Rhetoric & Audience

Rhetoric Hall-Dale Middle School

English Beaulieu

Wednesday, May 5, 14

What is rhetoric?

The art of knowing what to say at the right time, in the right way to influence, inform, or provoke

The Greeks perfected this art!


Ethos, Pathos, logos

The three essential “ingredients” for solid rhetoric.

also known as: the trifecta of argumentation!


ethos

Ethos = ethics of who you are, not the ethics of your argument

To establish ethos, one presents as a respectable, authority on the subject they are discussing

If the speaker is not an authority, then they should dedication time to learning the topic

before speaking


pathosPathos = the emotion attached to what you are

speaking about

Pathos taps into the emotions of your audience/readers

(sympathy, empathy, antipathy, etc.)

Using pathos [effectively] can override logic in the audience/readers - do not rely too heavily on

pathos, as the emotional override can wear off


logos

Logos = the reasoning of the argument/point

Logic is difficult for people to understand, so an effective speaker breaks down their argument and support the argument

Logos is only achieved when the speaker/writer builds their argument on a solid base of evidence

and plans for rebuttals



Rhetorical Tools

Repetition

Analogy

Parallel

Simile

Metaphor

Questions


AudienceThe effectiveness of your speech/written

piece depends on audience reception

Engagement: how the audience reacts with the piece

Expectations: typically applies to genre pieces

Knowledge: the information the audience brings affects their reception and understanding of the production

Keep In Mind:


Works cited

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy

http://portal.norwalkps.org/sites/teachers/jones/Pages/AncientGreece.aspx

http://www.slideshare.net/dashdude6/understanding-audience-and-target-audiences1-3551883?qid=a889b2bf-4f82-4e52-

ada0-59f643eddbdf&v=qf1&b=&from_search=5

http://www.slideshare.net/middletons1/rhetoric-11th-grade?qid=1335f892-

f379-4932-85a2-5ef6e096ed19&v=default&b=&from_search=7








http://www.slideshare.net/dashdude6/understanding-audience-and-target-audiences1-3551883?qid=a889b2bf-4f82-4e52-ada0-59f643eddbdf&v=qf1&b=&from_search=5






http://www.slideshare.net/middletons1/rhetoric-11th-grade?qid=1335f892-f379-4932-85a2-5ef6e096ed19&v=default&b=&from_search=7






Education

Rhetoric & Audience