Rhetorical Triangle & Square

Structuring an ArgumentPersuasion is achieved by the speaker's personal character when the speech is so spoken as to make us think him credible. We believe good men more fully and more readily than others: this is true generally whatever the question is, and absolutely true where exact certainty is impossible and opinions are divided. ~Aristotle

Expectations

As you move through this do the following:

1. Take notes – you can print the document or you can actually take notes. If

you print the document, you need to review it. Simply printing the document

will not suffice.

2. Complete “On Your Own…” Tasks that are included throughout.

3. Submit the “On Your Own…” Tasks to the assignment titled “On Your

Own” in turnitin.com. It must be submitted by 7:40 AM on 8/19/15.

4. Bring your notes & a copy (hardcopy or electronic) of your “On Your

Own…” tasks to class on Wednesday 8/19/15.

Aristotle

On Your Own…#1

Review the quote on the first page. Compose a short

journal entry that responds to Aristotle’s quote.

Consider what he means, whether or not you agree

with him and whether or not it is valid in

contemporary society.

Structuring an Argument

There are various ways to structure an argument:

1. Classical: discussed in this “lecture”

2. Induction and Deduction: discussed later this

semester

3. Toulmin: discussed later this semester

Structuring an Argument: Classical Structure

Classical Structure: developed by classical rhetoricians

for oral arguments way back in the day – think 5th

Century BC

Interesting fact: Intention by ancient rhetors was to

teach Greek farmers strategies for appealing their

cases in Greek courts.

Includes five parts that ancient teachers of rhetoric believed

were necessary for persuasion.

Best for a mixed audience (hostile to neutral to favorable)

Although this structure follows a specific order you may not

always need to include (in writing) all of these elements.

Rather, you will need consider all of these elements even if

you do not specifically include them in your writing.

Structuring an Argument: Classical Structure

Caveat: Not all arguments follow this structure. Arguments

are not always laid out in a single fashion and contemporary

arguments represent the current customs of society – think

hyperlinks, videos, images, etc.

On Your Own… #2

Why must the structure of an argument align to social customs

and beliefs of contemporary society? Be brief.

Structuring an Argument: Classical Structure

The five parts

1. Introduction (exordium)

2. Narration (narration)

3. Confirmation (confirmatio)

4. Refutation (refutatio)

5. Conclusion (peroratio)

Structuring an Argument: Classical Structure

1. Introduction (exordium): introduces the reader to the

subject under discussion. In Latin, exordium literally means

“beginning a web” which is important to note because whether

a single paragraph or several, the intro pulls the readers into

the text and establishes ethos.

On Your Own…#3

Define ethos. Why does it matter in an argument?

Structuring an Argument: Classical Structure

2. Narration (narratio)

Provides factual information and background material for the

audience. The level of detail depends on the assumed

audience. It is here that the writer must blend pathos and logos

to ensure that the audience recognizes the significance of the

issue.

Structuring an Argument: Classical Structure

3. Confirmation (confirmatio)

This is the core of the argument. It includes the proof

(evidence) needed to support the writer’s claim. This is where

a reader will see the most use of logos. As a writer, you want

to use specific and concrete evidence in this section.

On Your Own…#4

Define logos. That’s it. Plain and simple.

Structuring an Argument: Classical Structure

4. Refutation (refutatio)

This section addresses the counterargument. By looking at the

opposing view you strengthen your own argument. You make

a bridge between your claim and your conclusion – what you

think and why. You can refute the counterargument throughout

or in a stand alone section.

Structuring an Argument: Classical Structure

5. Conclusion (peroratio)

This is where the argument draws to a close. The appeal used

here is typically pathos, sprinkled with ethos. As the writer,

you want to make sure that the audience understands why

what you claim is important – the “So what?” needs to be

addressed here as the argument finishes.

Structuring an Argument: Classical Structure

On Your Own… #5

Read “Not by Math Alone” by Sandra Day O’Connor & Roy Romer

(on my website).

You will notice that the paragraphs are numbered. Using the paragraph

numbers, indicate which paragraphs of the argument correspond with

the various parts of the Classical Argument Structure.

EXAMPLE: Para 1: Introduction

When you finish, each paragraph should be assigned to a facet of

Classical Argument Structure.

Structuring an Argument: Classical Structure

Aristotle used a triangle to show how the elements of: speaker,

audience, and subject.

How the writer (or in Aristotle’s time period, the speaker) perceives

these relationships is important.

Speaker: the person or group who creates a text (argument)

Audience: the listener, viewer, or reader of the text (argument)

Subject: Topic

Rhetorical Triangle and Square

Rhetorical Triangle and Square

TEXT

SPEAKER

AUDIENCE SUBJECT

As society has progressed, it has been determined that there is a 4th

element that should be analyzed/examined when looking at an

argument: purpose.

Purpose: This is the “big picture” reason for posing the argument.

We will be using the rhetorical square to analyze arguments in this

course. However, it is still important that you understand the

components of the triangle.

Rhetorical Triangle and Square

Rhetorical Triangle and Square

Subject: Consider the following

1. What is the subject of the argument?

2. What is the message about the subject?

3. How is the argument structured

4. Look at context: What is happening regarding this

issue on a local, state, national and international

level? How does this influence the argument?

Speaker/Author/Writer: Consider the following

1. How does the author/writer present him/herself

(tone)?

2. Why? What impact does this have on the

argument? How does the audience, because of the

author, view the subject?

Audience: Consider the following

1. Who is the intended audience?

2. What type of audience is the argument appealing

to? (favorable, neutral, hostile) How do you know

this? What is the audience influenced by?

3. What does the audience value?

Purpose: Consider the following

1. Why was the text written? Think big picture – not

simply the impact on your own life.

2. What philosophy or worldview does the writer

want to share?

TEXT

On Your Own… #6

Go back to the “Not by Math Alone” article.

Use the rhetorical square, and the questions to consider in each box, to analyze

the argument presented in the article.

Your analysis should be divided into the four elements: subject, speaker,

audience and purpose.

Make sure you are thorough but not overly wordy. Label your analysis (Subject

1-4, Speaker 1-2, Audience 1-3, and Purpose 1-2).

Try your best with this – I know it is a challenging task!!

Structuring an Argument: Classical Structure

As you analyze an argument, you also want to consider the following:

1. Author’s bias (assumed & presented in the text)

2. Use of ethos, pathos and logos

3. Evidence of logical fallacies that detract from the argument

Analyzing Rhetoric

Make sure you complete all 6 tasks:

1. Journal related to Aristotle’s quote (3 pts)

2. Why must the structure of an argument align to social customs and beliefs

of contemporary society? Be brief. (3 pts)

3. Define ethos. Why does it matter in an argument? (2 pts)

4. Define logos. That’s it. Plain and simple. (2 pts)

5. Complete the “Not By Math Alone” Classical Structure activity (10 pts)

6. Complete the “Not By Math Alone” rhetorical square (10 pts)

On Your Own Tasks: due to turnitin.com by

7:40 AM on 8/19/15. This is worth 30 points total.