As a replacement for the 50 point quiz, I am going to post questions for the remainder of the chapters. Each of you should choose one chapter. As luck would have it, we have 14 chapters remaining and 14 scholars in the class! Perfect! I am going to post a link to the pdf with the questions you are to answer. Please transcribe the questions along with the answers in your post.
Questions
DO NOT CHOOSE CHAPTERS 1-3. Begin with Chapter 4. Choose a chapter.
Chapter 5 - Get Them to Like You
ReplyDelete21) What components make up decorum?
Decorum is a vital persuasion tool that is often looked past. It puts a focus on the way someone should go about an argument based in the audience they have. Three major components of decorum are the way the person presenting the argument dresses, the language they use, and the way they act throughout the argument.
22) Why must you change your decorum based on your audiences expectations?
The beauty of decorum is how much variety it can have. By taking the audience into consideration and making a few small changes, the difference between winning or losing a debate can be decided. It would be extremely difficult to convince an audience to conform with a set of views if they felt the speaker was on a totally different page. Sometimes this means blending right to an audience with words, clothing, and actions. However, sometimes the way the audience behaves is different from the way they expect whoever is persuading them to act. That is because the main idea of decorum is conforming to expectation, not necessarily just imitation. Altering decorum give a speaker the ability to share their message in a manner that their target audience will be much more receptive to, and therefore is a rhetorical skill of great importance.
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ReplyDeleteChapter 13 Questions and Answers - Control the Argument
ReplyDelete45) Q: Create your own syllogism.
-A: All amphibians are cold blooded.
Salamanders are amphibians.
Therefore, all salamanders are cold blooded.
46) Q: What is an enthymeme?
-A: Much like a syllogism, an enthymeme is a type of argument. However, unlike a syllogism, an enthymeme is rhetorical, meaning its premise/proof is not explicitly stated.
47) Q: Create your own enthymeme.
-A: All salamanders are cold blooded because they are amphibians.
48) Q: Explain inductive logic.
-A: Inductive logic is the opposite of deductive logic in the sense that it applies facts or proof to prove a conclusion. It is built upon examples as opposed to premise, as used in deductive logic. Facts, comparisons, and stories are also a commonly used tactic to sum up the argument's conclusion.
49) Q: Explain deductive logic.
-A: Deductive logic is reasoning with validity to, not prove, but reach a logical conclusion. Specific points, like facts, are used to reveal said conclusion. Deductive logic is built upon premise as opposed to examples, as used in inductive logic.
50) Q: What key word easily identifies the proof in an argument?
-A: The word "because" easily identifies the proof in an argument because it helps to lead the main point to the final conclusion in a simple, yet concise, manner.
51) Q: Identify and give an example of the following:
a-Fact
b-Comparison
c-Story
-A: Argument= Reading books regularly is beneficial.
A- Fact is the premise in logical induction. ex) Reading brings muscle memory and helps with mental sharpness.
B- Comparison pins two items against one another to show contrast. ex) Do you learn nearly as much from playing video games than you do reading?
C- Stories are the use of personal encounters, fiction (made up tales), jokes, or references to current events (pop-culture)in one's argument. ex) You know, my mom always said, "If you don't read a book and keep watching television your brain will rot." And boy, did she scare me with that one. So now I read all the time!
Chapter 7:
ReplyDeleteWhat is practical wisdom?
Practical wisdom, Craft, or Phronesis, is the ability to accomplish what you say is necessary, or that you at least know what you’re talking about. Practical wisdom is evident in “That depends” followed by a personal experience that applies to the situation. One size does not fit all.
Why is practical wisdom important in building one’s ethos?
A speaker could have the strongest pathos and logos arguments, but if the audience doesn’t trust that he/she can actually solve the problem at hand, the whole argument is nil. As Heinrichs put it, you don’t want a bonehead in charge, no matter how likable he is. Because he lacks practical wisdom. Practical wisdom builds into your character, or ethos, by showing the audience that you're knowledgeable, and most importantly, that they can trust you.
Chapter 12 - Persuade Your Terms
ReplyDelete42.) a. Definition is a rhetorical method used to gain leverage in an argument. To the ancients, definition is sort of a last resort to use if facts are used against you while arguing. Definition does not mean to use the dictionary’s form of what you are trying to get across, but something that gets the point across and also fits the mold of the argument. Using definition is very helpful because it is instantly effective.
42.) b. Redefinition is used if your primary attempt at definition does not work. It is a chance to retell something that happened. You can then take advantage of this because you can make what happened appear more innocent or sinister if need be. It is not lying, rather, substituting words for ones that are synonymous and carry a more impactful meaning.
