Rhetoric & Critical Thinking

~ and the Rhetorical Situation

(An ongoing PowerPoint by Jo Doran)

What - Exactly - is Rhetoric?!

▪ Rhetoric has been described as the study of speaking and writing - and the art of persuasion.

▪ Some people describe it as “hot air,” designating rhetoric as a negative influence in any type of communication.

▪ Classical rhetoric - the origin of rhetoric, so to speak - categorizes rhetoric as persuasive discourse (communication) for three situations: forensic, deliberative, and epideictic.

Forensic, Deliberative, Epideictic Rhetoric

▪ Forensic rhetoric addresses issues of justice and concerns the past.

▪ Deliberative rhetoric exhorts or persuades, while keeping an eye to the future.

▪ Epideictic rhetoric is used to praise, and sometime blame, and concerns the present.

Rhetoric in This Class

In this class, we will use rhetoric as explained below:

▪ Rhetoric is the use of language and other mediums, such as

images, etc., to present ideas to others in order to

communicate, be understood, and understand.

▪ Rhetoric always involves the use of the three rhetorical

appeals - to some degree.

▪ Rhetoric should include an understanding of the rhetorical

situation.

Rhetorical Appeals

▪ Logos▪ Logos is the logic used in a text, design, etc. ▪ Logos includes information, statistics, and facts.

▪ Pathos▪ Pathos is the emotion used in a text, design, etc., and should include a

consideration of the following:▪ Excessive use of emotion▪ A lack of emotion▪ Bias

▪ Ethos▪ Ethos is the credibility of the author and the content.▪ Ethos can include the use or misuse of credible sources: other people’s

ideas and words. reputation of the author(s).▪ Ethos can refer to the reputation of the author, if that person is well

known.

The Rhetorical SituationThe Rhetorical Situation includes the interaction between the text, the reader, and the writer - within a context of culture. We will discuss this more when we talk about Discourse Communities.

Genre, Rhetorical Situations and Writing Strategies

~ Jo Doran

Aside from annotating…

We have to consider the genre of the text, visual, etc.:

▪ What kind of text is it?▪ Story?▪ Report?▪ Biography?▪ Proposal?

▪ When is it used?

▪ What is it used for?

Open Language

Open language is informal, wordy, more reflective.▪ Very Open Language:

▪ Diary▪ Journal▪ Letters

▪ Somewhat Open Language▪ Poetry▪ Fiction

Closed Language

Closed language is objective, clear, concise.▪ Very Closed Language:

▪ Dictionary▪ Encyclopedia▪ Statistic Report

▪ Somewhat Closed Language▪ Journal Article▪ White Paper Report

Discourse Communities

▪ Members: Who belongs to the group?

▪ Purpose: What is the purpose of the group?

▪ Goals: What is the group trying to do?

▪ Audience: To whom is the group addressing aside from its members?

▪ Communication: What methods of communication are used . . .▪ Within the group?▪ Outside of the group?

Rhetorical Situation

▪ Text/Purpose: Type of genre and purpose of genre

▪ Audience: Inside the group - and outside the group

▪ Writer/Author: Members of the discourse community

Writing Strategies

How is a piece best written?

- This is determined by audience analysis.- What are the needs and interests of the

audience?- How much/little information does the audience

have?

- What techniques can the writer use based on audience needs?- Type of language (open/closed, terminology,

etc.): Conversational language? More formal?- Research level: How much research is best?- Medium: Text only - or visuals?

Rhetorical Appeals

▪Logos: Facts, Data, Statistics, Information

▪Pathos: Emotion, Bias, etc.

▪Ethos: Reputation, Believability, etc.

Considerations of types (and levels) or rhetorical appeals needed - should be based on the genre being used and the audience needs.