JON STEWART’S THE DAILY SHOW & THE RHETORICAL
QUESTION. EXPLORES LEADING QUESTION, THE
ISSUE OF FRAMING, AGENCY, RESPONSIBILITY, ETC.
HTTP://WWW.THEDAILYSHOW.COM/WATCH/WED-SEPTEMBER-13-2006/THE-QUESTION-MARK
RHETORICAL STRATEGIES
What are Rhetorical Strategies?
Tools that help writers and other communicators craft language (textual) or images (visual) so as to have an effect on the audience/reader.
Strategies are means of persuasion, a way to get the reader’s/audience’s attention.
How do we analyze strategies?
There is a several step process to analyzing strategies used in text or film:1. Identify the rhetorical strategy in the text/film and give an
example.2. Describe how they work.3. Describe why they are used – what purpose do they
accomplish?4. Always include a discussion of how the strategy helps the
author/film maker develop and support the argument.
Let’s look at different types of strategies…
Authorities or “Big Names”
Commonly referred to as “appeals to authority,” using “Big Names” makes a statement/claim/ argument seem authoritative, well researched, believable.
In analysis, answer the following question: How does this appeal to authority build trust in the
author’s argument?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xsZ45Weng0
Cause & Effect Analysis
Analyzes why something happens and describes the consequences of a string of events.
In analysis, answer the following questions: What is the significance of the author’s examination of
past events or their outcomes? What is the author’s purpose in performing this
examination? Is it to inform, speculate or argue about why an identifiable fact happens the way it does?
How does the cause and effect analysis further the argument of the text/film?
How does the clip from the election ad shown previously demonstrate this strategy?
Commonplaces
Also known as “hidden assumptions,” “hidden beliefs,” and “ideaologies”
They include assumptions, many of them unconscious, that groups of people hold in common.
In analysis, answer the following questions: Who is the intended audience of the piece? What are some of the assumptions of this intended audience? What
hidden assumptions or beliefs does the speaker have about the topic? How is the speaker or author appealing to the hidden assumptions of
the audience? How does the use of commonplaces further the argument?
http://www.youtube.com/user/JimmyKimmelLive/featured?v=o5V1rjZOsQc&cid=sem_google
Comparison & Contrast
Discussion of similarities and differences.In analysis, answer the following questions:
Which two or more related subjects are discussed? How are the subjects alike or different? How does the comparison further the argument of the
piece?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2CqOj5WpMs
Definition
When authors define certain words, these definitions are specifically formulated for the specific purpose he/she has in mind.
These definitions are crafted uniquely for the intended audience.
In analysis, answer the following questions: Who is the intended audience? Does the text focus on any abstract, specialized, or new terms that need
further explanation so that the readers/viewers understand the point? How has the speaker or author chosen to define terms for the audience? What effect does the definition have on the audience, or how does this
definition help further the argument?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbSCssVutHA
Description
Details sensory perceptions of a person, place or thing.
In analysis, answer the following questions: Does a person, place or thing play a prominent role in the text
or film? Does the tone, pacing or overall purpose of the essay benefit
from the sensory details? What emotions might these details evoke in the audience (see
Pathos)? How does the description help the author further the
argument?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dn50mTEGnrU
Division & Classification
Divides a whole into parts or sorts related items into categories.
In analysis, answer the following questions: If the author/film maker trying to explain a broad or
complicated subject? Does it benefit the text/film to reduce the subject to more
manageable parts to focus the discussion? How does the division and classification help further the
overall argument?How does the division and classification of
injuries to various body systems/organs in the Quit Smoking ad shown before help its argument?
Exemplification
Provides examples or cases in point.In analysis, answer the following questions:
What examples, facts, statistics, cases in point, personal experiences, or interview questions does the author/film maker add to illustrate claims or illuminate the argument?
What effect do these have on the reader/audience?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9WB_PXjTBo
Ethos
Aristotle’s term ethos refers to the credibility, character or personality of the speaker or author or someone else connected to the argument.
Ethos brings up questions of ethics and trust between the speaker or author and the audience.
