The Language of The Language of Composition: Reading, Composition: Reading, Writing, RhetoricWriting, Rhetoric

Chapter 1 - “An Introduction to Rhetoric: Using the ‘Available

Means’”

Rhetoric Rhetoric demystified…demystified…Rhetoric does not automatically

mean deception or trickeryDefined as “the faculty of

observing in any given case the available means of persuasion” (Aristotle 384-322 B.C.E).Rhetoric Is…

Thoughtful Reflective

Rational appealing

Key Elements of RhetoricKey Elements of Rhetoric

ContextPurposeThesis, claim, or assertionSubjectSpeaker

The Rhetorical TriangleThe Rhetorical Triangle

Speak

er

Audience

Subject

Referred to as the Aristotelian triangle

Appeals to…Appeals to…

•Demonstrate credibility•Emphasize shared values•Reputation precedes self•Gives audience reason to listen

•Offer clear, rational ideas•Clear main idea•Acknowledge counterargument•Concede/refute•Link to assumptions

•Language engages the emotions of audience•Connotation important•Propagandistic/polemical•Vivid, concrete description•Figurative language

Visual RhetoricVisual RhetoricDiscussed in terms used for

written textOften satirical in nature, but not

requiredCommentary

ArrangementArrangement

The Classical ModelPatterns of developmentNarrationDescriptionProcess analysis

ExemplificationCompare/contrastClassification/divisionDefinitionCause/effect