Rhetoric is the art of effective communication through speaking or writing. It involves knowing how to craft a message using the right tone, words, and style for the audience and situation. There are three essential elements of rhetoric: ethos, pathos, and logos. Ethos involves establishing credibility or authority on the topic. Pathos appeals to the emotions of the audience. Logos uses logical reasoning and evidence to support an argument. Effective rhetoric also employs tools like repetition, analogy, and metaphor, while understanding the audience's expectations, knowledge, and how they will receive the message.

1. Rhetoric
Hall-Dale Middle School
English
Beaulieu
Wednesday, May 5, 14

2. 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!
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3. Ethos, Pathos, logos
The three essential “ingredients” for
solid rhetoric.
also known as: the trifecta of argumentation!
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4. 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
Wednesday, May 5, 14

5. pathos
Pathos = 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
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6. 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
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7. Wednesday, May 5, 14

8. Rhetorical Tools
Repetition
Analogy
Parallel
Simile
Metaphor
Questions
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9. Audience
The 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:
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10. 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
Wednesday, May 5, 14