‘Waxing’ RhetoricA Student’s Guide to All Things Rhetorical

What Is Rhetoric Anyways?What Is Rhetoric Anyways?•Rhetoric is the art of using language effectively

•Study of rhetoric goes back to Ancient Greece (Aristotle, Plato and the Sophists)

•Most often used in writing essays, editorials, and speeches, where the writer wants to create an effect on the reader or listener

Look For and CreateLook For and Create

F ocus – main argument/controlling idea of essay

O

D

P

Organization – organizational pattern

Development – rhetorical strategies and devices

Purpose – 4 main rhetorical modes

In Each Essay You Read and In Each Essay You Read and Write!Write!

““Purpose” - The 4 Rhetorical Purpose” - The 4 Rhetorical ModesModesThere are four main “classic” types of non-fiction writing or “Rhetorical Modes.” They represent the writer’s overall ‘purpose’ in writing the essay.

Rhetorical Mode Purpose

1. Narration To tell a story

2. Description To create a sensory picture for the reader

3. Exposition To inform the reader (explain a topic)

4. Argument/Persuasion To convince the reader of a particular point of view

““Organization” - Organizational Organization” - Organizational PatternsPatterns• Used to organize in writing in the exposition or argument and persuasion modes

•More specifically, they help to prove or develop the essay’s thesis, or the main argument/controlling idea the essay wants to communicate

So . . .What Are These So . . .What Are These Patterns?Patterns?•Process analysis

•Classification and Division

•Comparison and Contrast

•Causal Analysis

•Definition

Ack! I Need A Visual!Ack! I Need A Visual!

Rhetorical Mode

Expository Pattern

Rhetorical Strategies

Rhetorical Devices

ESSAYESSAY

Rhetorical Strategies and Rhetorical Strategies and DevicesDevicesRhetorical Strategies and Devices are techniques used to help persuade an audience. E.g.:•Statistics

•Anecdotes (short narratives)

•Citing reliable sources•Referring to or quoting a respected authority

•Anticipating opposing arguments (you say; I say)•Creating a straw-man argument (easily defeated)•Rhetorical questions (They’re great, aren’t they!)

More To Come!More To Come!