"Hey, you!” (exclaimed the radio spokesperson.) “, can’t find the right words to say in your dissertation, or just having trouble delivering your debate speech; maybe, you want to convince someone in joining your cult”! (You then hear cricket sounds leading into dead silence.) “Okay, maybe not the last part, but I bet that you always found it hard to get your point across in certain conversations. Well then have I got the gizmo for you; Rhetoric is the age-old tool used by communicators to perfectively persuade his or her audience. Great scholars, politicians, and media moguls use rhetoric to not only to get their point across, but to make to you DYING to hear more of it.
(The mood changes as you hear music from Zorba the Greek being played.) “Let me take you to the cradle of civilization, Greece, the land of gyros and the birthplace of rhetoric. It was developed by Greek Philosopher and unknown antifeminist, Aristotle.
“So, it’s naturally with guys and dolls”, (spoken by Aristotle with a mobster voice.) “..That one is superior and the other is inferior, like eating lasagna in Olive Garden instead of being done by a made-man”. “I thought you were Greek?” (said the spokesperson), “Well imitation is the best way for induvial be persuad…”
Anyways” (Speaker cuts him off). “Within his theory, Aristotle explains that one uses rhetoric to present a particular case through persuasion. He organizes them into three parts (speaker begins to draw a triangle). Pathos, appealing to emotion; Logos, the appeal of logic; and Ethos, the appeal of morality.”
(There is then a loud DING and the Speaker is instantly teleported back to the to the radio station.) “Now Rhetoric comes in all shapes and sizes beside that rhetorical triangle, and I’m let you in on a little secret”. (The Speaker then faintly whispers) “Anybody… can do it.” You probably have already used it (as he returns to normal voice). When you asked for extension for you essay to your professor on the grounds,
that your dog ate your homework (image of a dog walking by ignoring a piece of written paper). Although this is not true, you are appealing the emotional response of your professor to throw you bone by extending your deadline (you hear a joke drum sound). That sounds like Pathos to me.”
(Now the setting changes to a debate stage with two opponents with the speaker in the moderator seat). “Now Rhetoric is not just helpful for the (gives quotes signals) ‘Persuader’ in communicating, but it can be used by receiver to understand what’s going on in the discussion.
“Mr. Red, what is your stance on Puppy Control?”. “Dogs!” (yelled by Mr. Red) “Are man’s best friend, if you take all our dogs away who’s is going to protect us in an armed robbery, Cats!?” “Now hold on just a second,” (Mrs. Blue responds.) “No one is saying to take your friend away, we just are trying solve the lager issue of rising dog poops in our local communities, not dealing with this now can lead to dramatic consequences for future dog owners and public hygiene”.
Now, imagine replacing Puppies with real issues, (Says the Speaker). … “Such as gun control or public safety. How can you decide which ones right? By seeing what rhetorical appeals are within the communicator’s argument. You do this everyday in your life; like what coffee to get from Starbucks or is taking the subway lowering your carbon footprint. (Scene then returns to studio).
“Rhetoric helps the average Joe communicate effectively and develop better decision-making habits. This tool helps you to understand our ever-growing globalized world, by both knowing your audience and seeing discussions in a different light”.
“So, want to hear more about this life changing tool?” (The speaker asks the viewer). “Then call 1800 R-E-T-O-R-I or visit WWW-RHETORIC-DOT-BYU_DOT_EDU.”
The following is the transcript of an educational program either done by podcast or video production. This was inspired by a writing assignment from English Professor Vernon Dickson, in which he promoted each student to use creative means to explain the “Individual Definition” of Rhetoric. Elijah Pestana, is a broadcast media student in Florida International University, decided to incorporate his broadcast writing into explaining rhetoric any educational while entertaining manner. The production begins with a sense of a radio personality selling rhetoric as a life changing tool, portraying a television advertisement. Then we are explained by the histories of rhetoric and its benefits to both the communicator and the receiver within everyday life. The advertisement then ends with the speaker giving a fake phone number but promoting a informational website teaching rhetoric (Silva Rhetoricae: The Forest of Rhetoric (byu.edu)) to the viewer.
Presentation and script written and produced by Elijah Pestana and is a work In progress.