Rhetoric Theory, Speech Example

The rhetoric theory is a theory explaining the art of speaking and writing in a persuasive and pleasing manner. It majors in the communication (a transitional process) field thus associated with many theories and assumptions. According to Aristotle, the two assumptions in rhetoric theory are that:

i) An efficient public speaker must consider the audience

ii) A public speaker should use examples and proofs of whatever item he /she is speaking about.

While developing a speech, the first item to consider is the audience. The type of audience will determine the topic of discussion. If a speaker is to deliver as speech to a group of businesspersons, for example, he /she should star in a business topic. If the audience were, a group of youths (23-30 years), then atopic on relationships would be relevant. If the audience were a group of older people (38-50 years), then atopic on investment would work best. The audience thought of as a group of persons who have decisions, motivation, and a choice. The speaker ought not to think of the audience as a group of dormant people who have nothing to say. He/she prepared for questions regarding the topic of choice. Research and proper understanding of the topic needed. Upon choosing the topic, the speaker set to jot down the relevant points.

While preparing the speech, public speaker should be in a position to adhere to points that move, instruct, and delight the required information. They should jot down the devices of delivering information that are unique as possible. The devices described in the speech in terms of sound or appearance. These devices described in a way that makes them distinguishable from similar devices for a proper understanding by the audience..

The speaker need be careful in the choice of words for the speech and content in the mode of communication. He/ she should understand the needs of the audience. The needs know more on investment, the need to know more on business or relationships. Thereafter he/she can design the speech. The speech should address the relevant issue with a focus of providing solutions or providing the information regarded as essential. The speaker needs to prepare a speech that will influence listeners to respond to him /her in an acceptable manner.

In preparing the speech, the speaker needs to display modes of persuasion. The speech displays the ethos, pathos, and logos appeals. The speech need to represent competence, good intension, and empathy. Ethos is the creditability displayed in the speech. The speech need to be clear, with logical reasoning and effective for the audience. The ethical appeal represents the speaker as a respectable person. The logos appeal represents the emotional appeal represented in the speech. The emotional appeals used to persuade, and language choice in this case is extremely essential. The logos appeal persuades the audience by reasoning. The speech prepared in a way to enhance the audience’s sympathy and imagination. The audience thus responds emotionally to identify the speaker’s point of view.

In conclusion, Aristotle’s communication model is the most efficient where the speaker prepares information to pass to the audience, making the audience respond and act accordingly. It is a model of communication that gives an excellent opportunity for one to succeed in public speaking, lecturers, and seminars.

References

Black, E. (1978). Rhetorical Criticism: A Study in Method, Madison: University of Wisconsin Press.

Booth, Wayne C. (2004). “Judging Rhetoric.” In The Rhetoric of Rhetoric, New York: John Wiley and Sons.