Final Exam Flashcards
5 Basic Categories of Speech (canons of rhetoric)
invention, arrangement, style, delivery, memory
Reasoning
falls under the canon of rhetoric called invention
Invention
the material that goes into a speech; content, topics, arguments, and evidence
Logos
the use of evidence and reasoning to support a claim
A well structured argument
data leads to a claim, supported by evidence
Rhetoric
the faculty of observing in any given case the available means of persuasion, stated by Aristotle
Supporting material
the material grounding of an argument that can provide evidence for the argument itself or supplement a claim with vividness, clarity, and emotional salience
Ethos
the speaker’s credibility, strengthened by good support
Facts and statistics
support that provides an empirical or quantitative basis for an argument, a direct way to add authority to claims and position oneself as knowledgable
Critical orientation
helps to prevent flaws in arguments or identify weaknesses in opposing arguments
Definitions
Aimed at establishing common meaning between speaker and audience, Can serve the purpose of: clarity, precision, and persuasion
Clarity
explicitly defining terms
Precision
establishing the ground we intend to defend or setting aside other ground as irrelevant to the debate
Persuasion
carefully controlling the definitions and terms can establish associations that influence credibility or carry emotional weight
Examples
a type of support that illustrates a general category of things by referencing a specific case
Literal analogy
direct comparison between two entities
Analogies
a type of support that makes an unfamiliar topic more accessible by comparing it with a familiar topic
Figurative analogy
indirect comparison between two topic areas
Testimony
A type of support that draws on the knowledge and experience of others to sustain an argument
Expert Testimony
References the specialized knowledge of authorities within a specific discipline
Eyewitness Testimony
Provided by a person with direct experience of a specific event
Lay Testimony
Attempts to represent the thoughts and feelings of everyday people (non experts) on an issue, attempts to establish popular opinion, rather than specialized knowledge or the facts of a case
Narratives
Refers to a story that describes a series of events with a beginning, middle, and end, May be direct nonfictional accounts or fictional allegories of the world around us, Help accentuate central themes
Homo narrans
A theory by Walter R. Fisher surrounding narrative communication that’s states that humans are fundamentally storytelling animals
Narrative probability
Refers to the extent to which a story coheres internally
Narrative fidelity
A test of the extent to which an audience is able to align their own worldview with the oe presented in the narrative
Syllogism
A formal philosophical arrangement that includes a major premise, minor premise, and conclusion, Sets each of these parts out carefully and explicitly in pursuit of a truth that can be defended
Major premise
a universal statement that makes a broad generalization (humans are mortal)
Minor premise
a particular statement that establishes a related specific instance or fact (Socrates is human)
Conclusion
synthesizes the two premises into a validated statement (Socrates is mortal), may contain flaws such as hasty generalizations, stereotyping, or inaccurate premises
Enthymeme
A rhetorical syllogism, a type of syllogism that leaves a key part of its reasoning unstated, meant for public consumption, contains a major premise, minor premise, and conclusion; one or more of its structural components is left to audience supposition
Toulmin Model
Represents the logical layout of arguments in a way that balances the rigid philosophical formalism of the syllogism with the more practical public reasoning of the enthymeme
Claim
Refers to the proposition that the argument seeks to establish, corresponds to the conclusion because it synthesizes the evidence and reasoning of an argument into a single concise and declarative statement
Data or Grounds
Refers to the material support provided to substantiate the claim, Corresponds to the minor premise because it is a narrow statement aimed at establishing particular proofs, Statistics or eyewitness testimony; tangible evidence
Warrant
Justifies the link between the data and the claim using reasoning, Often intangible or abstract and are left implicit or unstated in public arguments, Associated with the major premise because it is a universal statement that ties the particulars of an argument together
Backing
Refers to the quality of either the reasoning underwriting its warrants or the validity of its data, The components and premises of an argument may contain flaws and backing addresses these questions and debates
Qualifier
Specifies the force, scope, or level of certainty that is attributed to the claim, Directed at questions of probability and certainty, Specifications within the wording of a claim that make an argument more narrow, directed, and precise
Rebuttal
Refers to a potential exception or counterarguments to the claim that must be taken into account
Diagnostic reasoning
- A well developed argument benefits from a diversification of support
- Give consideration to the composition of your audience in the earliest stages of argument development
- Consider argumentation form when composing the main points of an outline and then check that these subordinate claims line up with the overarching thesis of the speech
- Give consideration to any fallacies present with our arguments
Voice image
The way that you perceive and believe that others perceive the quality and impact of your voice
Speaking Rate
150-170 wpm is a good target rate of speech for a general audience
Articulation
Refers to the shape that your words take as they are made manifest with your mouth
Pronunciation
whether or not your articulation conforms to the expectations of what is “proper” speech
Volume
how well audiences can hear what you’re saying on a spectrum from quiet to loud
Pitch
how high or low your voice is as you say various words
Inflection
variations in pitch to convey emotional content or meaning in a speech
Darting
the speaker’s eyes cast around the room randomly without a sense of purpose
Meandering
wandering; captures all the different ways that your lower body can create unnecessary and distracting movement during your speech
Fidgeting
Smaller movements that happen with your hands and distract from your speech
Manuscript
Conversational reading of a word-for-word script
Memorization
Word for word recitation without a script
Impromptu
Off-the-cuff with little to no rehearsal and no script or notes
Extemporaneous
A combination of memorized and impromptu, Combining the strengths of the three modes of delivery, Cue cards not manuscript
Ceremonial Speaking
Epideictic = Subject+Value x (Praise or Blame) x Occasion
Value
One word idea or theme that represents a certain set of behaviors or attitudes
Unsanctioned association
Values that are generally not associated with a subject and can make the audience think about new possibilities for connections in their world
Eulogy
A speech given at a funeral or in the case of a deceased memory that is usually in praise of the values that the deceased represents for those who mourn their loss
Toast or Roast
A toast (praise) or rose (blame) encapsulates general kinds of speeches of appreciation such as wedding speeches, after-dinner speeches, tribute speeches, award speeches, nomination speeches
Encomium
Formal expression of praise
Praises a subject that has previously fallen into disrepute
Introduction
A speech about yourself or someone else
Rhetorical schemes
Figures of speech that deal with altering word order from the usual sense in order to draw attention to language or foster new associations.
Antithesis
contrary ideas expressed in a balanced sentence. It can be a contrast of opposites
Chiasmus
involves a specific inversion of word order. It involves taking parallelism and deliberately turning it inside out, creating a “crisscross” pattern.
Asyndeton
using no conjunctions to create an effect of speed or simplicity
Polysyndeton
using many conjunctions to achieve an overwhelming effect
Climax
arrangement in order of increasing importance
Bathos
the opposite of climax.
Tmesis
intentionally breaking a word into two parts for emphasis.
Anaphora
repetition of beginning clauses
Rhetorical Figures
Sometimes called “figures of thought” because instead of changing the associations among words in arrangement or order, they change the image evoked by the word choice itself
Metaphor
the substitution of one thing for another
Periphrasis
substitution of a descriptive word or phrase for a proper name or of a proper name for a quality associated with the name
Litotes
the opposite of hyperbole
Prosopopoeia
giving voice to absent or deceased people
Paradox
statement that is self-contradictory on the surface yet seems to evoke a truth, nonetheless
Synecdoche
a whole is represented by naming one of its parts or vice versa
