Download Intro to Rhetoric

FLC Writing Program / Rhetorical Knowledge
Introduction to Rhetoric
The arts of rhetoric have been practiced for nearly 2,500 years dating back to ancient Greece.
Because rhetoricians have long been concerned with speaking well and advocating causes
relevant to society, rhetoric is often understood as the “art of persuasion.” In the 4th Century
BCE, Aristotle defined rhetoric as “"the faculty of observing in any given case the available
means of persuasion." In 2004, Wayne Booth defined rhetoric as effective communication that
encompasses the “entire range of resources that human beings share for producing effects on one
another.”
Defining rhetoric, however, is not as important as understanding how it functions in—and
changes with—society. Because there are no set rules in rhetoric, rhetoricians must be aware of
the specific situation, or context, in which a conversation takes place in order to better
understand how to be persuasive. For example, funeral speeches are different from marriage
speeches because of the environment in which they take place, so “rhetors” (people who practice
rhetoric) must be aware of their specific contexts. This dynamic nature of rhetoric requires
careful consideration of the environment prior to communication.
“Rhetoricians” (people who study rhetoric) usually refer to the dynamic environments
surrounding communications as the rhetorical situation. By definition, a rhetorical situation is “a
communicative situation that is influenced by words or language.” The rhetorical situation is
composed of several different parts:
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Purpose—The specific change in knowledge, thought, or action the writer desires from
the audience (implicit, explicit)
Audience—Who the writer wishes to reach and persuade (primary, secondary)
Writer—The creator of the text; influenced by her or his own unique personal, cultural,
and educational history
Subject—The topic of inquiry, study, or discussion
Context—The relevant aspects of culture or current events that affect the author’s attitude
and the audience’s perception of the subject
FLC Writing Program / Rhetorical Knowledge
The Communication/Rhetorical Triangle
Consequently, scholars in rhetoric have developed numerous “tools” to help people better
understand context and create more successful texts. One of these tools is rhetorical triangle—a
way to envision the dynamic relationship between author and audience. The rhetorical triangle is
often represented the following way:
Context
Context
Writer/Ethos
Purpose
Subject/Logos
Context
Audience/Pathos
Context
Most importantly, the above diagram—often pictured as a circle and even a rhombus—
demonstrates the dynamic relationships between a writer and reader. For example, different
audiences require different types of evidence. Some people may be more moved by hard facts
(statistics and numbers) while others may want anecdotal evidence like first-hand experience and
more practical examples. It is the rhetor’s job to identify these relationships and make the
necessary adjustments to create successful communication (success being measured by how well
the communication achieves its intended purpose).