Shanafelt Rhetoric Guide

Rhetoric

(The Art of Persuasion)

Definition: The art of persuasion. Rhetoric is the art of persuasion—the strategic use of language and other forms of communication to inform, influence, or motivate a specific audience. At its core, rhetoric is the effort to convey a particular message to an intended audience in the most compelling and effective way possible. It employs persuasive strategies and rhetorical appeals to encourage others to think, feel, believe, or act in a certain way. 

The term originates from ancient Greece, where rhetoric was a foundational element of education and civic life, particularly in public speaking and debate. Aristotle identified three core rhetorical appeals that remain central to rhetorical theory today:

• Ethos – Using the speaker’s credibility or character as a means of persuasion. 

• Pathos – Appealing to the audience’s emotions as a means of persuasion.  

• Logos – Using logic and reason as a means of persuasion.

Rhetoric can be communicated through any mode—spoken, written, visual, gestural, or even haptic—and can be transmitted across any effective medium. It is not limited to ornate or manipulative language, though it can be misused in that way. Rather, rhetoric is about crafting and delivering messages for maximum persuasive impact on a particular audience. 

Rhetoric appears everywhere—from political speeches and advertisements to essays and everyday conversation. Even nonverbal choices, such as how a person dresses, moves, or presents herself, can function rhetorically by influencing others.

* For a list of historical definitions, see Definitions of Rhetoric.