Introduction to Rhetoric

The History of Rhetoric

Rhetoric is the art of persuasion, or the ability to convince others to do or believe something. Rhetoric is an ancient concept developed by Aristotle, a Greek philosopher, in the 4^th Century BC and is used today in various types in writing, speeches, and television programs among others. You have probably experienced rhetoric without even realizing it; any time you read something that something that tries to persuade you, it contains rhetoric.

The Elements of Rhetoric

There are three types of rhetoric: ethos, pathos, and logos. Let's examine these appeals in more detail below.

Overview of Rhetoric Video

View the following video for an overview of rhetoric over the years:

Rhetoric Self-Assessment

After learning more about rhetoric, practice your understanding below:

Rhetoric in Nonfiction

Remember that in a nonfiction piece, a writer or speaker always keeps a specific audience in mind. The audience is important because speakers and writers want to persuade people to believe their claims, and different people need different kinds of persuasion to change their minds. An audience who believes based on the person speaking or writing responds to ethos, an audience who is more emotional responds to pathos, and an audience who believes in facts responds to logos. Other elements that appear in nonfiction are:

Let's take a look at some examples of Rhetoric and Nonfiction below.

What is Propaganda?

View some of the types of propaganda and bias that appear throughout nonfiction speeches, essays, and other nonfiction texts:

You will encounter several types of rhetoric and propaganda in the nonfiction pieces at the end of the module. Prior to reading the nonfiction texts, make sure that you have practiced your understanding of and can recognize rhetoric and propaganda.

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