The Rhetorical Triangle

© 2010. Susan Hagan

RhetoricRhetoric is defined in the English 101 textbook Writer Citizen as:

“We define rhetoric as the intentional use of language or symbols to accomplish a specific goal with a specific audience (1).”

Rhetorical analysis involves looking at communication (written, oral, or visual) in a goal-oriented (purpose-driven) and audience-focused way

Works Cited

Houser, Catherine, Jeanette E. Riley, Kathleen Torrens. Writer/Citizen. Iowa: Kendall Hunt, 2010. Print.

Communication

Whether writing, speaking, or communicating visually 3 elements are essential for communication to take place

3 Parts to Communication

1. WRITER or SPEAKER: conveys the message (written, spoken, or visual)

2. AUDIENCE: receives the message

3. SUBJECT: what the message is about

Writer(or speaker)

Audience

Subject

the

text

3 parts of communication work together to create the text

The rhetorical triangle is a tool to help you think about and analyze the way we communicate

Persuasion

No matter what form of communication you choose, you are trying to convey your ideas effectively to your audience in order to get them to agree with you

The Rhetorical triangle includes 3 kinds of appeals identified by Aristotle to help you be persuasive

Three APPEALS

WriterETHOS

AudiencePATHOS

SubjectLOGOS

the

text

The appeals are Greek words from Aristotle’s time

Aristotle’s Three APPEALS

ETHOS: appeals based on the character, expertise, and reputation of the SPEAKER

PATHOS: appeals based on the values and beliefs of the AUDIENCE

LOGOS: appeals based on logic, reasoning, and facts (evidence) about the SUBJECT

Purpose Whether you are trying to persuade a friend to

stop doing homework and go to a party with you, analyzing the use of symbolism in The Scarlet Letter, or convincing the UMD community to stop littering in a Torch article you have an audience-focused PURPOSE for your writing

Make sure the audience understands what you want them to think or do after reading your essay (this is purpose)

Use the rhetorical triangle to help you tailor your communication to appeal to your audience persuasively

WriterChancellor

MacCormack

AudienceThe

Torch

SubjectTuition

Increase

the

Text

Situation 1

Details about Situation 1Writer: Chancellor MacCormack

(Is the head of UMD it is her job to run the University)

Just like the president of a company she must make sure UMD is financially secure

Audience: UMD Torch (students)(The Torch is the UMD Student Newspaper) Students will not readily accept a tuition

increase, they will need to be persuaded

Subject: Tuition Increase Why is it necessary? Facts are needed to

persuade students

Appeals in Situation 1

Writer: Chancellor MacCormack Can draw on her credibility as an expert (ethos) whose job it is

to keep UMD financially secure

Audience: UMD Torch (students)

Must consider PURPOSE: What does the writer want the audience to think or do after reading? She wants them to accept the tuition increase, what appeals will help her achieve this?

Students need to be persuaded with appeals based on what they value (pathos) such as: upgrading computer labs, new library addition, upgrading the sports facilities, upgrading the dorms, hiring new faculty/staff, salary increases for faculty/staff, to offset costs of increased scholarships based on financial need

The success of the Torch article depends on appealing to a wide range of students (do any of the possible appeals work for you?)

Subject: Tuition Increase The writer must choose the facts (logos) most likely to appeal to

the widest range of students in the audience

What happens when we change

the audience?

WriterChancellor

MacCormack

AudienceFaculty

Email

SubjectTuition

Increase

the

text

Situation 2

Appeals in Situation 2Writer: Chancellor MacCormack

Can draw on her credibility as an expert (ethos) whose job it is to keep UMD financially secure

Audience: Faculty Email

Must consider PURPOSE: What does the writer want the audience to think or do after reading? She wants them to accept the tuition increase, what appeals will help her achieve this?

Faculty are not effected by the tuition increase—unless they are getting raises

The email can be informational. Good news if there are raises (pathos), plain old news if the audience isn’t directly affected

Subject: Tuition Increase The writer must present the facts (logos) clearly

What happens when we change

the writer?

WriterStudent

(editorial)

AudienceThe

Torch

SubjectTuition

Increase

the

text

Situation 3

Appeals in Situation 3Writer: Student (editorial)

Can draw on his/her credibility as an expert who is effected by the subject (ethos)

Can use personal examples (ethos) of the hardship created by the increase (and why it is worth it or not to accept the increase)

Audience: The Torch (UMD students)

Must consider PURPOSE: What does the writer want the audience to think or do after reading? Accept or reject the tuition increase? Should the audience do anything to help achieve the desired result?

Audience may trust a student more than an authority figure (pathos)

Appeals to the values of the students (pathos) to get the students to accept or reject the increase

May call on the students to act in some way by appealing to their own self-interest (pathos)

Subject: Tuition Increase The writer must present the facts (logos) clearly and logically

(logos)

Now that we’ve seen how a text is influenced by the 3 parts of communication in the rhetorical triangle, let’s review

Rhetorical Triangle

WriterETHOS

Appeals based on

the character,

expertise and

reputation of the writer

(or speaker)

AudiencePATHOS

Appeals based on

the values

and beliefs

of the audience

SubjectLOGOS

Appeals based on

logic, reasoning

and facts

the

text

Hint: print out this page and hang it up near your desk

Use the Triangle: Writer/Ethos

Establish Character: Establish good will with your audience

Who are you? Why should the audience care what you have to say?

Convey Expertise: Demonstrate that you are knowledgeable about the subject

What do you know about the subject? Why do you care about the subject?

Use Reputation: Use what you’ve seen and done and show the audience that you are credible

What personal experience do you have related to your subject?

Why should the audience trust you?

Use the Triangle: Audience/Pathos

Purpose: Consider the reason for your writing (beyond getting a good grade) What should the audience think or do after reading the

essay?

Audience Knowledge: Consider the knowledge base of your audience What does your audience know about your subject? This

will impact how much explanation/history is needed

Audience Values: Consider the values of your audience Will they care about your subject or will you have to

persuade them to care? Use emotional appeals and figurative language to make them care

Audience Beliefs: Consider the beliefs of your audience Will they agree with your opinion on the subject or will

you have to persuade them to agree?

Use the Triangle: Subject/Logos

Evaluate: Your understanding of your subject What do you already know? What you need to know? What do you need to research to fill in the holes in your

comprehension?

Investigate: Perspectives What counterarguments will arise based on your point of

view? Which counterarguments are your readers likely to raise?

Determine: Appropriate evidence to support your assertions What types of evidence do you need to back up your

claims? What sources will your audience accept as credible?

Use the Rhetorical Triangle

Analyze texts (from textbooks, additional readings, your own essays and peer essays) for effective use of ethos, pathos and logos

Consider the relationship between the writer, the audience, and the subject for all written communication and assignments This will require a thorough audience analysis

so you know who your readers are, what they know about your subject, and what types of appeals will engage/persuade them to agree with your thesis (main point) and respond positively to your purpose

Review this slideshow and get comfortable with the information presented