In analysis, answer the following questions: How and why is the speaker / author trying to get the audience to
trust her or him? What specifically does the author do to obtain the audience’s trust? How does the author/speaker show fairness? Understanding of the
topic? Trusworthy-ness? Consideration of the audience’s needs? How does the author/speaker construct credibility for his/her
argument?
Logos
Refers to the use of logic , reason, facts, statistics, data and numbers.
Logos often seems tangible and touchable, so much more real than other rhetorical strategies.
In analysis, answer the following questions: How and why does the other chose logos? How does the author show there are good reasons to
support his or her argument? What kind of evidence does the author use to
construct logos, and how does this further the argument?
Pathos
Refers to feelings.The author/speaker wants the audience to feel the
same emotion that he/she is feeling, whether or not they actually agree with the topic.
In this way, the audience is more likely to eventually agree with the author/speaker later on.
In analysis, answer the following questions: What specific emotion does the author invoke? How? How does he/she use emotion as a tool to persuade the audience? How does the use of emotion help further the argument?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpTb2RjbMn4
Identification
This is rhetorician Kenneth Burke’s term for the act of “identifying” with another person who shares your values or beliefs.
Many speakers or authors try to identify with an audience or convince an audience to identify with them and their argument.
In analysis, answer the following question: How does the author build a connection between him/herself
and the audience? How does this connection further the argument?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9xCCaseop4
Metadiscourse
Language about language.Announces to the reader what the writer is doing,
helping the reader to recognize the author’s plan.Can be used to both announce the overall project or
purpose of the paper and to announce its argument.Can provide “Signposts” along the way, guiding the
reader to what will come next and showing how it is connected to what has come before.
In analysis, answer the following questions: What is the author’s voice in this text/film? How does it enter and
guide the audience through the text/film? How does the author’s use of metadiscourse further the argument?
Below are some examples of metadiscourse in writing, denoting: the writer's intentions: "to sum up," "candidly," "I believe" the writer's confidence: "may," "perhaps," "certainly," "must" directions to the reader: "note that," "finally," "therefore,"
"however" the structure of the text: "first," "second," "finally,"
"therefore," "however"Most writing needs metadiscourse, but too much
buries ideas. Technical, academic, and other non-fiction writers should use metadiscourse sparingly.[
Metaphors, Similes, Analogies
Commonly referred to as “figurative language”Comparison of two parallel terms or situations in which the
traits of one are similar to another – often one relatively firm and concrete, and the other less familiar and concrete.
Simile is an analogy that use “like” or “as” These allow the author / film maker to use concrete, easily
understood ideas to clarify a less obvious point.In analysis, answer the following question:
What two things are being compared? How does the author’s / film maker’s use of figurative language help
further the argument? Help the audience view the argument in a new way?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pk7yqlTMvp8
All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players;They have their exits and their entrances;
Shakespearefrom the play As You Like It
Motive
Sometimes an author may reference the motives of his or her opponents.
In analysis, answer the following questions: How does the author / film maker use his/her
opponents arguments to make a point? Does the use of an opponent’s motive make the
author’s / film maker’s argument stronger? How?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uROhNSsi79E
Narration
Recounts an event, tells a story, that supports the argument.
In analysis, answer the following questions: How does the narration illustrate or clarify the
argument? What effect dos the story have on the audience? How does this narrative further the argument?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_WAB7TXtXQ
Precedent
When an author speaks or argues from precedent, he or she references a previous situation, one that can be compared to the author’s situation.
In analysis, answer the following questions: Does the author reference any historic incidences that
he/she claims are similar to the ones being discussed? What details about this historic situation help further
the author’s argument?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4OdDwp5GfY
Prolepsis
Anticipating the opposition’s best argument and addressing it in advance.
Also known as “Counterargument and Rebuttal.”Uses the reality that readers often interact with the text and
ask questions of it – disagreeing and pointing out where there are differing opinions or weaknesses in argument – as a tool to help the reader believe the argument.
