteroid next July."?

Are you likely to give money to "poor children overseas", or, to "four year old Emma, who digs in the garbage seeking for food".

Listeners need concrete items to relate to. When someone tells you to 'paint a picture' for them, that is what they mean

SKILLS (Aural - these key words pertain particularly to vocalisation).

1. Fluency

2. Clarity

3. Pronunciation

4. Modulation of pace

5. Modulation of tone

6. Modulation of volume

7. Expression

8. inflection

9. Pitch

NON-VERBAL These key words pertain particularly to the use of the body as an adjunct to speech.

1. Eye-contact

2. Appropriate facial expression

3. Appropriate gestures

4. Stance

5. Body Language

6. Movement

7. Variety and range

Write a presentation on a topic you are interested in, and use at least THREE of

the following rhetorical techniques.

Rhetorical questions, like "who would believe such nonsense?" "isn"t this great” Ask your audience a question that needs no answer, but makes them think a certain way.

Repetition.. of any part of a sentence. The beginning, the end, the middle. Extra points if you can repeat this in a Three Effect way… i.e. Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.  Winston Churchill 

Bathos- anti-climax. Build up a sentence then surprise with an anti-climax at the end. “My father warned me against dealing in guns, drugs or health products”

Alliteration- unloved, unlovable and unlovely. Assonance- ‘this bumbling, stumbling lumbering idiot’.

Authority/Experience- Say how you know this. Why you know this. Why are you able to give this presentation.