Analysis of Rhetorical Appeals for Creating Author Credibility
Words are a powerful weapon, when carefully crafted from their arsenal; they can be used to defeat even the greatest battles. The authors of An Ordinary Man, and “How to Turn Debate into Dialogue” utilize the impact of words to persuade audiences through rhetorical appeals. Understanding what rhetorical appeals are can help readers critically analyze work for the use of Aristotle’s three persuasive appeals. These persuasive techniques include using; logos (logical), ethos (ethical), and pathos (emotional), to try and entice readers in the writer’s favour. Both Paul Rusesbagina and Deborah Tannen target a sympathetic yet educated audience in order for their propositions to have the …show more content…
Rusesbagina’s novel begins with informing readers of Rwandan history, he specifically highlights how his country is “obsessed with the past” and how “History is serious business…you might say it is a matter of life and death” (32). Foreshadowing how the troubles that started in 1885 that divided the Hutu’s and Tutsi’s were far from over, it is also the basis of his next appeal, logos. By including a logical appeal through the use of historical dates that can easily be verified in today’s technologically advanced world Rusesbagina leaves little rooms for argument against his retelling of …show more content…
He does this through diligently orchestrating his recollection of events in order to have the greatest impression. By including the rebel radio station, “Radio-Television Libre des Mille Collines”, or RTLM for short, was how the author began his credibility platform and emotional appeal (Rusesbagina 66). Rusesbagina reels in readers by informing them of the specific horrendous comments that were broadcasted from the radio station, such comments as “[what] weapons shall we use to conquer the cockroaches once and for all” and “[do] your work…clear your neighbourhood of brush... [cut] the tall trees” (80,97). RTLM was brainwashing its listeners and was "a major cause of the violence” that arouse from within the cities (Rusesbagina 18). Rusesbagina plucked at the heartstrings of readers by implementing these cruel metaphors and violent sayings, creating empathy towards the Rwandan people. The slanderous offences only continued as the radio became bolder in their sublime attacks: “your home is in Ethiopia [and] we are going to send you back there quickly, by the Nyabarongo” and reminding listeners to “not leave the grave half full” (Rusesbagina 77, 161). By slowly integrating these comments, the same way as the radio had done, Rusesbagina showed the world the horrors that were voiced about and to his
Words are a powerful weapon, when carefully crafted from their arsenal; they can be used to defeat even the greatest battles. The authors of An Ordinary Man, and “How to Turn Debate into Dialogue” utilize the impact of words to persuade audiences through rhetorical appeals. Understanding what rhetorical appeals are can help readers critically analyze work for the use of Aristotle’s three persuasive appeals. These persuasive techniques include using; logos (logical), ethos (ethical), and pathos (emotional), to try and entice readers in the writer’s favour. Both Paul Rusesbagina and Deborah Tannen target a sympathetic yet educated audience in order for their propositions to have the …show more content…
Rusesbagina’s novel begins with informing readers of Rwandan history, he specifically highlights how his country is “obsessed with the past” and how “History is serious business…you might say it is a matter of life and death” (32). Foreshadowing how the troubles that started in 1885 that divided the Hutu’s and Tutsi’s were far from over, it is also the basis of his next appeal, logos. By including a logical appeal through the use of historical dates that can easily be verified in today’s technologically advanced world Rusesbagina leaves little rooms for argument against his retelling of …show more content…
He does this through diligently orchestrating his recollection of events in order to have the greatest impression. By including the rebel radio station, “Radio-Television Libre des Mille Collines”, or RTLM for short, was how the author began his credibility platform and emotional appeal (Rusesbagina 66). Rusesbagina reels in readers by informing them of the specific horrendous comments that were broadcasted from the radio station, such comments as “[what] weapons shall we use to conquer the cockroaches once and for all” and “[do] your work…clear your neighbourhood of brush... [cut] the tall trees” (80,97). RTLM was brainwashing its listeners and was "a major cause of the violence” that arouse from within the cities (Rusesbagina 18). Rusesbagina plucked at the heartstrings of readers by implementing these cruel metaphors and violent sayings, creating empathy towards the Rwandan people. The slanderous offences only continued as the radio became bolder in their sublime attacks: “your home is in Ethiopia [and] we are going to send you back there quickly, by the Nyabarongo” and reminding listeners to “not leave the grave half full” (Rusesbagina 77, 161). By slowly integrating these comments, the same way as the radio had done, Rusesbagina showed the world the horrors that were voiced about and to his