Rhetoric is the craft of persuading through writing or speaking. It also appears in everyday communication, including facial expressions, tone of voice, and conversations about ordinary decisions. This lesson introduces the main rhetorical appeals and some language techniques that shape how an audience responds.
Rhetorical appeals are ways a communicator tries to influence an audience. A single message can use more than one appeal at a time.
All flashcards
What is rhetoric?
Rhetoric is the craft of persuading through writing or speaking. Communicative choices such as tone and expression can also influence how a message is understood.
What does ethos appeal to?
Ethos appeals to an audience’s trust by presenting the communicator as believable, knowledgeable, or authoritative.
What does logos appeal to?
Logos appeals to reason through credible information, facts, examples, and explanations that support a conclusion.
What does pathos appeal to?
Pathos appeals to emotions or feelings shared by an audience, such as pleasure, belonging, sympathy, or guilt.
What is kairos?
Kairos is the importance of timing and audience circumstances when trying to persuade.
Quiz questions
A person argues that you should choose a restaurant because many people already go there. Which fallacy is this?Answer: Bandwagon
A restaurant advertisement claims that its menu has “a million choices.” Which technique is most clearly used?Answer: Hyperbole, or deliberate exaggeration
A speaker dismisses a critic’s argument by insulting the critic rather than addressing the reasons given. Which fallacy is this?Answer: Ad hominem
Someone claims that eating at a particular restaurant caused their flu because they ate there before becoming sick. What is the main reasoning problem?Answer: The events occurred in sequence, but that alone does not establish causation.
What does kairos emphasize when evaluating a persuasive message?Answer: Whether the timing and audience circumstances make the message relevant
Based on Writing Guide with Handbook by Michelle Bachelor Robinson, Maria Jerskey, featuring Toby Fulwiler (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.