Rhetoric and Analysis

What is rhetoric?  Aristotle defines rhetoric as “The faculty of observing in any given case the available means of persuasion”  In other words, rhetoric is the study and use of language to discover or gain a specific purpose

Rhetoric defined  Break down the quote as follows:  Faculty  Of observing  All the available means  Of persuasion  In a given case

Rhetoric continued  Rhetoric is effective communication and a rational exchange of opposing viewpoints  Rhetoric is situational, so one must take into consideration many components prior to speaking or writing including:  Context – the occasion or time and place of the speaking or writing  Purpose: the goal the speaker or writer wants to achieve

Three Ways to Analyze Rhetoric  TRIANGLE  Speaker  Subject  Audience  See page 3 in The Language of Composition

SOAPSTone  Speaker  Occasion  Audience  Purpose  Subject  Tone

Joliffe’s Rhetorical Framework  Considers the rhetorical situation, appeals of persuasion, organization, tone, and surface features of a speech or work of writing  Rhetorical situation = exigence, audience, purpose  Organization = patterns of development and transitions  Tone – attitude of the author or speaker  Surface features = diction, syntax, figurative language, imagery

Appeals of Persuasion  Ethos, Logos, and Pathos (pp. 4-6 L of C)  Ethos – used to build credibility and trust; author attempts to establish a connection with audience  Logos – clear, rational ideas; clear main idea with details, examples, facts  Pathos – emotional appeal; use of personal anecdotes

In Class (or for homework)  Open The Language of Composition to page 6  Using first SOAPSTone and then the Joliffe rhetorical framework handout as a guide, read and analyze Jody Heyman’s article “We Can Afford to Give Parents a Break”  Complete both methods of analysis and be ready to discuss merits and drawbacks of each