MODULE 2
In this LibGuide you will learn about rhetoric, about effectively applying the tools of rhetoric in your communication, and about recognizing the effectiveness of someone else’s rhetoric. These skills of “becoming rhetorical” will make you more prepared for recognizing opportunities to contribute your own voice and respond to the world around you, just as they will engage you to be critical of the rhetoric you produce.
Click Circle to see larger image
Rhetoric DEFINITION Rhetoric is many things, and its definition has been changing for over 3,000 years, so it is difficult to compose a uniform or standard definition of it. Yet, the most common definition of rhetoric that you will encounter -- including in our textbook and supplemental sources -- is this: rhetoric is the art of effective communication by using a vast array of tools to affect/persuade others into an action or an attitude. RELEVANT POINTS
|
Rhetorical Situation DEFINITION Rhetorical situation is everything that plays a role in shaping the rhetoric; it is the principal concept of rhetoric. In other words, rhetorical situation is everything and anything that surrounds and relates to the communication/text. Although there are many, the basic elements of a rhetorical situation are rhetor, audience, and text because all messages are communicated by someone, intended for someone, and assume a specific shape or form. For example, here is a basic rhetorical situation: we (the rhetor) can communicate with our body language (text) to the person sitting next to us (audience) that we are not interested in talking by simply turning our head away. Because no rhetoric can take place without these essential elements, they are usually depicted as a triangle, with each point labeled as one of the elements, and referred to as a Rhetorical Triangle. RELEVANT POINTS
|
Rhetorical Appeals DEFINITION Rhetorical appeals are the means of persuasion used by the rhetor. To be as effective in their communication as possible, rhetors rely on modes of influencing their audiences to accept their points or positions. The most compelling means of engaging and influencing the audience are the three terms we still use today, brought to us by the ancient Greek philosopher and rhetorician Aristotle:
EXAMPLE Although you may not realize it, you are using rhetorical appeals in your daily interactions with others. In fact, you may have grouped those around you based on how you need to address them, what it usually takes for you to convince or influence them to accept your point. For example, is there someone in your group of friends and relatives who usually responds to your points and observations with a simple, “I’ll take your word for it,” or “If you did it/tried it/have it/recommend it, then it must be good!”? Your relatives or friends (audience), base their response on your ethos. As a rhetor, you are acknowledged by them as a source of authority on the topic, someone who has credibility. On the other hand, there are likely those in your circle who never seem to have enough evidence and require a step-by-step layout of the argument before they consider accepting your point. Unlike the other group, they will not accept the statements made, just because you are the one making them. They can be convinced primarily through the logic in your points (logos). Finally, have you ever used a sad face or a tug-at-the-heartstrings story to illicit a response from your audience, such as tearfully asking your parents to buy you something, knowing that they cannot stand the sight of your tears and usually cave at the moment they see them? You are appealing to your audience’s emotions, demonstrating your use of pathos. RELEVANT POINTS
Topic 4: Rhetorical Analysis DEFINITION Rhetorical analysis represents a thorough examination of a text/communication to understand how it affects the audience. Performing a rhetorical analysis, we identify and analyze the rhetoric’s essential parts -- the rhetorical choices made by the rhetor -- such as the rhetorical appeals, rhetorical context, rhetorical situation (exigence, constraints), to show HOW he or she attempts to influence the audience to accept the message. Although the phrase “rhetorical analysis” may sound intimidating at first, especially when you are asked to perform one, the concept of analyzing rhetoric around you is not something you are not completing on daily basis. Many of your daily decisions are based on the assessment or analysis of the communications you encounter. For example, will you click on the emailed link with instructions to reset the password for your bank account when the message itself contains numerous spelling errors, typos, and strange sentence structure, or will you immediately recognize it as a scam and delete it? Most likely, you did not even take much time and almost instantly ignored the message because we are naturally inclined to analyze and judge the exorbitant amount of rhetoric that we are bombarded with daily. The rhetorical analysis for academic purposes, such as the one you will have to complete in this module is much more detailed and deliberate as the almost instantaneous assessment of a scam email and much more time consuming, but as you can see, you already possess the critical thinking skills and some experience necessary to complete it. |