WHAT IS RHETORIC

KEY TERMS & IDEAS

RHETORIC
The term rhetoric refers to the study, uses, and
effects of written, spoken, and visual language
Rhetoric is found all around us in many forms:
advertisements, literature, newspapers, art,
comics, speeches, etc.
Aristotle: The faculty of observing in any case all
of the available means of persuasion

SO, IS THIS RHETORIC?

NOW THAT I KNOW WHAT RHETORIC IS,

WHAT DO I DO?
Rhetorical analysis looks not only at what a
text says, but at what it does. It includes
consideration of the claims, devices, and strategic
moves an author makes in hopes of persuading
an audience
Performing rhetorical analyses on texts helps us
to get a better sense of how, why, and to what
extent an argument is effective. This helps us
decide if we believe the author and their
argument.

RHETORICAL SITUATION
ARGUMENT

CONTEX
T

PURPO
SE
AUTHOR

AUDIENC
E

WHY DOES THE AUTHOR MATTER?

AGE
EXPERIENCE
GENDER
LOCATION
BELIEFS
EDUCATION

WHY DOES THE AUDIENCE MATTER?

AGE
EXPERIENCE
EXPECTATIONS
PUBLICATION
LOCATION
BELIEFS
EDUCATION

WHAT IS A PURPOSE?

The reason(s) why an author might write a piece.

EDUCATE
INFORM
PERSUADE
CALL TO ACTION
SHOCK

WHAT IS THE CONTEXT?

The situation generating need

TIME
PLACE
HISTORY
CURRENT EVENTS

WHAT IS AN ARGUMENT?
The main claim/assertion of the text
If there is no argument, there is no point
Thesis Statement

SO, ONCE I HAVE AN ARGUMENT, AM I

DONE?
You need evidence to support your point.
Evidence is the reason why your point is valid.
What form(s) can evidence take?

OKAY, BUT DO I NEED ANYTHING ELSE?

Rhetorical Strategies are the moves an author
makes to grab attention, create emphasis, or
build their argument.

OKAY, LETS PRACTICE!

As a class, lets
rhetorically analyze
this image.

MORE PRACTICE
Okay, with a partner, rhetorically analyze the
Nacerima text.