Introduction to Rhetoric

Rhetoric is defined as the use of symbol systems to influence others. Rhetoric often involves the use of language to motivate human actions, but clothing, buildings, expressions, and sounds are also each used rhetorically. Oftentimes people assume that rhetoric is only used as a method to deceive the listener. This is because people tend to have contrasting opinions about whether rhetoric as a whole is deceptive or if rhetoric is just a method humans use to organize and express their thoughts and opinions in a way that persuades their listeners to agree with them. Rhetoric can be used to deceive an audience if that is the rhetor’s intention, we often see examples of this in political campaign advertisements where politicians bash their opponents just to make themselves look more appealing. Rhetoric can also be found within the simple daily conversations that every person has, an example of this could be encouraging a friend to listen to a new song that you love. People tend to look past the fact that encouraging another person to like something that you enjoy is a method of rhetoric because of the reputation rhetoric has for being used for deception. It is important to have an understanding of what rhetoric is to protect yourself from agreeing with something that you don’t fully understand and to help people understand how to express their opinions in the best way possible.

Rhetorical Discourse

Rhetoric relies heavily on the exchange of ideas and information. Since most people have a verbal discourse with people they are surrounded by in their daily lives it is important to be able to recognize when rhetoric is being used. There are six major characteristics that will help anyone identify when rhetoric is being used in verbal or written discourse, (1) planned, (2) adapted to an audience, (3) shaped by human motives, (4) responsive to a situation, (5) persuasion seeking, and (6) concerned with contingent issues. In the next few sections, we will analyze how Dr. Martin Luther King Jr employs these six major characteristics of rhetorical discourse when writing and delivering his ” I Have a Dream” speech.

Rhetoric is Planned

Rhetorical speeches need to be planned out in advance because the rhetor needs to identify the most effective way possible to persuade their audience into agreeing with them. Planning also allows the rhetor to gather the best possible information to support their argument. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr delivered the “I Have a Dream” speech on August 28, 1963, at the March on Washington one of the biggest protests for civil rights in American history. Dr. King needed to plan his speech to reach his audience in the most effective way possible. Clearly, he understood that the people in his audience at the March on Washington would relate to his hopes for a more equal future for all races. King’s method of repeating his dream for a more equal future was so effective because almost every person in attendance had endured racism at some point in their lives and could strongly relate to King’s message. If Dr. King did not take the time to plan out this speech; it would not be as well written or as memorable as it is today.

Rhetoric is Adapted to an Audience

When planning rhetorical speeches it is important to keep the audience in mind. While you may not know exactly the type of audience you will be speaking to, it is important to think about the possible demographics of your audience and how they will receive your message. If you are truly unsure of the type of audience you will be speaking to it is best to plan your speech in multiple ways to ensure that you are prepared to persuade any type of demographic. When Dr. King was planning his speech for the “March on Washington” protest; he was aware that his audience would be fellow civil rights activists that would relate to his hopes and dreams for a more accepting society. By having an understanding of the demographics of the audience at the “March on Washington” Dr. King was able to create the most effective speech possible that almost every person in attendance could empathize with on a personal level.

Rhetoric Reveals Human Motives

Towards the end of any rhetorical speech, it should be clear to the audience what the rhetor’s motives are. Some people may want to use rhetoric to deceive another person for negative reasons while others may want to use rhetoric to express their opinions on certain subjects, as well as persuade others to agree with their opinion on that subject. After listening to Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream Speech” it should be clear to the audience that Dr. King just wants to live in a world that is peaceful and loving, rather than the hateful racist climate he was living in during the 1950s and 60s in America. In this case, Dr. King’s motives are to spread awareness about how immoral racism is and advocate for change to create a better society for the future.

