How Rhetoric Affected My Life

Rhetoric? What do we use rhetoric for? Most of the time, we use rhetoric to persuade a type of audience. For instance, when we stare at advertisements on the road or on TV, those are considered rhetoric’s since it persuades us to do, go, or buy a certain thing that appeals to us. Rhetoric has also been seen in writing. An example would be the Declaration of Independence, but one writing piece that I want to talk about is; Thomas Paine’s, “Common Sense.”

Rhetoric seems like a big word but the meaning is simple- persuasion. In the book Julius Caesar, Antony and Brutus, two major characters, are fantastic at persuading the Roman citizens. When one is reading the story, they might think that both have equal amounts but when you look closer, Antony has the better rhetoric strategies. In just a few short sentences, Antony convinced the people to believe that Caesar needed revenge even though he never came out and told them that. Just a couple of minutes ago, the citizens were on Brutus’s side and thought that Caesar needed to go.

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, rhetoric is defined as “the art of speaking as a means of communication or persuasion”. In other words, rhetoric is the way a speaker convinces an audience to approach a given issue from a preferred perspective. Speakers may utilize the following appeals to win the audience's favor: ethos, logos, and pathos. Ethos refers to the speakers incorporation of the audience’s ethical responsibilities. A speaker also uses ethos to establish credibility. Logos is the speaker’s use of logic and reasoning by a way of factual evidence. Lastly, a speaker may use pathos to engage the audience's emotions. Dr. Martin Luther

Rhetoric gives you an avenue to tell a story from your perspective in a way that connects with the intended audience without having to be one hundred percent substantiated. This writing style is evident in almost everything we read from billboards to Internet ads and even political speeches.

Rhetoric is something that at least everyone uses in his or her everyday life. Rhetoric can be used in the form of social media, politics and even making the decision on how you are going to communicate. In the Youtube video titled In Defense of Rhetoric: No Longer Just for Liars, Professor, Dr. Ann George states rhetoric as how we persuade each other or how we make arguments. George believes we can do this by the words we use, the gestures we make and the facial appeals that can break down the language and encourage the argument one might be making.

Rhetoric “...surrounds you,” (Heinrichs, 4) in daily life. Teaching rhetoric in schools could help students recognize how to apply rhetoric and when rhetoric is used. When my mom encourages my siblings to do their homework, she appeals to their logical sense. When they ask for more time to relax before they do their homework, she tells them that if they complete their homework, they can have time to relax and do as they please.

The Art of Rhetoric is when a speaker or author tries to persuade a specific audience to their point of view. The Art of Rhetoric can be found in many places: advertisements, documentaries, commercials, politicians on the campaign trail, and even teenagers trying to get out of trouble. The Art of Rhetoric consists of Ethos, Logos, and Pathos.

One time, I was sitting at a concert wondering when the band will walk out on stage. Suddenly, the lights went off and a piano began playing a set of chords. Seconds later, two guitar players joined the piano playing the same melody, causing the crowd to rise in excitement. The drums played the final opening notes, then the main singer sprang forth singing the lyrics to the song that the entire crowd knew by heart. When the individual parts of a song are used together correctly and at the right time, the audience will always have a positive reaction. Similar to a song, rhetoric is most effectively perceived when every technique is used correctly. Rhetoric is the strategies writers and speakers use when they want to have a strong,

Rhetoric is simply a form of communication -- a way to persuade, inform, or entertain someone with your words.

Rhetoric is a course in which students are taught the values of persuasion. And yet, behind this course is the utmost power to corrupt the world, changing it into a world of our own policies. This power, even though seldom discussed, has lead to many intriguing discoveries. One such discovery is how people are able to shape the world they live in simply by choosing the right words. Therefore those who would want the world to be a better place must protect this power. If in the wrong hands this power could cause serious damage. Several authors have striven to protect rhetoric and its power. Few agree on the matter of defining rhetoric, but they know that they must protect rhetoric from dark souls. A single definition of rhetoric must maintain a simplistic nature while incorporating every aspect of rhetoric. However, I argue that rhetoric is a means of persuading audiences of a situation and a particular reality through language and personal appeal. In order to prove this definition I will discuss how rhetoric creates a situation, the shaping of a different reality, the audience, the use of language, and the personal appeal. Finally, I will demonstrate the absolute need for rhetoric.

As human beings we are always communicating with one another whether it be through speech, writing, et cetra. However, when we communicate there is usually some kind of meaning we are trying to convey or a point we are trying to get across. In order to do so effectively and persuasively, one should use the art of rhetoric. So what is rhetoric? In consideration of Aristotle, Plato, Bitzer and Burke’s theories, rhetoric is the use of language to persuade an audience, within a given situation, to take action they believe to be ethical.

Every day, students are surrounded by arguments, in the commercials they see that manipulate them into buying products to the arguments with their parents over who has to take out the trash. Rhetoric is present in all of conversations, for it's what gives words their power. To put it in the words of Jay

In Gorgias by Plato, Socrates questions and stands his ground on the disadvantages of Rhetoric. Like Socrates, I believe that Rhetoric is a progressive form of language used to enhance one’s self by convincing others of their perspective and gain something in return for it, and that it shouldn’t be used because Rhetoric is dangerous to use to any person who could potentially use it for the wrong purpose.

Webster’s dictionary contains a very simple definition for rhetoric, describing it as merely a usage of words in order “to influence or persuade” (Thank Your For Arguing, page xiii). Heinrichs refuses to limit the word to such a basic description. He expands upon the definition, “It teaches us to argue without anger...it offers a chance to tap into a source of social power I never knew existed.” (Thank You For Arguing, page xiii). Heinrichs sees rhetoric as more than a gardening tool, he sees it as the gateway towards being able to build a garden.

Firstly, what is Rhetoric and how has it helped civilization through out history? before talking about the importance of rhetoric, I need to probe deep into the history of rhetoric and define it before coming to the conclusion on why it is important.