Persuasion

384-322Student of Plato, Teacher of Alexander the

GreatPhilosopherIdeas in The Rhetorics

all men make use, more or less, of both; for to a certain extent all men attempt to discuss statements and to maintain them, to defend themselves and to attack others

Rhetoric may be defined as the faculty of observing in any given case the available means of persuasion.

Aristotle

Of the modes of persuasion furnished by the spoken word there are three kinds. The first kind depends on the personal character of the speaker [ethos]; the second on putting the audience into a certain frame of mind [pathos]; the third on the proof, or apparent proof, provided by the words of the speech itself [logos].

"American Rhetoric: Aristotle's Rhetoric - Selected Moments." American Rhetoric: The Power of Oratory in the United States. Michael E. Eidenmuller. Web. 15 Nov. 2010.

Responsibilities

Must consider:Who (audience and speaker)What (topic, subject, purpose)When ( when due? What length?)Where (occasion)How (visual aids? Format?)

#1: to give accurate information

Before you can make good decisions, or present information, you need to have as much and as accurate information as possible

KNOW YOUR STUFF

Society’s guidelines for right, just and moral behavior

LogosLogic

PathosEmotion

Ethoscredibility

Ethical Standards

Violating ethical standards destroys credibilityIt is unethical for speakers to:

Lie or deceiveDistortEngage in namecallingAttack a person or idea without evidenceDeny the opposition the right to reply

Your goal is to PERSUADE and not MANIPULATEManipulation: the clever or devious

management of facts for your own purpose. (based on unethical distortion of info, withholding key info, presenting ½ truths or purposely misrepresenting ideas and details)

It is the speaker’s responsibility to make sure the message is understood!As long as the listener is doing everything in

his/her power to understand…