A recent rhetorical situation occurred early this semester in my English class. A representative from the debating club addressed the class shortly before the lecture commenced about joining the club. The rhetor was the club representative. The audience was myself and other English students. The message was the impending deadline of member registration and the benefits of joining the club. The context was inside the English class. The purpose was to persuade and create interest in joining the club. The exigency was to meet the target number of new members before the deadline expired the following day.
The rhetor was a male student in his final year of study. His purpose was to persuade the class to join the club and announce the deadline for registration of new members. He used verbal announcement delivered in front of the class. The audience consisted of students in their second year of study. The purpose of the audience was twofold: active and passive (Sproat, Driscoll & Brizee). Active purposes included evaluating the benefits of joining the club, and disproving the rhetor’s arguments. Some sought to assess the situation before making their decision while majority resisted outright. Passive purposes included being reassured about the cub, and learning about its activities.
The setting being an English class shortly after 2 pm; the immediate concern was the impending registration deadline. Other clubs were also registering new members, thus, intensifying competition. Furthermore, the rhetor had few minutes to convince the class before the lecturer showed up. Against this backdrop, the rhetor used several strategies to achieve his objectives. These strategies included ethos, logos, pathos, and allusion (Nisd.net; Norton.com). Firstly, he used ethos to establish his expertise on matters pertaining to the club. For example, he had previously chaired the club, thus, was acquainted with the club’s activities and accomplishments. He wanted the audience to perceive him as trustworthy and well informed. Secondly, he used logos to present his arguments. For example, he stated that debating would enable members sharpen their public speaking skills since it entailed research and thought organization.
Thirdly, he used pathos to appeal to the audience’s emotions. For example, he claimed that most students leave college with poor pubic speaking and negotiation skills required by employers during interviews and company meetings. This statement triggers fear in the audience, making them feel a sense of urgency in making themselves all-around students. Lastly, he used allusion to highlight the importance of joining the club. For instance, he referred to Martin Luther King’s famous speech called “I have a Dream” to show the importance of mastering the art of public speaking, and its role in activism. Since the class members were familiar with King’s role in championing racial equality, they might have been convinced to join the club.
In conclusion, persuasive strategies used in a rhetoric situation depend on five aspects: speaker, audience, subject, purpose and context. The attitude and background of the speaker and audience determine the delivery and reception of the message respectively. The subject should appeal to the ideals of the audience in order to gain acceptance. The purposes of both the speaker and audience may converge or differ, depending on their interests in the subject. In addition, context gives the setting of the rhetoric situation, including the exigency that necessitates the communication. Lastly, persuasion plays a significant role in social interactions. Thus, rhetorical strategies such as ethos, logos, pathos, and allusion, assist the rhetor in convincing the audience to accept his/her ideas. By understanding these strategies, individuals develop good negotiation skills.
Work cited
Nisd.net. “Rhetoric Terms.” (n.d.). Available at: http://www.nisd.net/jay/la/LitTerms-RhetoricalDev.pdf
Norton.com. “Rhetorical Situations.” (n.d.). Available at https://www.wwnorton.com/college/english/write/fieldguide/writing_toolbar1.asp?pgname=rhetorical1.asp&title=Rhetorical%20Situations
