Rhetoric In 200 Words

The British Dictionary’s number one definition of rhetoric is “the study of the technique using language effectively”. (Collins) Interestingly, an American version defines it as, “(in writing or speech) the undue use of exaggeration or display; bombast.” (Random House) or “language that is intended to influence people and that may not be honest or reasonable” (Merriam Webster) It seems that American’s exaggerate and fib more often, and the British apparently are more concerned with language effectiveness. However, I find both definitions to be true to my own definition of rhetoric: a passionate conversation to message or influence an audience through a variety of mediums.
Passion is a keyword, commonly defined as “any powerful or compelling
The well-chosen rhetoric will create the desired influence or persuasion. The conversation includes the author’s purpose and surrounding context in which delivered. His message or purpose is to persuade the audience by using the art of language. Imagine that message means the author and audience agree on a topic, and influence or persuasion means they have opposite points of view. After establishing credibility, the passionate delivery should either create a positive reaction to his message or persuade the audience to sway towards the author’s
My topic of vaccinations included statistics and data. Research of journals and accepted documentation allowed for establishment of my credibility. When written as an essay, it reached an academic audience. Yet, in a letter context, it reached the intended audience, an elected official who may be passionate about the topic. A direct letter referencing the life and death matter of children, appealed to the official’s emotions, and the conversation explaining the statistics and data requested a logical call to action.
Our class also featured visual rhetoric through print advertising. Exploring the significance of the photo ads demonstrate my definition. Truly, there is passion in the advertisement I chose to evaluate for Old Spice Swagger. The character in the ad was passionately “busting through the suds” to “converse” with the viewer what this product could do for him. It was logical to show use of this product in the shower, and Old Spice is a well-known brand. The medium of a printed magazine reaches the intended audience, hopefully with