Models of Communication

According to Aristotle, certainly the most prominent rhetorical theorist in Ancient Greece and probably the most lasting rhetorical theorist in the Western tradition, an effective speech is made up of three “proofs”—logos, pathos, and ethos. Logos is the speech’s logic, pathos is the speaker’s appeal to the audience’s emotions, and ethos, finally, is “the most authoritative form of persuasion”—one that emerges

Midterm Take Home Examination PART ONE: Five Canons of Rhetoric Rhetoric is the art of effective persuasion through writing and speech. The five canons of rhetoric include ‘Discovery’, ‘Organization’, ‘Style’, ‘Memorization’, and ‘Delivery’. - Discovery - The first canon referred to as ‘Discovery’ has two equivalents. First of which is inventio (in Latin) referring to the invention of an effective mode of persuasion and secondly, heuresis (in Greek) meaning discovery.

Rhetoric is the idea of persuasion. Its basic idea is to influence someone to believe in our idea or help understand the message we are trying to deliver. In our daily life we use rhetoric in many places. This includes verbal communication as well as non-verbal communication such as body language and facial expression. In the workplace it can be used to communicate with people effectively.

In this week’s reading of the “Rhetorical Approaches to College Writing”, the foundations for rhetoric were introduced. The book describes rhetoric as a word with many definitions that all have a commonality. From the reading rhetoric seems to have a way of calling people to action in some distort manner similar to enticement. From the reading three definitions of rhetoric were given by different sources. The first source being from a ancient Greek philosopher who defined rhetoric as, “the faculty of discovering in any particular case all of the available means of persuasion”(RACW pg.3). I learned that for Aristotle the Greek philosopher rhetoric was a means of political engagement in civic life (RACW pg.4). The second source was from another

Along with Aristotle’s philosophical and scientific interests, he was a master of reasoning who proposed many theories still believed and used to this day. Over time, the philosophies he had taught were further expanded, hence Classical Rhetoric; he would write important, detailed texts about the basics of these notable ideas he fathered -- one of which is Rhetoric. In this text, composed of three books and total of sixty chapters, he introduces the rhetorical triangle. Each point in the triangle - ethos, pathos, and logos - holds a certain value in the context of communication, simultaneously influencing the others creating a trilateral relationship. The devices used in classical rhetoric are modern additions to the basic Aristotelian Rhetoric

Based on what I have learned so far in this liberal studies course, the meaning of rhetoric is the use of language to persuade, entertain, inform, or to educate an audience. The writer or author of a particular argument is the individual using rhetoric while the audience is the individuals receiving it.

What is your definition of rhetoric for our 21st century digital world? Is your definition unique? Why? Is rhetoric more persuasion or argument? What is the most important part of rhetoric and why? (You might use different models likeToulmin, Rogerian, civic literacy, and so on to help answer this question.) How is it

Rhetoric is an art of communication that aims at enhancing the capability of writers or speakers who endeavor to persuade, inform or inspire distinct audiences in exceptional scenarios. As a discipline of recognized teaching and a prolific civic application, rhetoric has played a fundamental role in the Western convention. Rhetoric is acknowledged best from the description of Aristotle who regards it as a compliment of both politics and logic, and terms it as the ability to make an observation in any given instance from the accessible means of influence. Unlike other Aristotle works that have been around for ages,

The study of effective writing, speaking and the art of persuasion is known as rhetoric. Throughout time it has preserved its key purpose of educating individuals. Rhetoric not only covers what one could say but also how one might say it. Rhetoric is the use of effective language, which includes pathos, logos, and ethos (Burton). Rhetoric is comprised of five core categories, also known as canons: invention, style, arrangement, delivery, and memory.

This is a one dimensional form of communication. An interactional model provides not only the message sent, but also messagereceived and replied to by the receiver to the sender. A transactional model entails not only the sending and receiving of messages,but also the inclusion of non verbal communications.

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.

In Rhetoric, Aristotle states, “Let rhetoric be [defined as] an ability, in each [particular case], to see the available means of persuasion” (Kennedy, 2007, p. 37). Aristotle is saying that rhetoric is not just the art of persuasion through speech. He was saying that rhetoric is the art of discovering the methods of persuasion available in all situations. This relates to the goal of many figures in the current day political climate. This goal is to discover methods of persuading as many people as possible as often as possible. A politician’s use or rhetoric can be compared to Aristotle’s study of rhetoric in that both utilize the artistic proofs and practice the three species of rhetoric. Aristotle’s definition of rhetoric closely matches the goals of modern politicians, and so rhetoric has become ingrained into our modern day political process.

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.

Plato believed that the purpose of rhetoric should be to inform the audience of what is just and what is unjust, stating that “rhetoric, it seems, effects a persuasion which can produce belief about justice and injustice…” (Plato 18, sec. 455). Seeking “Truth” was the only way to be able to discover what is transcendentally good and beautiful. He realized how dangerous rhetoric could be if it was not used ethically and to pursue the “Good”. This is why his pupil, Aristotle, placed a great importance on the ethos in speeches and writing.