in To Kill A MockingbirdRhetoric and Persuasive Rhetoric

Key Terms

Rhetoric: the art of communicating ideas.

Persuasive Rhetoric: reasoned arguments in favor or against particular beliefs or courses of action

Effective Arguments

Will engage both the mind and the emotions of its readers or audience Writer needs to show that his or her position

has a firm moral basis. Examples:

Two wrongs do not make a right. Why then would people advocate for the death penalty? If a society is trying to show that murdering others is wrong, then murdering one that commits a crime sets a lousy example.

What is the moral basis in the above argument?

Effective Arguments

Clearly states the issue and a position

Gives an opinion and supports it with facts and reasons

Takes opposing views into account Uses sound logic and effective

language Concludes by summing up reasons

or calling for action

Types of Appeals

Logical Appeals Emotional Appeals Ethical Appeals

Logical Appeals

Provide rational arguments to support writers’ claims

Example: “Declaration of Independence” Claim: All men are created equal Argument: King George has committed

“injuries and usurpations” that deny those in the colonies their basic rights. Writers then list these injuries. (The list of injuries is the logical appeal).

Logical Appeals

This appeal can be made in two different ways: Deductively: Writer begins with a generalization

and then proceeds to give examples and facts that support this claim.▪ General to specific

Inductively: Writer begins with examples and facts and the reader draws conclusions from them.▪ Specific to general

Is the Declaration of Independence inductively or deductively reasoned?

Emotional Appeals

Appeals to emotion are based on specific examples of suffering or potential threats.

Often include “loaded language”, which is language that is rich with connotations and vivid images. Example: “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry

God” Someone advocating against capital

punishment might detail a specific example of when someone was exonerated from a crime after they were already put to death.

Ethical Appeals

Based on shared moral values. Call forth the audience’s sense of

right, justice, and virtue. Two wrongs do not make a right. Why

then would people advocate for the death penalty? If a society is trying to show that murdering others is wrong, then murdering one that commits a crime sets a lousy example.

Styles of Persuasion

Elevated Language Rhetorical Questions Repetition

Elevated Language

Formal words and phrases can lend a serious tone to a discussion.

Example: “The powerful empire of nature is no

longer surrounded by prejudice, fanaticism, superstition, and lies. The flame of truth has dispersed all the clouds of folly and usurpation.” – Olympe de Gouges from “Declaration of the Rights of Woman”

Rhetorical Questions

These are questions that do not require answers.

Writers pose rhetorical questions to show that their arguments make the answers obvious.

Example: “Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, to be

purchased at the price of chains and slavery?” – Patrick Henry

Repetition

Repeating a point or word that tells the audience that it is especially important.

Parallelism is another form of repetition. Rhythm of writing.

Example of parallelism: “We hold these truths to be self-evident: --That

all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” – Thomas Jefferson from “Declaration of Independence

Example Speech

http://youtu.be/k8TgqenWW0I

Analyzing Atticus’ Speech Identify the problem that is addressed and the

solution that is proposed. Restate them in your own words.

Analyze the writer’s presentation of his argument. What rhetorical tools does he use?

Analyze the evidence used to support the argument. What facts support the writer’s opinion?

Consider how the writer appeals to logic, emotions, and ethics of his audience.

Evaluate the credibility of Atticus. What motivations might lie behind it?