Download The Rhetorical Triangle: Understanding the Design of an Effective

The Rhetorical Triangle: Understanding the Design of an Effective Argument
Reference: http://youtu.be/LwOTGeRwQqY
Aristotle argued that rhetoric, or argument, is an art-from. Essentially, talented “artists” follow a
basic formula when creating successful arguments. We have already learned some of this
formula. For example, you are familiar with the concept of argument, so you should have an
understanding of the stasis process. Simply put, you can analyze another person’s argument
using the four stasis questions, paying special attention to the argument’s audience, purpose(s),
occasion(s), kind(s), etc. Now we are going to discuss the different kinds of appeals used in an
effective argument.
Appeal, in its simplest form, is the way, or ways, the writer engages his/her audience. There are
three appeals outlined by Aristotle: pathos, ethos, and logos.
LOGICAL APPEAL- WRITER
ATTEMPTS TO REACH HIS/HER
AUDIENCE THROUGH
PRESENTATION OF FACTS,
CREDIBLE TESTIONY, SPECIFIC
EXAMPLES. THIS APPEAL INVITES
THE AUDIENCE TO SEE THE
ARGUMENT AS REASONABLE.
APPEAL TO CREDIBLITY – WRITER
ATTEMPTS TO COME ACROSS AS
TRUSTWORTHY; OFTEN RELIES ON
SHARED VALUES AND IDEAS TO
ACCOMPLISH THIS.
EMOTIONAL APPEAL –
GENERATES EMOTIONS THAT
THE WRITER HOPES WILL LEAD
THE AUDIENCE TO ACCEPT A
CLAIM.
Exercise: Let’s begin by watching something beautiful and analyzing its triangle for appeals.
Click on the link below and watch the video. Try to determine what argument the creator of this
argument is presenting…remember, everything is an argument.
Britain’s Got Talent Hungarian Shadow Dancing
http://youtu.be/t3VoLN5j35U
Ask yourself…what is the argument?
PATHOS:
 Ask yourself, why is it difficult to describe why and how this a powerful message? Why
do you think pathos might be tricky to explain to someone else?
 How do we know it works? How could you make another person agree with you?
 Why is pathos the strongest appeal in this argument’s triangle?
LOGOS:
 Ask yourself, how does the organization and presentation of this message help me to
understand it in a way most people would understand it?
 What would happen if the structure of the message was changed? For example, what if
the dancers simply stood still and told us the message directly? What would be lost and
gained in the message’s presentation?
 Why islogos the weakest appeal in this argument’s triangle?
ETHOS:
 Consider what the judges on the panel say after the presentation. Is this a separate
argument? What is the argument?
 Why is the judges’ panel a good example of ethos?
 Who has the most credibility (ethos) among the panel of judges? Why?
Occasion
Now, let’s put this all together.
Let’s talk about how we see this
Plan works 
Audience
Purpose
Kinds of argument
Exigency