Every year our world shrinks. The information super highway connects us with every possible media forum we can imagine in merely seconds. As our ability to communicate grows, so does the importance of understanding what is being said beyond the basics. Rhetoric, the art of persuasion and decision making, permeates into most of human discourse, making it extremely important and useful. With proper understanding of rhetoric’s tropes and schemes a person can analyze what is being said and learn to appreciate rhetorical situations and how to use these situations in their advantage. Rhetoric shows us how to build up or break down an argument.
One example for the application of rhetoric can be seen in the current presidential race. Carefully constructed arguments bring many broad ideas to the table but rarely tackle any real tactics for reform. The two candidates continuously flood their speeches with fluff to make what they are saying more appealing to the audience. With the topics at hand diluted in articulate banter during the presidential debates, rhetorical analysis can help clarify and break down these arguments. If people cannot see through these techniques, you might as well take away the two men in position and let the rhetoricians behind the speeches run for the oval office. Even though the amount of rhetoric used in the presidential debates is scrutinized against, it is still an extremely useful and effective tool in persuasion.
Outside the public setting, the transition from breaking down an argument to building one with rhetorical devices applies to a wide variety of real life situations. Commonly underutilized, the usage of rhetoric can build a good argument into a great one. From constructing a presentation for your peers and colleagues to arguing with a roommate or writing a blog, the understanding of rhetoric and its applications will prove beneficial to your desired outcome.
Although the usefulness of rhetorical analysis does not end with simply breaking down or building up an argument, the impact this narrow scope has is large. Rhetorical analysis empowers the speaker, or author, with the skill of persuasion.
This blog brought to you by,
Curtis E. Bear
The courtesy bear
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As Mr. Bear has previously stated, the rhetoric which we use day in and day out has a great impact on the way we analyze conversation. Even after taking this class for just five short weeks the tropes and schemes have impacted the way I consider the true meaning behind the words people say. I even find myself examining the witty comments some of my friends utter out after a night out on the town. It is also increasingly influencing the way that I view the words that define our current Presidential election. Not only as we discuss it in class, but also as I see the ever-popular TV adds and even during the debates.
Although The Courtesy Bear has already given his fabulous description of how rhetoric effects the election, there are a few things I would add. We would like to assume that these loaded statements come straight from the minds of the candidates, however these speeches are usually courtesy of intelligent speechwriters. Whether the candidates have written these speeches themselves or not is not of importance, the importance is in their thoughts and beliefs. These are uniquely conveyed by with the use of rhetoric. Tropes and schemes make are what make their commentary memorable for the public audience.
Without these loaded speeches their words would not be as effective. Rhetoric not only influences the words but also the audience. Each occasion calls for different rhetorical tools to appeal to each different crowd. When candidates are speaking to a crowd of farmers in rural Wisconsin they will certainly not use the same rhetoric as when they were speaking to a room full of diplomats at the White House. Rhetoric affects not only Presidential candidates, but everyone in the world.
Although sometimes it may not seem like it, there is a thought process behind all words that are spoken. The rhetorical nuances we choose to use in our language can change the meaning behind what is actually coming out of our mouths. Not only can it give us credibility but also take away that credibility with one simple phrase. Persuasion can quickly be turned around with certain language within the argument. Communication is an important key to life and no matter how we are all connected, that communication strongly depends on the rhetoric we choose to use.
-Emily-
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