Nine Different Rhetorical Styles
In English 111, we are studying, rhetoric. Rhetoric is the art of speaking and writing effectively and persuasively. In studying rhetoric, at the college level, it’s useful to identify different styles of rhetoric. Let’s take a look at the nine different styles rhetoric that are presented in The Longman Writer. During the semester, you will be expected to identify and write using one or more of the rhetoric styles below.
The Thesis, The Main Point, TLW Chapter 3, page 34
Almost all types of rhetoric involve a thesis. A thesis is at the heart of a piece of writing. It is the main point that you are attempting to argue in the writing, regardless of whatever rhetorical style, or combination of styles that you choose to use. In a basic essay, a thesis is clearly stated at the end of the introductory paragraph that begins the essay. With more complicated pieces, a thesis may not be clearly stated, but rather implied. In order to locate the thesis of a more complicated piece of writing, you want to ask yourself- what is the point of this piece? What is the main point that the writer wants me to take a way from this piece? It may be hard to identify just one point. Description Chapter 10, TLW page 126 When using description as a rhetorical style, you are basically using sensory details in order to make a point, support your thesis, and provide needed details to the writing. With descriptive writing the reader should be able to see, smell, touch, hear and taste whatever is at issue in the piece. The point of descriptive writing is to place the reader deeply inside of the writer’s world. To the point where the reader almost feels as if he is experiencing the world that the writer is creating with words. As a rhetorical style, description is not typically used alone, but in combination with another rhetorical style like cause and effect, process analysis, or argument and persuasion.
Narration Chapter 11, TLW page 163
When using narration as a rhetorical style, you are basically using a story or a series of stories to make a point, or support your thesis. Usually, a thesis, in a narrative is going to be implied, due to the nature of the narrative rhetorical style. Stories have a different structure than the other rhetorical styles. Instead of an introduction, they begin with the introduction of a conflict. Instead of additional body paragraphs, a story requires conflict escalation. Instead of a conclusion, you are required to provide a conflict resolution. But out of all of the rhetorical styles, the story is probably the one that is most familiar to most readers and writers. People love to communicate through stories.
Illustration Chapter 12, TLW page 192
To illustrate a point in writing is to provide concrete examples that fully explain whatever point it is that you want to make. Illustration is a type of rhetoric which involves the use of facts, details, anecdotes (short stories), statistics, expert opinions, personal observations, perhaps even clichés, as well as, maybe a particular voice, or a particular tone. When using illustration as a type of rhetorical style, you are relying on any number of different types of details that will assist you in getting your point across.
Division and Classification, Chapter 13, TLW page 230
Division and Classification is used as a rhetorical style when there is a need to make something very complex, more easily understood. It is a manner by which order and/or organization can be applied for a concept that needs order and organization in order to be understood. Chapters in a textbook are an example of the division/classification rhetorical style. Take the concept of learning to write. This concept can be divided into several different categories. In TLW, we are introduced to the concept of rhetorical styles – or in TLW they are referred to as “patterns of development.” There is a chapter on each rhetorical style; therefore, writing, as a whole, has been divided up into nine different categories. Each of these categories is a type of classification of the writing style. Division and classification is a particularly useful style of rhetoric when combined with process analysis.
Process Analysis, Chapter 14, TLW page 264 Process Analysis is a rhetorical style that is used when there is a need to explain a concept, or a process in a step-by-step sequence. There can be two reasons to use process analysis; one can be to really provide the reader with instructions as to how to undertake a certain task. It could be something as simple as baking a cake, or something as complicated as saving a marriage. Regardless of what is at issue, with most process analysis driven writing, the reader is expected to do something. In that case, the instructions need to be very detailed if a good outcome is to be achieved. Process analysis can also be used to inform a reader of a particular process. For example, if a writer were to write about the processes by which atomic weapons were made, the purpose of that article would be, obviously, to inform the average reader, not to provide instructions on how to create an atomic weapon, as such activity is illegal, for most individuals.
