Reading question 7 (pg 107 -111) Flashcards
The Message in Rhetoric
What is the message of Rhetorical discourse?
The product of intentional persuasion. Part of communication that employs strategies in order to achieve a specific purpose. ( to understand, implement and recognize such persuasive component of rhetoric to act more effectively and make better judgements)
The Message in Rhetoric
Reasoning
Use of Reasons to Defend or arrive at conclusion. “There are dark clouds on the horizon” because “it will rain today” Tied with the process of argument.
The Message in Rhetoric
Deductive Reasoning
A specific conclusion that follows from a more general principle. Universal truth and apply it to a particular situation to assist in prediction, definition, or control. “All humans are mortal” therefore, I conclude that I, too, will someday die because i’m human.
The Message in Rhetoric
Inductive Reasoning
Induction is the opposite of Deduction: Rather than moving from general to particular, it moves from particular to general: Taste of one sour lemon, therefore all lemons are sour. Rhetoric, retors use inductive whenever they point to repeated instances of a thing or event as an indicator of a more general condition.
105-107 : The Message in Rhetoric
Casual Reasoning:
When we are encouraged to act based upon a cause-and-effect analysis. “Put on a coat, cus if you don’t , you will catch a cold”. Argue for actions because of the pragmatic consequences.
Relies on expert testimony for accuracy.
The Message in Rhetoric
Analogical Reasoning
To understand one situation by showing its similarities with another situation. “this reminds me of the time when…” to understand one situation by drawing parallels with another, more familiar one.
Rhetors use it to argue for or against actions based on their success or failure in past situations. “this is another Vietnam” “He’s another Hitler”
The Message in Rhetoric
Fallacies
Result of reasoning gone bad. “invalid” forms or reasoning. Distorted forms of normal reasoning that rely on exaggeration to produce persuasive effects. Political rhetors rely more on fallacies bc public audiences find fallacies easier to understand, more interesting to hear, and more persuasive to act upon. Scientist can give a scientific reason, but we quote the hillbilly that says “close border or abandon national security”.
The Message in Rhetoric
Fallacies: Either/Or
Most powerful. Presenting two clear but completely opposite alternatives: Eliminates gray area; black and white choices. “we must either defend liberty or tyranny will reign” “ you are either a patriot or a traitor” . Polarization example
The Message in Rhetoric
Fallacies: Bandwagon
Jump on the bandwagon. Encourages an audience to do something simply because a majority of other people is doing it. Not often happens “Believe it, everyone else does” But used in politics to advocate principle or position “American Spirit” “will of the people” Fallacy is that popularity does not equal legitimacy.
The Message in Rhetoric
Fallacies: Ad hominem
“Against the Man” argumentative strategy that undermines opposing positions by attacking the personal character of their advocates rather than their positions. “ Attacks assault a competitor’s ethos to make them lack credibility. “because he had an extramarital affair, lied on taxes, and drunk driving, then his policies are not legit.” so essentially False Causes that the rhetor and audience don’t like and find convenient to blame. When blaming a group of people, its called Scapegoating. the effects are positive and the causes are identified directly with the actions of the rhetor and his staff.
The Message in Rhetoric
Emotional Appeal
Emotions are intrinsically connected with tour personal and physical states of well-being. Where reasoning reflects our capacity to think logically about abtract ideas that may be distant from our personal experience, emotions embody our tendency to feel passionately about the people, events, objects, or ideas that immediately concern us. Instead of telling people to “ feel hope for the future” one can say “ we will struggle to the mountaintops to breathe in the crisp air of freedom” . Uses graphic examples to inspire emotions that make an audience turn away from one thing and towards another.
The Message in Rhetoric
Metaphor
Define one thing by directly comparing it to something seemingly unrelated but which nonetheless shares some essential quality. To say “ That man is a lion” is not to literally call him a lion, but to say that he shares similar qualities of a lion.
