Audience, Context,

and the Rhetorical

Triangle

Argumentative Writing Part 2
Audience
To whom are you addressing your
argument.
Attributes of your audience: social,
cultural, institutional, economic,
linguistic, education, geographic
contexts
Are you preaching to the choir.
Appealing to an Audience
Pathos: Appeal to emotion.
Loaded Language
Imagery, both literal and figurative
Narratives and Testimonials
Tone (humor, sarcasm, nostalgia,
anger)
Appeal to group mentality.

Appealing to an Audience
Ethos: An appeal to ethics.
Writers background
Use of appropriate language
Use of appropriate diction
Where the work is published
Fair minded/ sense of knowledge
about both sides of an argument.
Conceding some points.


Appealing to an Audience
Logos: Appeal to logic and reason
Theories/Scientific Facts
Analogies
Statistics and data
Appeal to Authority
Examples
Definitions

The Rhetorical Triangle

Context
Topic/Logos
Writer/Ethos Audience/Pathos
Rhetoric as a Reader
Logos
What is the occasion for the
argument?
What statistics and facts does the
author offer for support?
What conclusions does the author
come to?
Rhetoric as a Reader
Ethos
How does the author create a
persona?
Does the author seem
knowledgeable about both sides of
an argument?
Does the author concede any
points?
Rhetoric as a Reader
Pathos
For what audience is the text
written?
What emotional appeals does the
author make?
What tone does the author use?
What is your reaction towards it?
Rhetoric for the Writer
Logos
What is my purpose for writing?
Have I offered compelling statistics
and facts?
Do I show how my evidence proves
my claim?

Rhetoric for the Writer
Ethos
Have I established my persona?
Have I proven myself to be
credible?
Have I evaluated the other opinion?
Are there places where I should
cede points?


Rhetoric for the Writer
Pathos
Have I taken my audience into
consideration?
Is my audience hostile, or am I
preaching to the choir?
What emotional appeals will reach
my audience?
Have I created a purposeful tone?