Introduction to Rhetoric and Chapter 1, RRW

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Introduction to Rhetoric and Chapter 1, RRW

• Rhetoric, in a few key terms

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Aristotle, Of Rhetoric

• Definition of Rhetoric
• The art of persuasion
• Why art ( not science)?

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Aristotle - 3 appeals

• 1) Logos
• Logic
• 2) Pathos
• Emotional appeal
• 3) Ethos
• Appeal to speakers character (integrity,
  experience, trustworthiness)

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Aristotle - 5 Parts of a Speech

• 1) Exordium
• Introduction, literally the Beginning of a Web
• 2) Narratio
• Narration, statement of facts
• 3) Confirmatio
• The main body of the argument
• 4) Refutatio
• Refutation refute relevant arguments
• 5) Peroratio
• Peroration, tying things up in the end

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Kenneth Burke, A Rhetoric of Motives

• Identification
• Consubstantiality (sharing the same substance)
• Goal of Rhetorical Criticism
• To understand and analyze authorial motives
• How the rhetorical approach differs from New
  Criticism
• Text-centered vs. authorial motive-centered

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Some salient points from RRW, Chapter 1

• The analytic response (begins on p. 5)
• What does analysis entail?
• Analysis of the writers choice of style or the
  works larger rhetorical context
• How is the argument structured?
• What are rhetorical elements utilized?
• How is attitude (personality, voice) conveyed?
  What gives force to ideas?
• Assessment Is this skill important?
• Positioning Where would we find use for this
  skill outside of literary contexts? (What does
  it look like outside of literary endeavors?)

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Some salient points from RRW, Chapter 1

• The evaluation response (p. 6)
• What does evaluation entail? A value judgment.
• What is the overall estimation, if you were a
  critic?
• Is it great, good, bland, or poorly
  executed/argued? Why, in your estimation?
• Is it logically argued or not? If not, what are
  specific logical fallacies? (cf. chap. 5)
• Is it adequately developed, and if not, what does
  it lack?
• Does it state (or imply) a purpose, and does it
  achieve that purpose?

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Some salient points from RRW, Chapter 1

• The research response (used in a later essay this
  semester p. 7)
• Here we analyze an essay (subject, work)
  thoroughly and place it in its proper
  historical, literary, and personal contexts, and
  use it develop an argument.

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Some salient points from RRW, Chapter 1

• Note active reading (p. 10-11)
• Writing Summaries (pp. 13-28), Important.
• Compare the Revised Summary and Sample
  Longer Summary (p. 15) to the Summaries 1 2 of
  p. 14.
• Mechanics (error-free) basic argument ?
• Argument analysis style (voice, personality,
  attitude) other rhetorical elements