Rhetoric is Responsive

Rhetorical discourse is usually a response to events that have occurred or statements that have been made. Rhetoric invites the audience to respond because all rhetorical statements can be opposed by someone who disagrees. Rhetor’s must be prepared to respond to questions and defend their statements after engaging in rhetorical discourse. Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech imagines a better future for African Americans. This speech elicited responses from many people at the time who disagreed with Dr. King because they did not see how America could eliminate racist tendencies. Dr. King and many other civil rights activists were prepared to respond to those who disagreed with them by providing ways to change society for the better. Dr. King wanted to elicit many different responses when delivering this speech to spark conversation among people with opposing viewpoints and ultimately start paving the path to a better future.

Rhetoric Seeks Persuasion

All rhetor’s desire to persuade their audience to agree with their statements. Many methods are used to enhance rhetorical discourse which will make it easier to persuade the audience. Some of these methods are appealing to the audience’s emotions, arranging the speech in a way that clearly expresses the main idea, and making a speech aesthetically pleasing to the audience. Dr. King seeks to persuade the audience at the March on Washington to keep fighting for equal rights and the elimination of racism in America.

Rhetoric Addresses Contingent Issues

Rhetoric typically addresses contingent issues because it is vital to decide as a society whether significant events or opinions are morally right or wrong. In the “I Have a Dream” speech Dr. King is addressing the negative effects of racism on African American citizens at the time because he believes that it is morally wrong to endure this behavior any longer. Through his rhetorical discourse, many people were able to realize that it is immoral to discriminate against people based on their skin color.

Social Functions of the Art of Rhetoric

When rhetoric is practiced and studied it begins to provide social functions throughout society. The six social functions of rhetoric are (1) ideas are tested, (2) advocacy is assisted, (3) power is distributed, (4) facts are discovered, (5) knowledge is shaped, and (6) communities are built.

Rhetoric Tests Ideas

Rhetoric allows citizens to test ideas to see how worthy they are of actually being accepted throughout society. Testing ideas through rhetoric allows society to come to a conclusion on which ideas or opinions are viewed as correct or most accepted.

Rhetoric Assists Advocacy

Rhetoric gives people the power to advocate for ideas that they believe are important and that other people should also agree with. When citizens or governments begin to advocate for some sort of change they must use rhetoric to get other citizens to agree with them. If rhetoric was not used during advocacy change would not be possible.

Rhetoric Distributes Power

Rhetoric allows anyone to have the power to alter the thinking of others. Through rhetoric, any citizen despite their social status has the power to convince others to agree with them. Citizens need to be more aware of this power and use it to their advantage.

Rhetoric Discovers Facts

Rhetoric helps society discover new facts as people decide which opinions are the most agreed with. All facts were once just theories that needed to be proven true. Over time rhetorical discourse eventually eliminates ideas that are not agreed with, thus proving that the ideas that are most agreed with are factual.

Rhetoric Shapes Knowledge

Since rhetoric helps discover facts that means all knowledge that is known to be true has been decided through rhetoric. Without rhetorical discourse, we would not be able to conclude what knowledge is accepted to be true in society. Rhetoric allows humans to see what knowledge is valuable and what knowledge needs to continue being taught.

Rhetoric Builds Community

Communities tend to be based on values that all citizens have. These values ultimately are determined through rhetorical discourse. Rhetoric allows citizens to decide what values should be upheld throughout a community.

Conclusion

Towards the beginning of the chapter, we address how rhetoric is often viewed in a negative light because it can be used to deceive people into agreeing with something they do not truly understand. While it is true that rhetoric can be used to deceive others, it seems that the people who are easily deceived do not have much knowledge about what rhetoric is or how to identify rhetoric when someone is using it to persuade them. This could be because rhetoric is not a subject that is taught in American public schools. Rhetoric was once one of the most important subjects taught in schools, now most students can’t even define the term rhetoric. Having rhetoric as a course in American public schools is a great way to teach students how to use rhetoric to their benefit while also showing these students how to recognize when rhetoric is being used to persuade them without realizing it. I hope after reading this chapter the reader will have a greater understanding of rhetorical discourse and how to recognize rhetoric in action, as well as the effects rhetoric has on the social functions throughout society.