AP Lang: Intro to Rhetoric & Argumentation PART 1

Rhetoric (simple def)

the art of communication

Three of a Kind/Big Three Philosophers

Socrates, Plato, Aristotle

Aristotle

4th century

BC to BCE; why?

Religious reasons

Socrates

Mentor to Plato; known for asking lots of questions

Socrates Method:

- Presents questioner with series of propositions

- Leading Questions

- helped young people get at Truth

Meno and Socrates Discourse

Meno discovers virtue and determines that it can be taught

Knowledge

Intersection between Truths & Beliefs

Epistemology

the study of knowledge

Reason for Socrates' Death

convicted of corrupting youth; commit by consumption of hemlock

Plato

Student to Socrates; Mentor to Aristotle

Plato - Dialogues

Book written by Plato; Socrates as main character; teachings of Socrates

Classical Education

education focused on the liberal arts; created by Plato

The Academy

founded by Plato; rich, white men studied philosophy, oratory, and politics

Trivium & Quadrivium

developed before/during Renaissance; 7 liberal arts to study philosophy and theology; basis of college education

Trivium

Dialectic, Rhetoric, Grammar

Dialectic

knowledge; art of thinking

Rhetoric

communication; art of communication

Grammar

diction & syntax; art of inventing and combing symbols to express thought

Quadrivium

Arithmetic, Geometry, Music, Astronomy

Arithmetic

algebra + calculus

Geometry

separate from arithmetic

Music

broad subject for the humanities

Astronomy

broad subject for the science

Aristotle

student of Plato; mentor to Alexander the Great

Ars Rhetorica

written by Aristotle; first formal study of logic until late 19th century

Aristotle def. of Rhetoric

available means of persuasion

The Lyceum

founded by Aristotle; took after Plato's Academy; taught students philosophy and rheotric; peripatetic school

Peripatetic mode of teaching

used by Aristotle; walked around discussing philosophies

Three Realms

Scientific, Civic, Truth

Scientific Realm

logic

Civic Realm

rhetoric

Realm of Truth

dialectic

Aristotle saying

Rhetoric is counterpart to Dialectic

Aristotle Triangle (starting at bottom left corner, going clock-wise):

audience, tone, writer, purpose, subject, genre at bottom of triangle

- Expository: writer focuses on subject (logos)

- Argumentative: writer focuses on audience (pathos)

- Expressive: writer focus on writer (ethos)

Rhetorical Analysis vs. Argumentation

- analyzing writer's choice vs. making your own choices

- reading like a writer vs. writing like a reader

Rhetorical Analysis vs. Argumentation stuff to think about

rhetorical situation

modes of discourse

use of evidence

patterns of arrangement

forms of appeal

fallacies & persuasive techniques

concessions, refutations & counter-arguments

style: diction, syntax, figures of speech, tone

SPA vs. The Sophists

- learning > power vs. power < learning

- do NOT manipulate through emotion, teach by logic vs. manipulate audience through emotion to win