The rhetorical situation refers to the context in which communication occurs, including factors such as purpose, audience, subject matter, and speaker/writer. It helps shape how messages are crafted and received.
Imagine you're planning a surprise party for your best friend. The rhetorical situation would be similar to considering who your friend's favorite people are (the audience), what kind of party they would enjoy (the subject matter), why you want to throw them a surprise party (the purpose), and how you will deliver the invitation without spoiling the surprise (the speaker/writer).
Ethos: Ethos refers to credibility or ethical appeal in persuasion. It involves establishing trustworthiness and expertise as a speaker/writer.
Pathos: Pathos appeals to emotions in persuasion. It aims at evoking feelings such as empathy, sympathy, happiness, anger, etc., from the audience.
Logos: Logos appeals to logic and reason in persuasion. It relies on facts, statistics, logical reasoning, and evidence to support an argument.
AP English Language - 2.2 Building an argument with relevant and strategic evidence
AP English Language - 5.1 Developing commentary throughout paragraphs
AP English Language - 8.4 Considering how style affects an argument
AP English Language - 9.1 Strategically conceding, rebutting, or refuting information
AP English Language - Rhetorical Analysis 1 (Abraham Lincoln)
AP English Language - Rhetorical Analysis 2 (Sojourner Truth)
AP English Language - AP English Language Pacing Guide (Year-long)
AP English Language - Rhetorical Analysis Essay How-To
AP English Language - Argument Essay: Evidence
AP English Language - Multiple Choice Questions (Claims and Evidence)
AP English Language - MC Answers and Review (Rhetoric)
AP English Language - MC Answers and Review (Claims and Evidence)
AP English Language - Multiple Choice Questions (Rhetoric)
AP English Language - 2024 AP English Language and Composition Exam Guide
AP English Language - Unit 1 Overview: Claims, Reasoning, and Evidence
AP English Language - Unit 5 Overview
Study guides for the entire semester
200k practice questions
Glossary of 50k key terms - memorize important vocab
© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.