Art of Rhetoric: Part 1

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Art of Rhetoric: Part 1
Topic Started: Jan 3 2009, 01:35 PM (202 Views)
Yves	Jan 3 2009, 01:35 PM Post #1
Le Marteau Velouté Posts: 1,189 Group: =SB= Newscaster Member #1,933 Joined: August 14, 2007 Gender: Male Favorite System: Game Cube Favorite Sonic Game: Sonic R Current Mood: Complaisant / Lonely	The Art of Rhetoric Part one Two weeks ago, your family had two functional cars, had being the operative word. Your parents, naive idealists that they are, made the mistake of lending you one of those two cars, and it is now a somewhat less than functional piece of scrap that, from the right angle, might resemble the proud Lexus Sliver it once was. Now, the love of your life is throwing what will probably be the biggest party since 1964, and you have to show up in the Corvette. There is simply no other option that will leave you with any scrap of self-respect. Problem? The Corvette is infamous car #2, and your parents are rather fond of it. So, how do you get the car? Chances are, you don't, but this situation reflects one that you probably go through almost every day of your life. You want something from another person, and you have to choose how to go about it. Perhaps it's as simple as saying please when you ask for the orange juice, or as extreme as offering to pay for the Sliver's repairs, but whatever the case is, you are probably using elements of good rhetoric, and, more than likely, some elements of the bad. Aristotle defined rhetoric as “the art of discovering all the available means of persuasion in any given situation.” Translated, rhetoric is the way you get people to think the way you do. You think that you ought to be allowed to go to the party in the Corvette, and you will use rhetoric to convince your parents of the same. Rhetoric is an indispensable part of daily life, and if you master it, it can make you a better friend, better lover, better leader, and better follower. It not only allow you to get what you want more often, but it sharpens your ability to think logically, and it forces you to empathize with other people by considering their point of view. It is a skill of introversion and extroversion, a tool which sharpens your abilities and, to a degree, your character. This guide will cover the basic concepts of rhetoric, as they have classically been understood. It will discuss the psychology of argument, the basic thesis, and the three elements of rhetoric. Part two will cover types of propositions and how and when to use them, syllogisms and enthymemes, and some logical fallacies. Part three will cover persuasive essays, policy debates, value debates, and the major types of speeches. Shortly following this guide, I will write a series on formal debate, which will draw heavily from this guide. A. The Psychology of Argument The psychology of argument refers to three elements of an argument which are almost always present in a good piece of rhetoric, and the order they come in. The first element is a statement of the case. Getting back to th example at the start, you might say, “Now dad, there's this party at Stephanie's house, and I'd really like to go, but I'd have to drive, and the only car available is the Corvette.” You lay out the thesis, in this case that you ought to be allowed to go to the party in the Corvette, plain and simple, with as little argument as possible. That comes later. Next, you state any arguments that could be made against your case, the cons to your side. If they are irrefutable, you say so or leave them out, although if there is an irrefutable con so strong that you'd choose to leave it out, you may want to consider revising your thesis. For instance, perhaps you really don't deserve to go to the party? Assuming you don't come to that conclusion, you might say, “Now, I know I wrecked the Lexus, and it's true that I was irresponsible. I should have waited for the roads to clear up.” This is sometimes called softening the opposition, by finding common ground or fault on your side which all parties can agree on. Importantly, never save any con for the end of your case. If you're going to mention it, mention it early on. The order should almost always be case, cons, refutations and rebuttals, your case, ending with your strongest argument. The next and final step is to refute the case made against you, and to put forward your own points. Again, you might say, “But, you know, the roads were very icy, and there were a lot of responsible drivers who did wreck. Even Mrs. Garcia, and you know how strict she is, said that it could have happened to anyone. I agreed to go to the party before the wreck, and I can't let everyone down. I'm willing to help pay for the damages to the first car, and... you know, I really do feel guilty, and I want to earn your trust again, but how can I do that I never have a second chance?” You start by refuting the case made against you, if you can. Then, you bring up your own reasoning, ending on your strongest point. You will probably still not get the car, but you will have a significantly better chance than if you came bawling in with “Damn it dad, all the other kids in school are going! Why can't you just trust me for once?” Organization, humility, and reason are far better weapons than mere emotion. B. The Basic Thesis The basic thesis is probably the simplest part of this guide, but it is among the most important. A thesis is the central proposition to any persuasive piece. A proposition, as we will discuss in much greater depth in part two, is a statement, which can be true or untrue. “Some cats are black,” is technically a proposition. “All cats ought to be black,” is also a proposition. In any formal debate, and indeed in most argument, one central “ought” proposition of action is the center of the argument. “I ought to be allowed to go to the party.” “The United States ought to leave Iraq.” “The British government ought to make trick or treating illegal.” These are theses. A good thesis is a proposition that you can defend that a reasonable number of people will disagree with. Often times, your thesis will be provided for you. “I want orange juice.” Thesis: “You ought to pass me the orange juice.” “Global Warming is destroying our planet. A reduction in carbon emissions will reduce that destruction. The United States can reduce carbon emissions by building nuclear plants.” Thesis: “The United States ought to substantially expand its nuclear energy program.” This latter is the kind of proposition you will find in policy debate. In some cases, your thesis may not be given to you. You may be asked to write a paper on the usefulness of plaster walls, or the effects of the French Revolution on Russia. In such cases, creating your own thesis can prove a challenge. For now, I will assume that your thesis is given. Formulating your own thesis will be covered in Part 3, under the persuasive essay. C. The Three Elements