43.) As persuaders, we want to find commonplace words to essentially manipulate audience emotion. The goal is for the audience’s general emotion to be uniform. Traditionally, we want to use commonplace words to appeal to our audience and make them happy. However, if we are being attacked, we can use them to drive away the audience. It is important because we want to keep our audience under control emotionally.
44.) Future tense is the best option when addressing values. You want your audience to be looking at the scenario as if it were to happen in the future. This gives the issue at hand some wiggle room and more time overall for discussion and decision making. Using future tense is instilling the idea that something is going to happen soon, what can we do today to stop or fix it.
Chapter 8: Win Their Trust
ReplyDeleteWhy is ethos the most important than any other aspect of rhetoric?
Ethos is the most important aspect of rhetoric because it gives the audience listening a sense of leadership and shows that the speaker is willing to lead the audience to a smart decision due to the persuadable tool used by the speaker. This shows the audience that the speaker is trustworthy and credible. This creates an atmosphere of persuasion among the audience, and therefore helps the speaker throughout the argument gain trust.
How can dubitatio function in an argument?
Dubitatio can function in an argument because it gives the audience a lower expectation of the speaker. Dubitatio works when a speaker is hesitant in his argument, thus making the audience sympathetic towards the speaker, which may lead to the audience helping the speaker's claim. Ethos can play a role in all of this, because someone's exterior appearance can hide ones ethos and, in total, make that same speaker seem credible.
Chapter 6- Make Them Listen
ReplyDelete23 ) Identify and define the “3 essential qualities of persuasive ethos”
The 3 essential qualities are known as virtue, practical wisdom, and selflessness (disinterest). The first quality, or virtue, can be described as taking into account the values your audience holds and trying to support or relate to what they believe in your argument. The next quality, practical wisdom, is when you make your audience believe you know the right thing to do or that you know how to deal with the problem you are arguing against. The final quality, selflessness, is when you make your audience believe that you actually care about what they want and what you are arguing for.
24 ) Describe a situation when YOU would use each of the following devices as defined in the text:
a. Bragging
b. Character references
c. Tactical flaw
d. Changing your position
a. I would use bragging in a situation where I’m trying to get my audience to believe I share their values. I think bragging would be good for an argument where I’m trying to convince people that I’m dedicated to FBLA. I could brag about all the times I volunteered for the concession stands and the school store. This would convince my audience that we both care about FBLA.
b. I could use a character reference in trying to argue to my boss that I deserve more days on the schedule . I would be nervous to go to my own boss and brag about how much I have dedicated myself to the job. However, a fellow employee may bring up that I spend many hours after work trying to clean up the building. This may make the boss realize that I am essential to their business running smoothly.
c. I could use the tactical flaw technique to argue why I kept a secret from my best friend. I could tell them that I wanted to tell them about the gossip that was being spread about them, but I didn’t want to ruin their good mood.
d. I could change my position in an argument when I go from being vegetarian to eating meat again. I could tell people I’m doing it for my health, even though I just want to eat meat again.
Chapter 9: Control the Mood
ReplyDelete29.) According to Aristotle, where do emotions come from? Is this an accurate statement? Why?
— Through the calculating eyes of Aristotle, it can be said that emotions originate from belief. To be more specific, these are the beliefs based on what we find valuable, what we Bellevue ourselves to know, and what we expect from various situations. From his own observations, believed that reality appeared in a different light under the influence of different emotions. I too think that the concept of emotions stemming from belief is a statement to trust in its accuracy. This is because emotion comes from experience. For example, one could have been bitten by a really ugly spider, and thus, have an irrational case of arachnophobia. Fear sprouted from the encounter with the spider, so that emotion is felt every time the person comes across another one, even if the creature is not even a spider and is simply an ugly insect. Emotion breeds belief.
30.) Why is a “detailed narrative” the best way to change the mood of your audience?
— Another brilliant saying by Aristotle includes the “most effective mood changers”— a detailed narrative. By using logic, it is rather rarely to understand by weaving a a story in a really vivid manner would cause it to sound like a legitimate, or real, experience. This, the listeners will tend to believe it could happen again or will happen in the future. To get someone in the right mood to do something—be it convincing them to go on a picnic— one should describe in a good amount of detail what they plan on doing—bring a frisbee, homemade mountain pies brought in a classic iconic basket, their new, energetic puppy—. This tool effectively entices one’s audience. It’s actually similar to bait.
31.) Explain the statement: “When you argue emotionally, speak simply”.