Comparison Contrast, Chapter 15, TLW page 298 Comparison and Contrast is a rhetorical style that is used to examine a concept by looking at how various elements of the concept are similar and how they are different. You can really examine any concept in this way, you simply have to pick two things to compare and contrast. You could compare and contrast two different types of writers; you could compare and contrast two different political systems, or countries. You could compare and contrast two different career paths; there is virtually no limit to the different types of things that can be compared and contrast. This semester, you will have a small compare/contrast assignment where you will be jotting down your experiences with being privileged and underprivileged when we conduct our Jane Elliot experiment.
Cause and Effect (Causal Analysis) TLW Chapter 16 page 331
Causal analysis is a rhetorical style that is a bit more complicated than the others because it requires a fairly sound understanding of the reason. It requires the writer to identify a cause and trace it’s effects, the expected and intended, as well as the unexpected and unintended. Some effects are obvious results of certain causes. The country is experiencing a recession; as a result people have less disposable income. It is therefore, reasonable to expect that, having less money, the demand for luxury goods will decrease. It’s an expected effect or the recession, which is the cause. But there can be really unexpected, and intended effects of certain causes. The book Freakonomics, is one that traces and argues for clearly unforeseen and unintended consequences (effects) of various causes, by using economic theories. In Freakonomics, for example, it’s suggested that, crime in America, drastically decreased as a result of the legalization of abortion in the 1970s. How can these two seemingly unrelated things be connected by causal analysis? Think about it.
Definition, Chapter 17, TLW page 363
Definition is a rhetorical style, where a term needs to be defined. This can be a fairly straightforward process, if the term is a fairly simple one. Or it can be an incredibly complicated process if the term is a very controversial one, or a very complicated one. There may be a term that you personally want to define. For example in my essay entitled “Vibrate Higher” in my introduction, I seek to define that term. This is a term that has specific meaning to me that it may not have for everyone. In a case such as this, a term needs to be defined. There are other ways to use definition. For example, for those of you who are participating in a debate this semester, it will be critical for you to define certain terms. or what is at issue.
Definition is a rhetorical style that, much like description, is typically used in combination with another rhetorical style like argumentation and persuasion. Definitions are also used to introduce a topic. You simply begin with a definition of the term.
Argumentation and Persuasion, TLW Chapter 18, page 398
Argument and Persuasion is probably the most complex of all of the rhetorical styles that we study. Let’s first examine argument. Argument is a rhetorical style whereby critical thinking and logic is used to convince readers or your audience of the validity of your perspective, opinion or viewpoint on a controversial issue. This is more complicated than the other rhetorical styles because argument requires research. It requires, not only that you write, but that you also invest a significant amount of time into reading, researching and integrating the newly acquired knowledge into your own thought process, so that you can informatively write or speak about it. In order to effectively argue about anything, you must have a pretty extensive knowledge of all relevant facts with regard to the topic. When you are participating in a debate, (which requires both written and oral argument) you have to be well informed about the debate topic. When making a logical argument, an understanding of the basic facts is critical.
With logic, a speaker/writer is expected to have an understanding of all of the facts – both sides of the issue – so that you can refute the opposing side, and thus bolster your own position. Misunderstanding or misrepresenting a fact undermines credibility and is considered a huge weakness in terms of making the point. It makes the speaker/writer seem unreliable. Therefore, being informed is the most important part of making the argument. Moving on to persuasion, persuasion is a rhetorical style whereby emotion and drama is used to convince readers or your audience of the validity of your perspective, opinion or viewpoint on a controversial issue. Persuasion must be used in combination with argument, because emotion and drama, without appeal to logic, is considered an invalid way to convince an educated and informed audience. Persuasion, alone, is often times a very effective way to manipulate an ignorant and emotionally invested audience, but that is seen more as a manipulation tactic as opposed to an effective way to argue a particular point. Using persuasion alone lacks credibility and often results in propaganda, which is information that is being used in a dishonest way to hurt or harm a certain group, cause, movement or organization. Relying on too much emotion makes the speaker seem unreliable and unstable and causes a loss of credibility, with certain audiences. Emotion and drama must be in moderation.
The Nova Rhetorical Style 