Rhetoric and PersuasionGeneral Notes section of your composition notebook!

What is rhetoric?

Rhetoric uses rhetorical appeals to create a persuasive argument. speeches, debates, persuasive essays, and articles all

are examples of rhetoric rhetoric is seen in conversations, advertisements, or

any other medium in which the creator is trying to persuade or convince someone to do something or think in a specific way

You also can use rhetoric (rhetorical strategies) to write persuasively.

This six weeks, we will be analyzing the way rhetoric is used to persuade.

The Rhetorical Triangle

Aristotle taught that there were three types of rhetorical appeals (or strategies) Ethos Pathos Logos

Various strategies are used to create these three appeals! We will look at some today!

Logos (logic)

Pathos (emotion)

Aristotle’s Rhetorical Triangle

Ethos (credibilit

y)

Ethos

An appeal to the speaker’s credibility

Convinces you that the speaker is trustworthy, knowledgeable and dependable

Example: The Surgeon General states that smoking causes serious health problems. Anyone smoking should quit.

Ethos can be created by…

Referring to experts or professionals, celebrities, or popular individuals

Including “the common citizen” testimonials or witnesses

Avoiding fallacies or attacking others in argument

Presenting an argument while being informed and aware of all sides

Use of counterarguments and concessions

A speaker’s use of details that create trust or credibility

Correct usage of mechanics and grammar

How is ethos created here?

Here?

Pathos

An appeal to the emotions of the audience

Plays on your emotions to convince you to believe something, or take a certain action

Example: Please give me an extra day to this essay. You should feel bad for me as last night my dog got sick, my girlfriend broke up with me, and my cell phone died, so I didn’t get your Newsflash.

Pathos is VERY effective. It can be created in advertisements and in everyday conversation by…

Appealing to physical attraction

Using comedy and humor

Creating pity/sympathy

Appealing to man’s desire to be morally sound

Creating disgust/dislike

Pathos can be created in writing by using…

Imagery

Diction

Figurative Language

Details

Repetition

Sentence structure (syntax)

Fallacies… (ad hominem, bandwagon)

How is pathos created here?

Here?

Logos

An appeal to logic

Uses statistics, logic, and facts to appeal to you as a rational person.

Example: Recycling is imperative. Over 60,000 pounds of recyclable material is put in dumps daily, which consumes and damages the land and air we need to survive.

Logos is created by using…

Statistics

Facts

Accounts and specific examples

Counterarguments and concessions

Organization of explanations

Reasoning anything that forces the reader to think and reflect (even

rhetorical questions)

How is logos created here?

Here?

Let’s look at some commercials… Mmm, Meth

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fY1Pl1zGowc

J’adore Dior (Diamonds are dead…) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpeLSVwaANY

Kids Smoking http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHrdy6qcumg

Siri Parody http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrFxRj4gJOQ

ASPCA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9teY-lC3OE

Old Spice Horse http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGgpPQvXUE0

OxiClean (Billy Mays) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUirPSaImf8