Rhetorical stance
Encyclopedia
A Rhetorical stance is the rhetoric
al position taken by a speaker or writer on a certain topic, with regard to how they approach the topic, their attitude toward the topic, and how they address the reader or listener. Thus, it is an important issue in several disciplines, including academics, journalism
, and teaching. http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/custom/portlets/recordDetails/detailmini.jsp?_nfpb=true&_&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=EJ136428&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=eric_accno&accno=EJ136428 http://www.dartmouth.edu/~writing/materials/student/ac_paper/what.shtml#stance
Writing Program webpage "What is an academic paper?"—
Thus, the reader must be considered in all circumstances. In academic papers, this reader is generally assumed to be knowledgeable on the subject and thus explanation of certain topics may be only touched upon or avoided entirely, whereas in a teaching environment the audience may need these terms expounded upon in detail.
. Deciding how to best use ethos
, pathos
, and logos
helps build up a speaker's unique rhetorical stance. For example, while some speakers may focus on pathos to connect with the audience's emotions and thus sway them, others may focus more on logos, offering data and hard facts which can convince logically-minded people, as well as help establish ethos, the sense that the speaker has authority in the subject.
Rhetoric
Rhetoric is the art of discourse, an art that aims to improve the facility of speakers or writers who attempt to inform, persuade, or motivate particular audiences in specific situations. As a subject of formal study and a productive civic practice, rhetoric has played a central role in the Western...
al position taken by a speaker or writer on a certain topic, with regard to how they approach the topic, their attitude toward the topic, and how they address the reader or listener. Thus, it is an important issue in several disciplines, including academics, journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
, and teaching. http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/custom/portlets/recordDetails/detailmini.jsp?_nfpb=true&_&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=EJ136428&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=eric_accno&accno=EJ136428 http://www.dartmouth.edu/~writing/materials/student/ac_paper/what.shtml#stance
Reader
The rhetorical stance with regard to the reader is described in the Dartmouth CollegeDartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
Writing Program webpage "What is an academic paper?"—
It's important to determine not only what you think about a topic, but also what your audience is likely to think. What are your audience's biases? Values? Expectations? Knowledge? To whom are you writing, and for what purpose?
Thus, the reader must be considered in all circumstances. In academic papers, this reader is generally assumed to be knowledgeable on the subject and thus explanation of certain topics may be only touched upon or avoided entirely, whereas in a teaching environment the audience may need these terms expounded upon in detail.
Ethos, pathos, and logos
When a speaker addresses an audience, he or she must use certain modes of persuasionModes of persuasion
The modes of persuasion are devices in rhetoric that classify the speaker's appeal to the audience. They are: ethos, pathos and logos.Aristotle's describes the modes of persuasion thus:-Ethos:...
. Deciding how to best use ethos
Ethos
Ethos is a Greek word meaning "character" that is used to describe the guiding beliefs or ideals that characterize a community, nation, or ideology. The Greeks also used this word to refer to the power of music to influence its hearer's emotions, behaviors, and even morals. Early Greek stories of...
, pathos
Pathos
Pathos represents an appeal to the audience's emotions. Pathos is a communication technique used most often in rhetoric , and in literature, film and other narrative art....
, and logos
Logos
' is an important term in philosophy, psychology, rhetoric and religion. Originally a word meaning "a ground", "a plea", "an opinion", "an expectation", "word," "speech," "account," "reason," it became a technical term in philosophy, beginning with Heraclitus ' is an important term in...
helps build up a speaker's unique rhetorical stance. For example, while some speakers may focus on pathos to connect with the audience's emotions and thus sway them, others may focus more on logos, offering data and hard facts which can convince logically-minded people, as well as help establish ethos, the sense that the speaker has authority in the subject.