Rhetoric K. Turner English 101

What is Rhetoric? “The purposeful use of language” (WHH 3) Art of observing the available means of persuasion in a given situation (Aristotle) Use of symbols to bring about social cooperation (Hauser) REMEMBER: rhetoric deals in probabilities, not certainties!

What is the Rhetorical situation? Rhetorical aims – purposes writers have for themselves as they begin to produce a text For a list of rhetorical aims, let’s check out the chart of RC pg. 23-4! Writers must identify their purpose and how it will best be communicated to their audience. Check the author’s purpose in the quiz on RC pg. 25! Readers must identify the writer’s purpose in order to ascertain how the writer expects the audience to react to the text.

Rhetorical Situation: A Few Definitions Speaker (writer/rhetor) – the person entering a rhetorical situation Exigence (opportunity) – a flaw a rhetor thinks can be changed through discourse Audience – people for whom the rhetor’s message is intended Message – words/images prepared by rhetor for their audience Context – the specififcs which surround the rhetor’s message to the audience (i.e. what other people have already said about the topic; how the topic has previously been presented; etc.) Constraints – “factors other than the rhetor’s message that might influence the audience”

The Rhetorical triangle Audience Exigence Context Message Rhetor

What is Genre? Genre – a recurring category or type of writing based on identifiable features such as structure and design

Two contemporary rhetorical theorists Sinead O’Connor Miley Cyrus

Here’s the scoop…

STOP PROSTITUTING YOURSELF TO THE MEDIA! Sinead vs. Miley Constraints: factors other than the message that might influence the audience Exigence Audience Purpose Rhetor (writer/speaker) Message STOP PROSTITUTING YOURSELF TO THE MEDIA! To behavior & change attitude towards self