Rhetoric introduction Flashcards
1
Q
Goals of Persuasion
A
- Stimulate your audience’s emotions (change their mood)
- Change your audience’s opinions (change their mind)
- Get your audience to act
2
Q
Subject
A
- The topic of a text/communication
- Often, there is an implicit subject complimenting the explicit subject (example: describing small train going up a hill, but perseverance and believing in oneself is also a clear subject)
3
Q
Analyzing subject as a reader…
A
- use chapter titles, section headings, etc.
- look for implicit and explicit subjects
- what details and evidence does the author use to develop the subject
- how is the subject inspired by/appropriate for the context
4
Q
Analyzing subject as a writer…
A
- must offer two paths of interpretation (open interpretation)
- how can I demonstrate authority on subject?
- what details and evidence can I use to develop my subject?
- is my subject appropriate for the context?
5
Q
Context
A
- deals with the situation, occasion, and circumstances that motivate an argument
6
Q
Exigence
A
- the real-life spark [or urgency] that caused the writer to begin writing
7
Q
Analyzing context as a reader…
A
- what aspects of the text speak to its context?
- what aspects of the text transcend its context?
8
Q
Analyzing context as a writer…
A
- what is the situation in which I am writing? what is my exigence?
- how should my context inform my diction and syntax
- what aspects of my writing should transcend context?
9
Q
Important Dimensions of a Textual Context
A
- Time Period
- Occasion
- Historical, Political, and Social Landscape
10
Q
Audience
A
- The intended listener, viewer, or reader of the text
- Many texts have multiple audiences
11
Q
Analyzing Audience as a reader…
A
- who is the intended audience?
- what are the values of the indended audience?
- how does the speaker appeal to this audience?
12
Q
Speaker
A
The person or group who creates the text
13
Q
Persona
A
- the slight difference between who the speaker is in real life and the role a speaker plays in literature, when delivering a speech, etc.
- the face or character that a speaker shows to specific audiences
14
Q
Analyzing speaker/persona as a reader
A
- are there clear differences between the speaker as a person and the speaker in the text?
- how might this persona be appropriate for the intended audience?
- is the speaker credible? how do they reveal their credibility
15
Q
Analyzing speaker/persona as a writer…
A
- what persona might be helpful in connecting to my audience
- did i establish my credibility?
16
Q
Genre
A
- a category of artistic, musical, or literary composition characterized by a particular style, form, or content
- preserve social order by constraining the speaker and the audience with accepted norms, tastes, and values
17
Q
Analyzing genre as a reader…
A
- does the author defy or transcend any conventions of this genre? what is the purpose of these deviations
- ex) vulgar language in scholarly article
18
Q
Analyzing genre as a writer…
A
- what conventions should i observe when writing/speaking in this genre?
- like tone, formality, etc.
19
Q
Purpose
A
- the goal the speaker wants to achieve
- may be explicitly stated or implied
20
Q
Analyzing purpose as a reader…
A
- how is the purpose revealed
- what details support this purpose
- what techniques are used to persuade the audience
- is the author successful in achieving purpose
21
Q
Analyzing purpose as a writer…
A
- how am i communicating this purpose (thesis statement should clearly state purpose)
- what details will develop my purpose
- what techniques will help me achieve my purpose
22
Q
Rhetorical appeals
A
Ethos, Pathos, Logos (classical Greek terms)
23
Q
Logos
A
- logic/reason/rationality
- appeals to audience by using information that can be fact checked and thorough explanations
- uses comparisons
- cause/effect thinking
- exemplification - uses many examples
- elaboration - moving beyond just including a fact but explaining the significance
- uses statistics/facts
- formal tone
24
Q
Pathos
A
- appeal to emotions (fear, pride, anger, joy, happiness)
- uses expressive descriptions of people, places, or events
- vivid imagery of people, places, or events
- sharing personal stories/anecdotes
- emotion-laden vocabulary
- using any information that evokes an emotional response from the audience
25
Ethos
- appeal to values/trust (audience values and credibility/character)
- if/then argument
- speaker argues a point based on ethical grounds
- establishes credibility
- argues for/against credibility of another
- personal anecdotes that establish character
- sincere, honest, or restrained tone
