EXAM 301 Flashcards
Rhetor
Person who produces and uses rhetoric
Rhetorical Critic
Person who analyzes and critiques rhetoric
Artifacts
AKA “text” is the tangible evidence of a particular rhetorical act. Rhetorical acts and artifacts reproduced by rhetoric
Rhetorical act
Delivering a speech. Artifacts would be the video of the speech.
Rhetorician
Someone who produces and analyzes rhetoric
Rhetoric
Refers to persuasive discourses, written and oral, encountered face to face or through electronic print media that seek to affect attitudes and actions
5 characteristics of Rhetoric
It is propositional, addresses problems and conflicts, addressed to an audience, is pragmatic, is poetic.
- Rhetoric is propositional
It involves assembling thoughts/words/symbols into propositions and arguments and/or makes judgement about some matter
- Rhetoric Addresses problems & conflicts
It directly or indirectly gives advice, offers an opinion or makes judgement about a matter
- Rhetoric is addressed to an audience
Or audiences and deal with matters of common concern
- Rhetoric is pragmatic
It senses a practical response to an actual issue
Rhetoric is poetic
Style impacts influence
Naming
A process of ordering the world and focuses an individual’s attention. A name is not a label for one thing, rather a group or category of similar things
Role of the critic:
- a human engaged in qualitative study of human social processes
- engages in thoughtful analysis
- to expose strengths and weaknesses of a message
- to understand why some messages aren’t persuasive to some people
- to understand the message we disagree with ARE persuasive to others
Rhetorical Criticism
A qualitative research method that is designed for the systematic investigation and explanation of symbolic acts and artifacts for the purpose of understanding rhetorical processes and sociopolitical practices
4 Steps of doing all Rhetorical Criticism:
- Select an artifact
- Analyze the artifact
- Formulate a research question
- Write an Essay
Selecting Artifacts can be
Any piece of communication (written, oral, visual) that uses symbols (words, sounds, images) in ways that might influence audiences.
When analyzing an artifact
Read/watch/listen to your artifact at least once before you do anything else - get a full sense of what is happening
When formulating a strong research question:
It is the guiding question that shapes the focus of your essay
- they should be specific, but not too specific
- should be answered by your thesis statement/central argument
Writing the Essay (Components)
INTRO:
- opening paragraph, description of artifact, description of method
BODY/ANALYSIS:
- explains what you discovered when applying method based on your RQ
CONCLUSION:
- summarize & synthesize your analysis, end with memorable closing
4 Key Elements of Good Criticism
Justification, reasoning, insight, coherence
Justification
Your claims about the artifact must be supported by textual evidence/data
Reasoning
Show readers how you’re using evidence/data from the artifact to make claims
Insight
Your analysis should offer interesting, insightful interpretations that use method/perspective to teach readers something they wouldn’t otherwise see
Coherence
Your analysis should be written, organized and presented in a way that is mechanically, stylistically and structurally sound
What types of artifacts are most appropriate for new Aristotelian Criticism?
SPEECHES ARE BEST
5 canons of new Aristotelian Criticism:
Invention, Organization/Arrangement, Style, Delivery, Memory
- Invention
How were arguments constructed using particular persuasive & what are the likely effects of those appeals.
3 appeals in the canon of invention are
Ethos, Pathos, Logos
Ethos
Speakers credibility, character, morality, good will, intellect
Pathos
Appeals to emotion
Logos
What are the speaker’s main claims, and how are these claims supported with evidence and reasoning (inductive reasoning: specific examples to make gen claim, deductive reasoning: use general principle to make specific claims)
Enthymemes
Syllogism that leave a major premise unstated for audiences to infer
- Organization/Arrangement
What structure was used to arrange arguments/ideas in this speech and why?
- Style
What words choices were significant & why, what stylistic devices were used & why, what are the overall stylistic characteristics?
- Delivery
What verbal and Nonverbal elements of the speaker’s delivery were significant and why
- Memory
How well does the speaker seem to know/recall the info and details presented.
Critiques of Neo Aristotelian Criticism:
It’s purpose was to see if a speech had intended effect on audience to persuade them.
FLAW: people can flawlessly lie and it would be good still
3 types Aristotelian/Greek theories of speeches
Forensic, Deliberative and Epideictic
Forensic Speech
Concerned with past actions; purpose is to accuse or defend, focus arguments on justice/injustice
Deliberative Speech
Concerned with the future; purpose is to urge audiences to do or not to do something, focus on good/bad/right/wrong
Epideictic Speech
Concerned with the present; purpose is to praise/blame/entertain; focuses on virtues and vices
Rhetorical Situation (Bitzer)
Do situations compel particular types of rhetoric or does rhetoric construct the situation to which it responds?