Rhetoric
 Rhetoric is:
 the art of speaking or writing effectively
 the effective use of language to
communicate
 the skillful use of various techniques for
engaging, directing, and persuading
readers/an audience
3 Rhetorical Appeals
 Logos
 Ethos
 Pathos
Logos – Logical
 Means persuading by the use of reasoning
 Refers to:
 the clarity of the claim
 the logic of its reasons
 the effectiveness of its supporting evidence
 The impact of logos on an audience is
sometimes called the argument’s logical
appeal.
Logos Continued
 Examples of logos in a text:
 The structure of the text
 Facts/Statistics
 Research
Logos Example
 You read an article that asserts that 20% of all
traffic violations are the result of using cell
phones while driving.
 How is this an example of logos?
Logos Activity
1.
2.
3.
4.
1. What is your favorite genre of
Choose 3 questions
music?
from the list at right.
2. What is your favorite movie
genre?
Ask all 3 questions to
3. What is your favorite sport?
10 of your
classmates.
4. What is your favorite food?
5. What is your favorite color?
Record their answers
6. Where do you prefer: San Diego
on your paper.
or Tijuana?
7. Vanilla or chocolate?
Write a complete
sentence using your 8. Where would you like to travel?
data (look at your
9. Where do you want to go to
“signal words”).
college?
10.How many siblings do you have?
Ethos – Credibility
 Trustworthiness or credibility of the writer or
speaker
 Writer’s reputation
 Profession
 Education
 Expertise in field
Ethos Example
 A school invites a famous athlete recovering
from drug addiction to speak to students
about the dangers of drug abuse.
 Is this a credible source? Explain why or why
not.
Ethos Activity
 Write a paragraph (5 sentences) establishing
your own credibility on a topic in which you
feel you are an expert.
 As a student at SYHS what would you include to
prove your authority?
 As a son/daughter…
 As a brother/sister…
 As a teenager…
Pathos – Emotion
 Persuading by appealing to readers’
emotions through the use of:
 Vivid language
 Emotional language
 Sensory details
Pathos Example 1
 Hallmark – “Back to School”
 How is this an emotional appeal?
Pathos Example 2
 “Always Wear Your Seatbelt Ad”
 How is this an emotional appeal?
Pathos Activity
 Choose one of the following claims.
 Develop 3 pieces of evidence to support the claim
through the use of Pathos.





Legalize marijuana
No school uniforms
Bring all of our soldiers home
Convince a teacher to “pass” you
Shorten the school day
Quiz
 Why does the author include quotations
from Harvard and Columbia University
professors?
A. To sound smarter
B. To establish credibility
C. To conclude his argument
D. To acknowledge the professors for being
interviewed
Quiz Continued
 “It had been especially hard to stand the monotony that
day. He kept thinking about what was going on in Mexico,
where it was the feast day of Our Lady of the Rosary. And,
oh, what a feast there was - sweets and handmade tamales,
a parade, even a bullfight. At night, fireworks, bursting loud
and bright against the green folds of the mountains. Paid
for, in part, by the money he sends home,” is an example of
which rhetorical device?
A. Logos
B. Ethos
C. Pathos
Quiz Continued
 “She reports that $1 billion out of the $7 billion
raised was distributed to the injured, including
firefighters; a total of 2,680 physical injury
payments made in all.”
This is an example of what rhetorical appeal?
A) Ethos
B) Pathos
C) Logos
Rhetorical Strategies
Terminology
*Repetition
*Parallel Structure
*Rule of Three
*Anecdote
*Examples
Repetition
* A powerful tool that is used to create
emphasis. It helps reinforce a key
idea.
* A strategy that helps the speaker
create a strong impression in the
audience’s memories while reciting
key points.
Example of the power of
Repetition: “I have a dream”
Speech by Martin Luther King
Excerpt of Martin Luther
King’s “I have a dream”
Speech:
“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and
live out to the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these
truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.’”
