An Overview of RhetoricRobert Herrick

Rhetoric “Systematic study and intentional

practice of effective symbolic expression.”

Symbolic?

Rhetor * anyone who composes discourse that is

intended to affect an audience’s or broader community’s thinking or actions.

Goals of Rhetoric Achieving clarity Awakening sense of beauty Bringing about mutual understanding

6 Characteristics Rhetoric is planned

How would this relate to:

6 Characteristics Rhetoric is adapted to an audience

Enthymeme*: the rhetor provides a tenable premise and expects the audience to “fill in” or arrive at the desired conclusion, based on shared values, beliefs, concerns, or knowledge; shared but unstated assumption

How is this adapted to audience?

6 Characteristics Rhetoric reveals human motives

“We have this fantasy that our interests and the interests of the super rich are the same. Like somehow the rich will eventually get so full that they’ll explode. And the candy will rain down on the rest of us. Like there’s some kind of pinata of benevolence. But here’s the thing about a pinata: it doesn’t open on it’s own. You have to beat it with a stick.” — Bill Maher

6 Characteristics Rhetoric is responsive (to a situation or

previous rhetorical statement)

6 Characteristics Rhetoric seeks persuasion

Argument – claim, reason, evidence Appeals

Arrangement Aesthetics

6 Characteristics Rhetoric addresses contingent issues

Contingent – no definite or unavoidable answers; weighing of options necessary

Deliberate: reason through various alternatives

Social functions of rhetoric Testing ideas

for both rhetor and audience By public – i.e. abolition of slavery

Assisting Advocacy Distributing power

Personal power – express self effectively Psychological power – shape thinking of

others Political power

Social functions of rhetoric Discovering facts

Locating evidence Evaluating evidence

Shaping knowledge Social role, rhetor & audience

Building community Example of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr