Intro to Rhetoric
What is public speaking?
The art of persuasion
What is democracy and why is it relevant to public speaking?
It is a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives. Rhetoric has shaped societies all over the world and it came to be the very basis of democracy.
What is active listening?
Active listening is a communication technique that involves paying close attention to what someone is saying, understanding their message, and responding thoughtfully.
What is tone?
Tone is the overall quality of a musical or vocal sound or utterance.
Who is considered the father of public speaking?
Aristotle
Who of the 3 ancient Greek thinkers had a negative opinion of any form of persuasive speech because of his belief that to persuade someone else is to fool them?
Plato
Other than democracy, what other political systems did rhetoric influence and how?
Monarchy, Republic, Autocracy
Legistislative assemblies: The senate of the Roman Republic made decisions through debates, which would involve the use of rhetorical speech
Besides learning how to speak, what other skill helps you become a better public speaker?
Becoming a great public speaker isn’t just about learning to speak, it’s also about learning to listen carefully to, analyze, and evaluate the speeches of others.
What are the 2 things you must consider before planning a speech?
What is expected from you and what you want to achieve (aka. Your audience’s aims and your aims)
Is the teacher's teaching in a classroom rhetorical?
Usually, no. A teacher doesn’t have to persuade a class that X + Y = Z. This is simply a fact. Equally, there is no persuasion involved with explaining what has happened in the past as in a history lesson or the democratic process in a politics lesson. However, a lesson can become rhetorical if the teacher starts talking about why they believe that democracy is preferable to a dictatorship, for example
Who were the 3 main ancient Greek philosophers to discuss rhetoric?
Aristotle, Socrates and Plato
What two main historical figures persuaded people to believe what they were saying was true through emotive language?
Hitler and Martin Luther King Jr
What are 3 strategies to become an active listener?
1. Repetition: This helps you properly take in the ideas it contains and remember them
2. Creating mental images
3. Making notes and doodling
How can you determine the best subject for your speech?
As a general rule, you should always choose subjects you are interested in and knowledgeable about. If possible, choose something on which you are an expert. If you feel passionate about your subject, this passion will come across in your speech and be infectious.
How can a speaker effectively use emotional appeal to persuade an audience when planning a speech?
To effectively use emotional appeal (pathos) in a persuasive speech, the speaker should focus on creating a connection with the audience through storytelling, relatable experiences, and vivid language. Using anecdotes or personal stories helps listeners feel emotionally invested.
What 3 main aspects can provoke emotion in an audience?
Emotive language: how the topic is described (adjectives used)
Rhetorical/Literary devices (metaphor, simile, personification, etc)
Argument: provides meaning through logic
Why did Hitler use such emotional language to describe the Jewish people?
By comparing holidaying Jews to the disgusting flies that eat from the bodies of corpses, Hitler creates a highly shocking image that is calculated to provoke a response of physical and moral repulsion in the listener. He moves on to compare the Jewish people to a “brood of vipers and adders,” further compounding the idea that they are inherently evil.
List the 3 types of speeches and what they are.
Informative, Persuasive and Special Occasion
How do we come up with our own persuasive angle?
Researching your topic thoroughly until you fully understand it. In order to persuade someone else, you must be sure of not just what you believe, but why you believe it too. Once you know exactly why you do, and you have the facts and figures to back up your opinion, then you have your persuasive angle. Put yourself in your audience’s place. Why should they believe what you’re saying?
What Roman philosopher came up with the 5 canons of rhetoric and what were they?
Roman philosopher Cicero.
5 canons of rhetoric: Invention, Arrangement, Style, Memory, Delivery
According to Aristotle, what are the 3 different types of rhetoric or "proofs" and describe what they each mean.
Deliberative: Trying to get an audience either to act or not act in a specific way
Demonstrative: Giving either praise or blame to a specific person and trying to persuade others to agree
Judicial: Attempting to obtain a verdict of either guilty or not guilty in a court of law
What rhetorical device did Martin Luther King Jr. perpetuate his rhetoric of hope?
Repetition - I have a dream
Why does the structure of a speech matter?
It is through structure that the speaker leads the audience through a certain train of thought and to certain logical conclusions and emotional responses. The structure of a speech is like a journey through images, emotional states, and pieces of factual information that will ultimately lead the listener to where the speaker wants them to be. That final destination may be an opinion, an emotional state, or an understanding of a subject.
What are 3 key factors to consider when choosing a persuasive angle for a speech?
Audience, purpose, and type of appeal or appeals (pathos, logos, ethos).
According to Aristotle, there is a whole other category of proofs called artistic proofs that are provided by the speaker. What are they?
The character of the speaker
The emotions their words provoke
The arguments they use