Rhetorical Triangle
One way to consider the "Declaration" is through the rhetorical triangle. The
rhetorical triangle describes the interaction between subject, speaker, and audience
(or subject, writer, and reader), as well as how this interaction determines
structure and language of the argument - that is, a text or image that establishes a
position (the thesis of the argument).
Questions to ask:
Audience:
EACH audience requires that the writer (or speaker) use different
information to shape the argument effectively.
1. What does the audience know about the subject?
2. What is the audience's attitude toward the subject?
3. Is there any common ground between the writer's and reader's views on the
subject?
4. Who is the direct (intended) audience?
5. Who is the indirect audience?
Speaker:
This refers to the persona - the character of that the speaker creates that
depends on the context, purpose, subject, and audience.
1. Who is being spoken to?
2. Is the speaker an expert?
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
What is the position of the speaker?
Does the speaker establish ethos?
Does the speaker appeal to logos?
Does the speaker appeal to pathos?
What characterisitcs of the speaker can be determined from the words of the
text?
Message:
1. What is the subject?
2. What action does the speaker want from the direct audience? Indirect
audience?
3. What is the context of the subject (the occassion or time or place)?
4. What is the overarching goal of the speaker?
5. What is the thesis (a claim or assertion)?