of Persuasion. As a rhetorician, you can usually lump any given argument, or element of an argument, into one of three categories. The first, and most important element, is called logos, or logic. This is essentially the thinking, reasoned part of the argument, based on fact and empirical evidence. In the case of our running argument, “lots of other responsible drivers wrecked,” might be an element of logos. One thing to understand is that just because something is factual does not make it logical. For instance, “all the other kids are going,” might be a true statement, but it does not necessarily imply that you are going. We'll do a lot more with this at the end of the guide, but for now, just think of logos as the thinking part of your argument. The second element is called pathos, or emotion. The pathos of your argument is chiefly concerned with the emotions of your audience, not their thoughts. If used correctly, this can be among the most powerful means of persuasion. Humans, for better or worse, are generally emotional creatures, driven by feeling. Think about the last election. Were people usually driven by the cold hard thoughts about redistributive economic programs or the economic workings of America's capitalist system, or were they moved by the inspirational talk of change, or the sentimentality associated with an old Vietnam veteran, or the horror of “socialism,” and fear of economic collapse? The best example from our running argument probably comes from the last argument, “I just want the chance to prove that you can trust me, dad.” Granted, some dads would be sickened (knowing your audience is half the battle), but with the right kind of man, this appeal, shrouded in a logical argument, will bring a tear to his eye. This is a very important element to pathos: Your appeal to emotion must be made subtly, always under the guise of logic. Saying things like, “isn't it sad that these kittens don't have a home? Doesn't it make you want to cry?” is not nearly as effective as, “These animals, cruelly turned out by their old masters, are going to die on the streets if no one will offer them a home.” The logic is clear—Homeless kittens die. You can offer kittens a home. Therefore you can prevent dead kittens. Still, the real substance of this argument is not in the logic. It is in the emotion that underlies that argument. The third element is called ethos, most closely translated to reputation. This has to do with your audience's preconception of you, your argument, and your opponent. Let's say that you are listening to an argument about the death penalty, and you happen to know that the affirmative side (the side advocating change, in this case that the DP should be banned), is on Death row. Might he have some ulterior incentive to convince you that the DP is unethical, even if that is not really what he believes? Because of his reputation, you are immediately on guard toward his argument, and he's at a disadvantage before the debate even begins. Or, let's take a positive case. Let's suppose that you are listening to a debate on Anthropogenic Global Warming, and one of the debaters introduces himself as an expert on weather, who has been studying the climate for the past twenty years, and is noted by the scientific community as being a leader in the field of climate change. Might you trust him more than the Green Party chairman who might have a major in English? A common trick in rhetoric is to appeal to the ethos of someone other than yourself. For instance, I might, in arguing a point on the forum, bring up an old quote from Bliz or Cy which agrees with my point of view. Then, it is no longer just Yves who is making the argument, with his minuscule newscaster ethos, it is Blizshadow, or Cyfox, the prestigious administrators. Similarly, if you are arguing on a scientific or technical topic on which you have few qualifications, it is usually a good idea to appeal to an expert other than yourself. For instance, in giving criticism to a piece of writing, rather than giving my own opinions, I will often give a quote from some prestigious writing guide, so that the advice does not rely on my reputation, but on the reputation of, say, E.B. White. This brings me to another point on both ethos and pathos: It is extremely bad rhetoric to make it obvious that you are making any non-logical appeal. Although neither ethos nor pathos are inherently faulted means of persuasion, the audience which recognizes them will often feel manipulated, and they resent this, even though it is the sole purpose of persuasion. For instance, before I made this guide, appealing to the ethos of our administrators might have helped me convince you. Now that you're all aware of exactly what I'm doing, that particular appeal will lose alot of its thunder. “Aha!” you will say, “He's making the ethical appeal!” This is one major reason to study rhetoric, because not only will you be able to use these elements in your own arguments, bat you will be able to recognize them in any argument you read. So, the trick to establishing good ethos, much like pathos, is to do it subtly, and logically. For establishing your own reputation, perhaps you bring up your qualifications to explain why you are speaking. “Well, I've been working on this project for about twenty years now, with my associate Dr. Wlenski, and tonight, I've been asked to come here and share what I've learned with you,” can be an excellent way to start an argumentative speech. In summary, all three elements of rhetoric are extremely important. Without logic, your argument is empty, thoughtless, and probably wrong. This is the center: Have you thought your case through, and can you think clearly enough to communicate it clearly? After that, create for yourself a good reputation, and kindle their emotions, and you'll be on your way.



BlizShadow	Jan 3 2009, 05:07 PM Post #2
Who I'll be, nobody knows! Posts: 4,368 Group: =SB= Queens Member #6,722 Joined: March 16, 2008 Gender: Female Favorite System: N64 Favorite Sonic Game: Sonic Unleashed Current Mood: Chillin'	xD This is definitely not a guide I should be reading if the complaints about my argumentative side are any indication. But nevertheless, it was a good read and easy to understand. It made me more aware of the construction of an argument (I'm honestly used to just writing whatever comes to mind), so I'll be more critical of my own arguments from now on and hopefully I'll benefit from it. I can't wait for more entries.
	Bliz's Sonic Game FAQs are comprehensive and always up-to-date. If you have a question about a release date, want to find a video or piece of art, or are curious for any new information, always look here first! Current: Sonic Colors -- Sonic The Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 -- Sonic Free Riders Old: Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games -- Sonic and the Black Knight


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