“I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia,
the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave
owners will be able to sit down together at the table of
brotherhood.”
“I have a dream that one day even the state of
Mississippi, a state with the heat of injustice, sweltering
with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an
oasis of freedom and justice.
Checking for
Understanding
Re-read the excerpt of Martin L. King’s speech, and
answer the following question:
How does the repetition of the words “I have a
dream” affect the message that Mr. King is
delivering in this particular part of the speech?
Explain.
Parallel Structure
*Using the same arrangement of
words to indicate that two or
more ideas have the same level
of importance.
*It adds rhythm, balance and
very important: clarity to the
sentence!
Parallel Structure Continued
*Parallel structure can occur at
the word, phrase or clause
level.
*The most common way to join
parallel structure is through the
use of coordinating
conjunctions, such as: or, and.
Some examples of Parallel
Structure:
*Parallel verbs and adverbs:
-Happily and cautiously he run around the
corner to meet his friends.
*Parallel verbs and direct objects:
-She enjoyed to eat strawberries and to avoid
apples.
*Parallel participial, infinitive, and gerund
phrases:
Now, it is your turn…
The following phrases are not using the “Parallel Structure”
properly; copy them in your notes, and fix them so that they will be
correct:
1)I’ve read about her swimming everyday
and that she runs seven times a week.
2)Mr. Reynolds is responsible for
answering phones, taking notes at
meetings, and he records complaints.
When you are done, take two minutes to compare answers with
your neighbor.
The “Rule of Three”
 A great technique that permits you to
express concepts more thoroughly,
highlights your point, and intensifies the
impact of your message in your
audience.
 The most used element in the “Rule of
Three” is the “Tricolon.”
 The “Tricolon” is a list of three parallel
words or phrases.
The “Rule of Three” in
action:
J.A. Gamache: Toastmasters, 2007:
“A sandal of hope when you reach out.
A sandal of joy when you listen to your heart.
A sandal of courage when you dare to care.”
Abraham Lincoln’s Gettystburg Address:
“We can not dedicate – We can not consecrate –
We can not hallow – this ground”
“Government of the people, by the people, for
the people”
Independent Practice
There are many examples of the use of
the “Rule of Three” in our language, get
together with your neighbor, and think
of one and write down in your paper.
Be ready to share.
Note: If, after trying very hard, you or your
partner cannot think of one, then try to
create your own.
Anecdote
*A short narrative account, or story of a
revealing, interesting, unusual, or
amusing event.
*Some of its uses are: to clarify difficult
points, to create memorable images, or
to create a human connection to the
audience.
Examples of two anecdotes
about famous writers:
Ernest Hemingway
(1899–1961)
Hemingway's son Patrick asked his father to edit a story he
had written. Hemingway went through the manuscript
carefully, then returned it to his son. "But, Papa," cried
Patrick in dismay, "you've only changed one word."
"If it's the right word," said Hemingway, "that's a lot."
Agatha Christie
(1891–1976)
Agatha Christie's second husband, Max Mallowan,
was a distinguished archaeologist who made his
name excavating in Mesopotamia. On her return
with her husband from the Middle East, Miss
Christie was asked how she felt about being
married to a man whose interest lay in antiquities.
"An archaeologist is the best husband any woman
can have," she said. "The older she gets, the more
interested he is in her."
Independent Practice:
Take five minutes to write in your paper a
quick “Anecdote” about an event in
your life that was either revealing,
interesting, or amusing.
When you are done, you will share with
your neighbor.
Examples
*They help the author illustrate his or her
point and make it much more clear and
relatable.
*They help to persuade the audience.
*Some types of examples commonly used by
writers and/or speakers are: statistics, facts,
personal experiences, interviews and
quotes by famous people.
Writing your own example to
prove your point:
First, on your sheet of paper, write whether
you agree or disagree with the following
statement:
It is easy to be influenced by peer-pressure.
Second, give an example that makes your
point clear and that may persuade us that
you are right.