Style is simply the way in which something is written or spoken that can best impact your audience. Aristotle says that style is when “an orator speaks in such a way that is to instruct, to please, and to persuade” (148).

It’s All About

In our texts, we discussed Augustine and how he believed that style was the most important factor when it came to speaking. He believed a Christian’s main duty was to speak well and spread to word of God. “The priest was to obtain the divine message, translate it, then stylize it for a specific audience.”(146). Using different styles allows the speaker to connect with different audiences. Machiavelli also showed us that the style of writing has a huge effect on your audience. His political realist style in which he wrote The Prince, shocked the people. Smith quotes Machiavelli saying “Everyone sees who you appear to be…”(182). Once again, it is the style in which you portray yourself that gets your audience’s attention. Remember, it’s not what you say, but how you say it.

Today, when we hear the word style we think of fashion. To the left, we have Stacey London from TLC’s show What Not to Wear. She teaches people that style is important. It allows you to present yourself in a way that will allow people to take you seriously. Even if you are more than qualified for a job, if you look sloppy, people won’t take you seriously. This is the same for writing and speaking. It doesn’t matter how much knowledge you have on a topic, it’s about how you present that knowledge.

In our text, Smith Quotes Bacon in saying that “one rhetorical argument has more strength than a thousand demonstrations.” (162). Basically, it’s not about what you present, but rather the style in which you present it.