Sunday, January 30, 2011
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Rhetorical Styles
For my "This I Believe" speech, it was surprisingly difficult to find a topic since I've written two before. I mean, there are only so many things I strongly believe in that I could talk about for a whole essay. After coming up with a topic and writing my essay, then listening to the classes' essays Thursday, I realized how big of a role rhetorical styles play in speeches. Ethos, the values and character of the speaker, is obviously present because the speech was about something we believed in, or valued. The speeches showed others our character, and who we are. Pathos, the emotional aspect, is also present because when you believe in something, some sort of emotion is provoked and expressed through the presentation of the speech. The last, logos, the rational thinking, may be heard in the introduction, as a means of setting up the audience with background information.
The most common style I heard in the classes' speeches was ethos. Some people, myself included, came right out and said "I believe...", while others made you analyze your way through the details to find the value, or belief, held by the speaker. Either way, the point was made and a speaker's character was revealed. I loved hearing the essays and hearing people's beliefs. It gave me an idea of individuals' personalities, and I feel like I know the people in the class after these three weeks than most people in my other classes after a whole semester. Pathos expressed in a speech shows whether or not the speaker truly cares about the topic, and I did not hear a single speech lacking some sort of emotional attachment to their belief.
The most common style I heard in the classes' speeches was ethos. Some people, myself included, came right out and said "I believe...", while others made you analyze your way through the details to find the value, or belief, held by the speaker. Either way, the point was made and a speaker's character was revealed. I loved hearing the essays and hearing people's beliefs. It gave me an idea of individuals' personalities, and I feel like I know the people in the class after these three weeks than most people in my other classes after a whole semester. Pathos expressed in a speech shows whether or not the speaker truly cares about the topic, and I did not hear a single speech lacking some sort of emotional attachment to their belief.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Opinion vs. Fact
As I was reading the first chapter of the textbook, I was very intrigued by the way that the significance of opinions has changed over time. Ancient rhetorics were based solely around opinions, but in the modern world, rhetorics are based around facts and figures. It seems to me that all facts, figures, and statistics start out as an opinion. It is not until research has been done and applied to opinions that they become facts.
In today's political world, especially around the time of presidential elections and such, citizens base their vote on their opinions and beliefs and which candidate holds the same opinions and beliefs. For example, more controversial issues, such as the economic crash a few years ago, will separate people based on their opinions of how to approach and resolve the problem. Politicians and citizens alike become involved in debates over whose opinion, and the facts and statistics that go along with them, is "right" or more effective as a solution.
The same can be said about topics completely unrelated to politics. For instance, I had lunch with a few friends that had asked me why I dance. One male friend went on to argue that dance is not a sport, it is merely a form of art. My opinion is that dance is both an art and a sport. Dancers put forth just as much for exercise, endurance, and stamina as any other athlete. Ballet is even used to help other types of athletes, such as football players, to increase their balance and tone muscles. Even after my explanation, he still believed that there was no reason to change his view on the topic.
It is discussions and debates such as these that put into perspective the impact opinions have and how rhetoric fits into everyday discussions, not just politics, although that is the most common first thought when someone thinks of rhetoric.
In today's political world, especially around the time of presidential elections and such, citizens base their vote on their opinions and beliefs and which candidate holds the same opinions and beliefs. For example, more controversial issues, such as the economic crash a few years ago, will separate people based on their opinions of how to approach and resolve the problem. Politicians and citizens alike become involved in debates over whose opinion, and the facts and statistics that go along with them, is "right" or more effective as a solution.
The same can be said about topics completely unrelated to politics. For instance, I had lunch with a few friends that had asked me why I dance. One male friend went on to argue that dance is not a sport, it is merely a form of art. My opinion is that dance is both an art and a sport. Dancers put forth just as much for exercise, endurance, and stamina as any other athlete. Ballet is even used to help other types of athletes, such as football players, to increase their balance and tone muscles. Even after my explanation, he still believed that there was no reason to change his view on the topic.
It is discussions and debates such as these that put into perspective the impact opinions have and how rhetoric fits into everyday discussions, not just politics, although that is the most common first thought when someone thinks of rhetoric.
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