1. Intro To Rhetoric

2. Consider What do you think when you hear the word “argument”?
Do you think of angry people yelling at each other?
Or do you think of argument as attempts to resolve
issues between two or more people?
Do you think of argument as standing up for your ideas,
defending them and minimizing the opposition?
Or do you think of argument as rational discussion that
can lead to agreement or compromise?

3. Argument Definition
In this course, we are defining argument as making a
claim (expressing a point of view on an issue that is
communicated by the arguer.)
and supporting it with reasons and evidence to
convince an audience to change the way they think
about the issue.

4. Goal Of an Argument
The goal of argument is to bring about a change in an
audience’s initial position on a controversial issue.
Depending on the situation, the arguer may reach this
goal by convincing an audience to change its initial
views on an issue or by reaching a consensual
understanding that most or all audience members can
accept.

5. What Is an Argument
All language and even images can serve as argument.
Argument can be written, spoken, sung or chanted. It
can be read, heard or observed in pictures that are either
still or moving. It can be explicit with a clear purpose and
position as in an advertisement. Or it can be implicit,
communicating a more subtle position on an issue that
the audience has to think about, as some of anti-war
posters.

6. The Rhetorical Triangle

7. Rhetorical Triangle Cont.

8. Cannons Of Rhetoric

9. Rhetorical Fallacies