Rhetoric

Rhetoric is the art of persuasion; the practice, art, and study of using symbols to influence or invite behaviors or beliefs

Aristotle’s Classical Rhetorical Appeals

• Ethos

  • Credibility that a speaker or writer brings to the subject they are discussing

• Pathos

  • Appeal to emotion

• Logos

  • Appeal to reason and logic

• Kairos

  • Appropriate time for writing or speaking

Elements of a Rhetorical Situation

• A rhetorical situation refers to any set of circumstances that involve at least one person using some sort of communication to modify the perspective of at least one other person

• Shares 5 basic elements with all other rhetorical situations

  • Text

    • Actual instance or piece of communication

    • '“What’s the title?”

  • Author

    • Someone who used communication

    • “Who created it?”

  • Audience

    • Recipient of communication

    • “Who is it for? Who has access?”

  • Purpose

    • The varied reason(s) both authors and audiences communicate

    • “Why did the author create it?”

  • Setting

    • Time, place, and environment surrounding a moment of communication

    • “Where and when was it published?” NOT WHERE THE PUBLICATION TAKES PLACE