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Introduction to
Rhetorical Theory
A Perspective into Rhetorical Analysis
Aristotle
• Born in 384 B.C.E in northern
Greece.
• Studied under Plato.
• Rumored to have tutored
Alexander the Great.
• Organized the Lyceum, special
school of thought in Athens until
323.
Rhetoric refers to…
• the art of finding and analyzing all
the choices involving language that
a writer, speaker, reader, or listener
might make in a situation so that
the text becomes meaningful,
purposeful, and effective for
readers or listeners.
• the specific features of texts,
written or spoken, that cause them
to be meaningful, purposeful, and
effective for readers or listeners in a
situation.
The Rhetorical Situation, or the
Aristotelian Triangle
Subject
Context (Exigence/Need)
Purpose
Audience
Speaker
The Rhetorical Appeals
Tools for Persuasive Language
• Ethos
• An appeal to authority and credibility
• Logos
• An appeal to logic and reason
• Pathos
• An appeal to the emotions
Ethos
Logos
Logos = Syllogisms and
Enthymemes
Syllogism: Major Premise + Minor Premise =
Conclusion vs. Informal Logic (gray area)
Ex.: All humans beings are mortal.
Socrates is a human being.
Therefore, Socrates is mortal.
Enthymeme = Syllogisms – Major or Minor
Premise.
Ex.: Socrates is a human being. Therefore,
Socrates is mortal.
Pathos
Organization/Structure/Form
Ethos
• Diction
• Tropes: artful diction; the use of
language in a nonliteral way; also
called figure of speech
• Syntax
• Schemes: a pattern of words or
sentence construction used for
rhetorical effect
Organization/Structure/Form
Pathos
• Imagery: Vivid use of language that
evokes a reader’s senses (sight,
smell, taste, touch, hearing).
• Figurative Language: The use of
tropes or figures of speech; going
beyond the literal meaning to
achieve literary or rhetorical effect.