Rhetorical AnalysisRhetorical Analysis&&

Clarity in writingClarity in writing

Eng 105 Th. Oct 13thEng 105 Th. Oct 13th

Your QuestionsYour Questions

Ethos, Pathos, LogosEthos, Pathos, Logos

Do ethos, pathos, and logos need to be related Do ethos, pathos, and logos need to be related to the thesis?to the thesis?

Yes - If you think the author did a good job using Yes - If you think the author did a good job using e/p/l to effectively make their point, you’ll be e/p/l to effectively make their point, you’ll be supporting that claim and giving example from supporting that claim and giving example from that standpoint. that standpoint.

And vice-versa for ineffective argumentsAnd vice-versa for ineffective arguments An argument can be effective but still have some An argument can be effective but still have some

bad points - most will. Don’t hesitate to talk bad points - most will. Don’t hesitate to talk about those.about those.

Lack of ethos, pathos, logosLack of ethos, pathos, logos

What if my paper doesn’t have any What if my paper doesn’t have any ethos/pathos/logos?ethos/pathos/logos?

If there is an argument, there is logos - If there is an argument, there is logos - somewhere. If there is an author, there is somewhere. If there is an author, there is ethos - somewhere. If there are words ethos - somewhere. If there are words other than cold, academic speech - other than cold, academic speech - “obliterated” where something less loaded “obliterated” where something less loaded could be used, that is pathoscould be used, that is pathos

Effective or Ineffective?Effective or Ineffective?

How do I know if an argument is or isn’t How do I know if an argument is or isn’t effective?effective?

Need to put aside personal opinion - that Need to put aside personal opinion - that can easily taint your judgementµcan easily taint your judgementµ

Go by the use of appeals. Is it TOO Go by the use of appeals. Is it TOO emotional? Is ethos as glaring as a emotional? Is ethos as glaring as a president putting on a blue collar shirt and president putting on a blue collar shirt and rolling up his sleeves to appeal to the rolling up his sleeves to appeal to the working class? Or is it legitimate?working class? Or is it legitimate?

Which is easier?Which is easier?

Is it easier to analyze something you Is it easier to analyze something you agree with or something you disagree agree with or something you disagree with?with?

If you agree with it, you will be less likely If you agree with it, you will be less likely to notice problems - “preaching to the to notice problems - “preaching to the choir.”choir.”

If you disagree, you may find flaws where If you disagree, you may find flaws where flaws do not existflaws do not exist

Having problems with EthosHaving problems with Ethos

Anything that makes the author sound Anything that makes the author sound goodgood

Any titles, history, MA MFA PHD, Etc.Any titles, history, MA MFA PHD, Etc. Anywhere the author tries to relate his/her Anywhere the author tries to relate his/her

experiences to the reader’s in any wayexperiences to the reader’s in any way Any words that appeal to a certain groupAny words that appeal to a certain group Words like “us, we, fellow Americans, etc.Words like “us, we, fellow Americans, etc. Conversational tone rather than academicConversational tone rather than academic

FallaciesFallacies

Don’t focus the paper only on fallaciesDon’t focus the paper only on fallacies Talk about fallacies in the Logos/Logical Talk about fallacies in the Logos/Logical

argument section - you may also mention them argument section - you may also mention them near your thesis if the author uses many of them near your thesis if the author uses many of them and it really hurts/helps the paperand it really hurts/helps the paper

They can add to an argument - many effective They can add to an argument - many effective papers use terrible logic. Productive use of papers use terrible logic. Productive use of fallacies is a fine art that has gotten many fallacies is a fine art that has gotten many people into positions of power.people into positions of power.

What if there is very little of What if there is very little of one argument type?one argument type?

There should be at least two of each in There should be at least two of each in your paperyour paper

Talk some about what the author Talk some about what the author shouldshould have done in this casehave done in this case

Talk about how this helped/hurt the Talk about how this helped/hurt the argument - perhaps argument - perhaps notnot appealing to the appealing to the audience helped make a very logical audience helped make a very logical argument more powerful by drawing more argument more powerful by drawing more attention to statisticsattention to statistics

Idea Generation - Length!Idea Generation - Length!

Go through your article Go through your article line by lineline by line before you before you write - mark up a list on the article itself of the write - mark up a list on the article itself of the ethos, pathos, logos, audience, author, tone, ethos, pathos, logos, audience, author, tone, bias, fallacies, argument type, etc.bias, fallacies, argument type, etc.

Don’t force yourself to write sequentially - NO Don’t force yourself to write sequentially - NO great writer/author writes perfectly from “Once great writer/author writes perfectly from “Once upon a time” to “The end.”upon a time” to “The end.”

ForceForce yourself to find yourself to find at leastat least 2-3 examples of 2-3 examples of each appeal. You may think it’s silly, but you each appeal. You may think it’s silly, but you may surprise yourself! may surprise yourself!

Why the hell are we writing Why the hell are we writing this?this?

Critical thinking skillsCritical thinking skills Skills/Ideas will be used in other 105 Skills/Ideas will be used in other 105

paperspapers Skills/Ideas will be used in ALL classes Skills/Ideas will be used in ALL classes

that need papers - and many will.that need papers - and many will. Helps with awareness of media, culture, Helps with awareness of media, culture,

advertising, politics, internet, etc.advertising, politics, internet, etc.

Editing for ClarityEditing for Clarity

P. 339/Section 10 in spiral bound P. 339/Section 10 in spiral bound bookbook

RedundanciesRedundancies

Students living in close proximity in the dorms need to cooperate together if they want to live in harmony.

Students living in the dorms need to cooperate to live in harmony.

RepetitionRepetition

The children enjoyed watching television more than they enjoyed reading books

The children enjoyed watching television more than reading books

Wordy to ConciseWordy to Concise

It is a common desire to use long, academic-sounding phrases in place of single-word alternatives – but in reality, the concise choice is the best choice

At this point in time = Now In order to = To For the purpose of = to In the event that = If

Missing wordsMissing words

Missing words can change the meaning of Missing words can change the meaning of a sentence - make sure subjects, verbs, a sentence - make sure subjects, verbs, etc. all agreeetc. all agree

The gang members neither cooperated The gang members neither cooperated nor listened to the authoritiesnor listened to the authorities

The gang members neither cooperate The gang members neither cooperate withwith not listened to the authoritiesnot listened to the authorities

Misplaced ModifiersMisplaced Modifiers

The hikers watched the storm gathering The hikers watched the storm gathering force from the cabin’s porchforce from the cabin’s porch

Leaking in the basement, I found a pipeLeaking in the basement, I found a pipe From the cabin’s porch, the hikers From the cabin’s porch, the hikers

watched the storm gathering.watched the storm gathering. I found a pipe leaking in the basementI found a pipe leaking in the basement

Be assertiveBe assertive

This seems like it might be an example of This seems like it might be an example of a logical fallacy…a logical fallacy…

This is a logical fallacy.This is a logical fallacy.

Author in the paperAuthor in the paper

Do not use “I”Do not use “I” The paper’s existence implies an author The paper’s existence implies an author

already, as well as an opinionalready, as well as an opinion Therefore, you don’t need “In my opinion” Therefore, you don’t need “In my opinion”

either.either.