The Introduction Of Thank You For Arguing By Jay Heinrichs

Rhetoric is a course in which students are taught the values of persuasion. And yet, behind this course is the utmost power to corrupt the world, changing it into a world of our own policies. This power, even though seldom discussed, has lead to many intriguing discoveries. One such discovery is how people are able to shape the world they live in simply by choosing the right words. Therefore those who would want the world to be a better place must protect this power. If in the wrong hands this power could cause serious damage. Several authors have striven to protect rhetoric and its power. Few agree on the matter of defining rhetoric, but they know that they must protect rhetoric from dark souls. A single definition of rhetoric must maintain a simplistic nature while incorporating every aspect of rhetoric. However, I argue that rhetoric is a means of persuading audiences of a situation and a particular reality through language and personal appeal. In order to prove this definition I will discuss how rhetoric creates a situation, the shaping of a different reality, the audience, the use of language, and the personal appeal. Finally, I will demonstrate the absolute need for rhetoric.

Fresh Voices: Composition at Cal Poly stresses the importance of utilizing rhetorical strategies to effectively persuade readers through the process of writing. Of the numerous persuasive techniques mentioned in the reading, I was most intrigued by the prevalence of pathos in many forms of argumentative approaches, such as the Aristotelian approach. In contrast to Rogerian’s style of argumentation, the focal point of this method heavily relies on attacking the opposition to win the support of the audience. To gain a better understanding of pathos’ role in the technique, it is necessary to turn to an example to dissect, such as Adolf Hitler’s infamous speech. In it, Hitler incorporates Aristotle’s style of argument, where he attacks and places

The novel Thank You For Arguing written by Jay Heinrichs teaches us the persuasive tactics behind an effective argument. Heinrichs emphasizes the importance of rhetoric by adapting persuasive tools to modern day situations. A former journalist and now an advocate for rhetoric, Jay Heinrichs has aimed to restore the art of persuasion by teaching it to his audience.

While Bitzer’s insights into how one may think about the way in which rhetorical discourse acts upon and therefore alters the reality of a situation, it is difficult to see his point in stating that the “mere craft of persuasion” lacks philosophical warrant as a practical discipline. The clearest reason it seems, is implied from the examples that Bitzer uses, none of which are theological or religious in nature, but rather the examples he provides are usually political. Although one is left to speculate as to what categories Bitzer would include in sophistical rhetoric (other than a play or novel), might theological and religious discourse be subsumed under

n section 3 of Thank You For Arguing by Jay Heinrichs, Heinrichs explains different figures of speech and examples of when they are used. One example is an idiom which “combines words in an inseparable way that has a meaning of it’s own”(204). “The whole ball of wax”(204) is an example Heinrichs uses in the text. A metaphor is also discussed which is comparing two things not using like or as. To add on, Heinrichs discusses synecdoche which is defined as a word that is to represent a whole bigger meaning.

The language of rhetoric is the art to persuade an audience. Writers and speakers often use rhetoric appeals. Rhetoric uses four different approaches to capture its audience’s attention: pathos, logos, ethos and kairos. Pathos based its appeal on provoking strong emotion from an audience. Ethos builds its appeal based on good moral character of the writer or speaker and relies on good sense and good will to influence its audience. Logos persuades its audience through the use of deductive and inductive reasoning. The kairos approach requires a combination of creating and recognizing the right time and right place for making the argument in the first place. All of these appeals are important tools, and can be used together or apart to persuade an audience.

Until now, people all over the world use of rhetoric in many situations. We use of rhetoric to write an essay, a letter to friend, or persuade a member in family. If people know how to use rhetoric correctly in every situation, it could bring a lot of power to the receivers. Based on Dr. William, the rhetoric refers to “the study of the art of persuasion”, and it has three elements “rhetorical appeals”: Ethos, Pathos, and Logos. According to our assignment, there are some analysis about how to use rhetoric demonstrate in each video.

Cicero believed that a good orator must do three things in his speech: earn the favor of the audience, provide persuasive arguments, and move the audience with emotional appeals. In his defense of Marcus Caelius Rufus one finds an excellent example of Cicero’s work and through close examination can glean some additional information about what Cicero felt was needed in a good speech. With such scrutiny it becomes readily apparent that each of the three objectives need not be attained equally. Because while Cicero does attempt to gain the favor of his audience, provide persuasive arguments, and presents the audience with powerful emotional appeals, he spends a vast amount of time providing the jury with “proofs” (persuasive arguments), a

In chapter one, “Open Your Eyes,” Heinrichs states that argument is an important social element that surrounds everyday life. People who uses rhetoric, the art of argument, tends to succeed in persuading others to do their bidding. Many powerful politicians today mastered this tool. The most toughest arguments can be won with this art. Rhetoric has helped mankind develop complex societies, codes, and laws. “Every one of America’s founders studied rhetoric, and they used its

In speaking of effective rhetorical persuasion, we must appeal to our target audience in a way that will get them to accept or act upon the point of view we are trying to portray. Aristotle said that we persuade others by three means: (1) by the appeal to their reason (logos); (2) by the appeal to their emotions (pathos); and (3) by the appeal of our personality or character (ethos) (Corbett and Connors 32). When Socrates, an infamous rhetorician, gave his “apology” to his fellow Athenians after being accused of atheism or not believing in the gods and corrupting the youth with similar teachings, he employed all three modes of persuasion to prove his innocence. Despite the

Gerard A. Hauser covers a plethora of details on how to create a well-made persuasive argument in his book, an Introduction to Rhetorical Theory; however, he covered three specific essentials that are necessary for persuasion: the components logos, pathos and ethos; purposive discourse and rhetorical competence; identification. I will argue for each constituent, respectively, to prove that persuasion cannot thrive without the aforementioned essentials.

Aristotle’s rhetorical strategies can help a writer achieve the art of persuasion. John F. Kennedy’s inaugural speech is a perfect example of this. In

The first chapter introduced the reader to the art of rhetoric. He describes how rhetoric works through real life examples. He demonstrates ways that rhetoric persuades us like, argument from strength, and seduction. He tells the reader that the sole purpose of arguing is to persuade the audience. He showed that the chief purpose of arguing is to also achieve consensus, a shared faith in a choice.

Thank You For Arguing: What Aristotle, Lincoln, and Homer Simpson Can Teach Us About the Art of Persuasion is a title written by the not-so-famous, (but extremely well-versed) Jay Heinrichs. Although the title is indeed a mouthful, it serves its purpose in drawing the reader in. Also; the extremely long title is a little hint of what Heinrichs entails in his book, an endless supply of information on how to correctly and influentially utilize rhetoric, the art of persuasion.

Rhetoric is a significant part of our everyday lives. Whether it's convincing our friends to go to a concert on the weekend, to go to a certain place for lunch, or even convincing yourself to do something that you should but don't want to do. Rhetoric is all around us today. Billboard ads, television commercials, newspaper ads, political speeches, even news stories all try, to some degree, to sway our opinion or convince us to take some sort of action. If you take a step back to look and think about it, rhetoric, in all actuality, shapes our lives. Every day we have an array of options of things to do or things to buy. So every day, our opinion or actions are being influenced, however minutely, by rhetoric.