The Basics

Composing an article of rhetoric is not an exact science. It’s an art, a craft, and it takes practice and constant revision to get a presentable piece. When crafting the perfect argument, speech, etc., there are many challenges to overcome and questions the author needs to ask themselves before they begin. No two arguments are alike, and that’s because factors like audience, purpose, situation, message among others that guides a rhetorician’s pen. Persuasion isn’t an exact science. There is no one way to persuade a crowd, a group, a person, so the composer must know how they want to get their message across and the best method to do so. This creates a base for the argument to stand on. From here, the rhetorician needs to know how to build upon it and hone their argument to make it as persuasive as it can be. While an argument cannot convince everyone, a rhetorician aims to impact as many people as possible.

Of course, there are the standard approaches like pathos for a funeral, ethos for a political campaign, and logos for an essay, but there’s ways of using them to make an argument unique and memorable. Ultimately, an argument should be powerful enough to resonate with the audience, make them remember it long after it’s finished. Taking advantage of these appeals, knowing when to apply them, and using them in an abstract way will benefit the piece of rhetoric. Instead of a strict pathos appeal through tears and loss, make it happy and take the audience on a journey. Instead of a logos essay, use those facts to build upon your ethos and using that trust to drive your point home with a dash of pathos. These are a few basic examples, but the point remains. Some of the best speeches subvert expectations or use their appeals to their fullest potential. Even if these appeals seem basic, never underestimate them. Delivery is the deciding factor if an argument thrives or rots away.