— A fantastic tool in the art of arguing is learning to avoid visibly exaggerating your emotions. You cannot let them get too out of whack. Your audience should be spilling their tears or guts for you—not the other way around. “When you argue, speak simply”. I know I struggle with this one. People, like me, never typically utilize calm, elaborated speech when their in the middle of an intense emotion. Mindlessly screaming is not going to make your sister leave your room any quicker, in fact, tasing your voice an octave too high might even make her more defiant. Less ultimately equals more, according to the earlier statement. To hold your emotions in a controlled fashion is equivalent to taking your time to properly use them.
32.) Why is sympathy more effective than humor at persuading someone?
— Despite how powerful the emotion of humor—the reigning King of Calm, Destroyer of the Petty—, it is pretty terrible at motivating anyone into action. It is forgettable, and that simply cannot do in a world where persuasion is often the difference between life and death or rages to riches. Humor ends with a simple change in emotion and opinion.
(Continued)
ReplyDeleteObviously, negative emotions like sorrow and shame simply encourage people to feel down in the dumps. However, other emotions, such as joy and compassion, have a very different vibe to them and work in a stark contrast to negative emotions and work even between than humor does. Sympathy is more effective because it uncovers a person’s insecurities and arouses their natural worries about the group they belong to. The fear that is silently drives sympathy onwards compels people to take further action than a change of mind. Compulsion precluded a choice—an exposed instinct.
33.) Discuss the use of the following in an argument: (a.) Anger, (b.) Patriotism, and (c.) Emulation.
— Since action requires identification, the Greek genius Aristotle listed anger, patriotism, and emulation among the ranks of emotions that can stir an audience up and make it do what the persuader desires. When someone wants something they are vulnerable to the emotion of anger. Belittling that desire in your argument is the best way to cause anger, according to Aristotle. This is an issue of identity. People love validating themselves, so anger is essentially a defense mechanism in the face of threats to one’s authentication. As the fastest path to action, anger is often the suspect in crimes of passion because it prevents people from thinking ahead, so it isn’t the greatest emotion for deliberative argument.
Looking in the direction of the future is a speciality of the emotion of patriotism. It rouses the audience’s feelings targeting the group by displaying a rival group’s success. By arguing through vise versa, you can sabotage your own agenda by arguing how a rival is topping you at something, such as at a sport or hobby. As a shape of jealousy through competing, patriotism has its personal side. When your group is being threatened, it is thus stimulated by something negative.
Emulation can be viewed as an emotional response to a role model. When arguing with the usage of emulation, a person should supply only the type of role model their audience already looks up to. For example, a person who is arguing on behalf of killing babies in the womb is wrong would utilize Abby Johnson—a former Planned Parenthood director who had two abortions in her past—as a role model for change because she left her practice due to finally understanding the reality of abortion. The pro-life movement already recognizes Abby Johnson as an acceptable activist and suitable role model. However, finding a role model that the audience already looks up to is not always easy for argument’s sake.
34.) What is unannounced emotion?
— One should never openly advertise a mood. They should always invoke it. Emotions creep up on a person, especially if said person hasn’t felt them quite yet. The unannounced emotion is the emotion that sneaks up on the audience right before it may or may not hit them like a ton of bricks, or at least that’s what the speaker is intending on happening.
Chapter 11: Gain the High Ground
ReplyDelete38) Why must you keep the motivations of your audience in mind when trying to persuade them?
The motivations of the audience must be kept in mind so that a strong argument can be made. A good persuasive argument must be based on what is most advantageous to the audience. If one is making a point based on what is most beneficial to oneself, the argument will seem meaningless to the audience. This is because the audience likely opposes what the person is arguing for, or supports what he or she is arguing against. If the person can make the audience see the benefit of the opposite point of view, he or she now has leverage to use in persuading the audience.
39) What is "rhetorical commonplace"? Explain.
Rhetorical commonplace is a viewpoint that is held in common with the audience. Many "clichés" are rhetorical commonplaces. Commonplaces can range across many different topics because they are representations of beliefs. Furthermore, rhetorical commonplaces cannot represent facts because people do not agree on many things. This can make a widely known commonplace vary in meaning from person to person. Different groups also have different commonplaces based on the same topic. Dedicated students may all agree upon this statement: "When doing my homework, I am improving my future." Whereas less dedicated students may all agree with this: "Doing my homework is a waste of free time." A rhetorical commonplace is a good starting point for an argument because it will start off in a viewpoint that the audience can agree with easily. This makes the remainder of the argument seem more reasonable. Someone arguing for students to do more of their homework may begin with the second commonplace, "doing your homework is a waste of free time." The audience will agree with this. However, the commonplace must now be built upon to persuade the students into believing that the homework isn't a waste, but that it improves their future.
