Rhetoric: Rhetoric is the art of discourse, an art that aims to improve the facility of speakers or writers who attempt to inform, persuade, or motivate particular audiences in specific situations.
Rhetoric has always been part of our lives. We have to get the things we want and we learn how to get them with time. We use it without knowing it's name but we are not ignorant to it's existence. Although rhetoric has always been part of my repertoire of tools to use when working for a goal, I feel that knowing how it is characterized does help me organize my arguments. But I found out that if I plan my argument based on the advise of the book it feels forced. I'm stuck there thinking should I mind maneuvers or not? I'm also trying to use a wide variety of techniques and that makes me panic. I end up less organized than when I just go with my natural rhetorical abilities. They are, off course, learned over time but they come out naturally now. (I think I will plan them only for written arguments.)
Here's an example: My mom and dad are talking in the family room and I hear my name. My instinct tells me to ask them what they are talking about. I then proceede to scream: "Dad why are you guys talking about me?," I am a curious person. My mom, as usual, intervenes and screams back: "Cause you are the new password." I am left puzzled by her response and I reply: "What password?," she says, "the password of your fathers life." She is mocking me and that is highly unacceptable. I rise and walk to the family room keeping in mind my new rhetorical organizing skills.
1. I set my personal goal: Make my mom realize that she is NOT being funny.
2. Set goal for my audience: CHANGE MOOD: from humorous to annoyed.
First I have to say I was successful on one of my goals but the other one was a total fail.
I started off stimulating her emotions by standing in front of the tv. Once I was strategically placed I was aware of her annoyed look. I asked her again seriously what password. She went on with her little charade, "All the passwords [honey], it's a sign of affection from your dad." She tried changing topics to me not liking the ceviche my father bought. But I was determined. "Mom why do you enjoy pestering me?," I wanted to trigger guilt. She is reluctant and I snap. This doesn't happen usually, she is literally ignoring me, like my immature sister is accustomed to do. She triggers stress in me instead. I'm thinking what was next and in the desperation of the process I panic. I change my target and tell my father to "try buying the nice fish next time," I'm still using rhetoric because I prefer the use of a suggestion instead of an accusatory phrase. He feels offended anyways, and my mom gets a new reason to shush me. I get slapped by her words: "Stop being rude to your dad, the fish was fine." I now look like a brat. Two strikes, stress and now embarrassment. But she started this. Although I already lost in my terms, I will accomplish one of my goals at least: to annoy her. I succeed, completely transformed into the brat she made me look like. It works she is pissed. She attempts to watch a movie and, engulfed in stress, she fails to make the apple t.v. work.
I take advantage of that one mistake she just made, to use her same "humorous" tactics this time on her.
Me: "When you are mean and definitely on the wrong attitude you do everything wrong." (She looks at me, mouth open.) "No I'm not going to help you."
I leave feeling somehow triumphant. Until I remember I wanted her to take me to the ATM. Now I have an annoyed mom and I need something from her. Not even advanced rhetoric will assure me success.
Think they said.
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