An introduction to rhetoric.

1. Rhetoric
An Introduction

3. Rhetoric often gets a bad rap...

4. ● In academic rhetoric, we
strive to put aside
questions of “right and
wrong.”
● Rhetoric’s purpose is to
persuade a specific
audience to act or think in
a specific way.
● Academic rhetoric has its
own standards of truth,
factual accuracy, and
credibility.
● But not all rhetoric is
academic...

5. Rhetoric is the art of persuasion, tailored to the circumstances (rhetorical situation).
These circumstances include the audience, genre, discourse community
standards, and purpose.

6. This is closest to the
liberal arts /
humanities ideal of
rhetoric.
● Seeks to avoid
bias
● Aims to reach
truth
● Avoids emotion or
moral judgment
● Governed by
logic and
evidence
● Strives for