Rhetorical Devices

Rhetorical Devices

Unit 4: Argument

Rhetorical Appeals

• Writers use rhetorical appeals to make an argument more persuasive.

• In this section, you’ll learn about three rhetorical appeals: ethos, logos, and pathos.

• These rhetorical appeals rely on creditability, logic, and emotions. 

Well-written argumentative essays frequently use all three rhetorical appeals to present strong and compelling cases to readers.

Video Explanation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gf81d0YS58E

Multiple Choice

_______ make a reliable argument more persuasive.

• False dilemmas

• Hasty generalizations

• False analogies

• Rhetorical devices

Multiple Choice

Which phrase uses the rhetorical device logos?

• Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies;

• all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these States.

• let facts be submitted to a candid world.

• by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.

Multiple Choice

Which phrase uses the rhetorical device pathos?

• that all men are created equal, endowed with certain fundamental rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

• governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.

• governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.

• that mankind is more disposed to suffer, while injustices are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence best demonstrates the use of an emotional appeal in the adapted excerpt from John F. Kennedy's "Inaugural Address"?

• For I have sworn before you the same oath our forebears recommended nearly a century and three quarters ago.

• The world is very different now.

• And yet the same revolutionary beliefs that our forebears fought for are still an issue in the world today; the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state but from our intended purpose.

• We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that first revolution.

Multiple Choice

Which rhetorical appeal includes an appeal to logic?

• Logos

• Ethos

• Pathos

• Rhetoric

Multiple Choice

What is the purpose of a rhetorical device?

• to create a strong argument in an essay

• to demonstrate strong command of language in writing

• to prepare the audience to take action

• to support the credibility of the writer

Multiple Choice

Which statement best describes the pathos rhetorical strategy?

• is based on writer's credibility

• is based on a set of principles

• uses emotional language for effect

• uses facts for support of the claim

Logical Fallacies

• While working to convince or persuade readers to agree with an opinion or stance on some topic, a writer may end up using flawed logic to prove the point.

• Arguments with such errors in reasoning are known as logical fallacies.

Ad Hominem

• Ad hominem refers to a writer criticizing the character of the person or people who propose an opposing idea instead of debating the actual argument

• Example: Students should protest the principal’s policy on after-prom parties because he's too old to understand what teenagers want.

False Analogy

• Writers use false analogy when they compare two ideas that are neither similar nor connected. 

• This approach is meant to divert the reader’s attention from the main topic. 

• Example: Investing in the stock market is like gambling in a casino. There’s no guarantee that you’ll profit.

Hasty Generalization

• Writers use hasty generalization when they make broad conclusions based on inadequate information.

• Example: High school students often argue that the school day should start later so they can sleep in. John and Elsie are high school students. Therefore, they think the school day should start later.

Red Herring

• Writers use red herrings to distract readers from the original topic. 

• They present new, irrelevant, or unconnected ideas.

• Example: Yes, the president has made some mistakes during his term. Our former presidents made mistakes too. Making mistakes is only human and it is a good practice to forgive people.

Straw Man

• A writer uses a straw man argument in an essay by setting up and attacking an opposing argument that was never put forth by others.

• Example: They want to allocate more funds to healthcare and education. I don’t understand why they are so unpatriotic that they would cut funds for the military and leave this nation defenseless.

False Dilemma

• In a false dilemma, the writer presents readers with only two choices for solving a problem (in reality, many different solutions may exist). 

• Example: Spending time studying in the library every day after school is better than never cracking a book.

Understatement

• Writers use understatement to present important information as though it is less important than it is.

• Example: We might have to spend a little money cleaning up after the river floods.

Multiple Choice

It is true that the city council did approve a tax for a new road

construction project. However, our city needs to attract more businesses to stabilize our economy.

• Red Herring

• False Dilemma

• False analogy

• Ad hominem

Multiple Choice

Increasing our city's debt to improve our roads is better than

letting all our cars be destroyed because of all the pot holes.

• Red Herring

• False Dilemma

• False Analogy

• Ad Hominem

Multiple Choice

Driving to work instead of using public transportation is like not

eating everything on your plate. It wastes valuable resources.

• Red herring

• False dilemma

• False analogy

• Ad hominem

Multiple Choice

Our current mayor has been in politics for over 25 years. It is time

that we have a younger mayor, so we can have fresh ideas to make our city better.

• Red herring

• False dilemma

• False analogy

• Ad hominem

Multiple Choice

Read the sentences:

Race car drivers drive aggressively. Marsha is a racecar driver. Therefore, Marsha drives aggressively.

What type of fallacy is used to describe Marsha?

• Ad hominem

• False analogy

• Hasty generalization

• Straw man

Multiple Choice

Why do authors use red herrings?

• to represent the views of an opponent in a falsely negative way

• to present readers with only two choices for handling a situation

• to distract readers from a weak argument by turning them away from the original topic

• to support a broad conclusion based on a small amount of information