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2: Rhetoric

  • Page ID
    328463
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    Introduction.

    If it is an election year, you might hear people talk about empty or hostile rhetoric. Someone might accuse you of using rhetoric, or they might say “that’s just rhetoric.” Often people don't understand what rhetoric is, so they mix it up with propaganda. Propaganda uses rhetoric to convey its messages, but they are not the same thing. By the end of the chapter, you should be able to define and differentiate between the two.

    Besides the definitions of rhetoric and propaganda, we will cover many aspects of how rhetoric is used. You will encounter the rhetorical situation; learn the elements of the rhetorical triangle; identify the rhetorical appeals, and use all of those in a rhetorical analysis. 

    Chapter goals.

    By the end of this chapter, you should be able to

    1. Define rhetoric.
    2. Identify rhetoric in texts.
    3. Define the rhetorical situation.
    4. Identify the aspects of a rhetorical situation.
    5. Identify three rhetorical appeals.
    6. Describe how the rhetorical triangle depicts communication.

    To meet these goals, we will discuss the following topics.

    • 2.1: What is Rhetoric?
      This chapter defines rhetoric and discusses the origins of rhetorical terms and concepts. It contains a short exercise that instructors may assign or students may do on their own.
    • 2.2: The Rhetorical Situation
      The rhetorical situation is defined and its elements are identified and explained. The chapter also shows how the rhetorical triangle depicts the rhetorical situation. Several examples are given along with an optional exercise.
    • 2.3: The Rhetorical Appeals
      This page describes the rhetorical appeals, ethos, pathos, and logos. It includes definitions, examples, examples, and a graphic. There is also explanation on how the rhetorical triangle depicts how ethos, pathos, and logos work in the rhetorical situation.
    • 2.4: Questions for reflection
      This page lists questions so students review the chapter and reflect on the ideas presented.
    • 2.5: Rhetorical Analysis
      This page describes writing a rhetorical analysis. It covers what a rhetorical analysis is, what it should contain, steps for writing the rhetorical analysis paper and the thesis statements. Example thesis statements and a sample student paper are included.


    2: Rhetoric is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LauraLee Miller, Western Technical College.