40) Which of these phrases are a commonplace?
A. All children deserve a good education
41) List three commonplaces in your home, community, or culture.
A commonplace in my home is that a beach vacation is the best vacation. My parents, siblings, and I all agree with that belief, and would therefore be a strong start if I wanted to argue to my parents that my family should go to the beach for the whole summer.
A commonplace in my church community would be that unborn babies deserve the right to life. More likely than not, the members of a Catholic church will agree with Catholicism's pro-life teachings.
A commonplace in the student community at ECC is that school starts too early in the morning. Most students dread having to wake up as early as they do. This goes against a widely supported phrase that doubles as a cliché and a commonplace: "the early bird gets the worm." Many adults see the value in waking up early, whereas teenagers love nothing more than sleeping in until 11am. This supports that commonplaces are based on belief and not fact.
Chapter 10—Turn the Volume Down
ReplyDelete35) Why is the passive voice so useful?
The passive voice is useful because it works to calm the emotions of your audience by wording sentences as if things happened on their own. This removes the culprit from the action, which directs the audience’s anger away from that culprit. In short, it is conducive to passivity.
36) How might you use the backfire technique in an argument?
The backfire technique is used to calm your audience by over exaggerating their emotions. This makes it seem like you are way overdoing it, and they will automatically start talking down the emotion. One way I might use this technique would be in a situation where I messed up and need to tell my parents about it. If I exaggerate my emotions and really get down on myself about it, they will tell me that it’s not that bad and I shouldn’t be so hard on myself.
37) Define the following and explain how they are different:
a. Urbane humor
Urbane humor is simple wordplay, otherwise known as puns. It exploits the meanings of different words and phrases in order to make a clever joke.
b. Wit
Wit is a type of humor that plays off of the surrounding circumstances. It is different from urbane humor because it doesn’t need a specific wording to be funny, it just makes a joke about the current situation.
c. Facetious humor
Facetious humor is simple joke telling. Like other forms of humor, it can be used to diffuse emotions, but it is often not very effective. It is different than urbane humor and wit because its only purpose is to make its audience laugh in order to distract them and pull them away from the argument.
d. Banter
Banter is a back and forth form of humor in which one person insults their opponent, and the opponent returns the insult with a quick and clever comeback. Often times, concession is used so that the insulted person can throw the insult right back in their opponent’s face. Unlike other forms of humor, banter relies on insults and comebacks, so it can actually heighten emotions, especially anger.
Chapter 4- Soften Them up
ReplyDelete16) What is argument by logic (logos)?
Argument by logic uses true statements to help support the main point. The facts that are given help show the listener that the argument is strong and reliable.
17) What is argument by character (ethos)?
An argument by ethos is based on the trustworthiness and reputation of the persuader. Elements of an ethos argument are used to try to appeal to the persons ethics. The focus of ethos is to use important topics to persuade you a certain way.
18) What is argument by emotion (pathos)?
An argument by pathos tries to understand the other person’s emotions and shows that they care. You do not need to show the same emotion because that can sometimes ruin the argument. When your emotions change it helps you know how to make a solid point.
19) Why is concession the most powerful tool of logos?
It is the most powerful because it is the truth. The speaker finds something to agree on with the other person. The person then makes a statement that validates the listener. Putting together the true statements allows the listener to share their ideas but also lets the speaker make a point.
20) How does “align[ing] yourself with your listener’s pathos” help in an argument (44)?
Aligning your pathos with your listener shows that you actually care about the emotions they are feeling and what they are saying. You have a greater chance of changing someone’s ideas when you are being nice and thoughtful. Sharing your feelings will help you and the listener.
Chapter 13 - Control the Argument
ReplyDelete25) What is Practical Wisdom?
Practical wisdom is the second major element of ethos. The use of practical wisdom depends on the audience. It is how the persuader relates and is able to lead the audience. It does mean sharing their beliefs, but not only that. The audience has to believe the persuader knows specifically what to do at a specific time. It takes relatability and understanding that they think they arguer knows how to solve the problem at hand.
26) Why is practical wisdom important in building one’s ethos?
Practical wisdom is important in building one’s ethos because it is a great tool to win arguments. How else is there to win rather than taking the views and beliefs of the audience into the debate? With a good understanding of practical wisdom and knowing how to use it, arguments can be won more easily.