In analysis, answer the following questions: How does the author present any counterarguments or rebuttals? What effect do the counterarguments or rebuttals have on the power of
the author’s argument?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4r7JH17IC4
Process Analysis
Explains to the reader how to do something or how something happens.
In analysis, answer the following questions: Were any portions of the text more clear because
concrete directions about a certain process were included?
How did the description of a process help the author develop his or her argument?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZihWYatUrEw
Questioning
Rhetorical Questions: a question designed to have one correct answer. The author leads the reader into a position rather than stating it explicitly.
In analysis, answer the following questions: Why does the author ask a question with an obvious answer? How does the use of the rhetorical question strengthen the
author’s argument?Transitional Questions: Leads the reader into a
new subject area or area of the argument. How does the transitional question help guide the reader? How does the use of the transitional question help the
author organize his argument?
Organization & Structure
Topical: argument organized according to subtopics.
Describing a baby’s bubble bath, first in terms of the soap used, then the water conditions, then the type of towel.
Chronological: argument organized with information in time order.
Description of a baseball game from the first pitch to the last at-bat.
Spatial: argument follows a visual direction.
Description of a house, from the inside to the outside, or a person, from their head down to their toes.
Organization & Structure
Problem-Solution: argument presents a problem and a potential solution.Description of the need to make coffee at home to save money.
Cause and Effect: argument describes the relationship between the cause or catalyst of an event and the effect.Description of identifying the over-consumption of candy as the cause of tooth decay.
Logical Ordering of Information
Inductive: argument moves from one specific example to draw a general conclusion. Specific to broad.
Deductive: argument moves from a generalized theory or assumption to decide the causes or characteristics of a specific example or event. Broad to specific.
Linear: argument is told using linear order, scaffolding information or reasoning.
Circular: supports the argument using assumptions or information from the argument itself.
Recursive: the text consistently moves forward, but circles back on the specific points in the process.
Rhetorical Strategies for Film: MUSIC
How does the music affect the audience? In what ways does the music reinforce the visual
and/or verbal message? Does it inspire clam or fright?Is it happy or sad?Is it childish or artistic?Does it have lyrics? If so, how do they reinforce
the message? Is it representative of something else (a national anthem, a hymn, etc.) ?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMfSGt6rHos
Rhetorical Strategies for Film: SHOT TYPE
Hoe does the camera angle affect the audience’s perception of what is happening?
Are the shots close-up or panoramic?What is the atmosphere of the shot (is there
anything going on in the background)?How does the background (or lack thereof) affect
the message?What colors are in the shot?What kind of lighting is used?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z66RpatHajQ
Rhetorical Strategies for Film: CLIP EDITING
How does the editor choose when to end a clip?
Does it seem like more was left out?Are the clips long or short?Is anything added to the stock footage
(drawings, subtitles, cartoon bubbles, graphs, etc.)?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4OdDwp5GfY
Rhetorical Strategies for Film: SEQUENCE
What is the sequencing of the clips (what clips are placed back-to-back)?
How does this affect the relative significance of each clip?
Is there a montage effect?Are the clips presented chronologically, or
are there flashbacks/flashforwards?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGcIUitNlGQ
Rhetorical Strategies for Film: GENRE
How well does the film fit into a particular genre (documentary, thriller, romantic comedy, film noir, etc.)?
Given the genre of the film, what strategies does the viewer expect?
Does the film ever digress from the conventions of the genre?
What is the effect of the expectations and digressions on the audience’s reception of the message?
How does the Chipotle ad with Willie Nelson mix genres? Does this make the ad more or less effective?
Rhetorical Strategies for Film: STRUCTURE
How is the content organized?Does one individual dominate the film, or are
there multiple stories, voices, or protagonists?
If there are multiple individuals involved, are they shown working in collaboration, are their parts parallel and interrelated, or are they disconnected?
Is the point-of-view personal or formal?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9xCCaseop4
Rhetorical Strategies for Film: AUDIENCE KNOWLEDGE
What knowledge, texts, situations, or people does the film expect the audience to be aware of?
What connections foes the audience have of these other sources, and how does this affect the interpretation of what is being said?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZxs09eV-Vc
