what is the role of rhetoric in influencing people's attitudes and beleifs?

Thank you for using the Jiskha Homework Help Forum. Let me quote from the volunteer that answered one of your questions already. She wrote this answer for someone else on October 3rd.

* RHETORIC - Writeacher, Tuesday, October 3, 2006 at 7:28pm

Posted by Ms. Sue on Tuesday, June 20, 2006 at 9:47am.
Check these sites to help you answer your question.

(Broken Link Removed)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhetoric

To understand the role of rhetoric in influencing people's attitudes and beliefs, let's break it down step by step.

First, rhetoric refers to the art of persuasive communication. It involves using language effectively to persuade, inform, or entertain an audience. Rhetoric encompasses a range of techniques such as logical reasoning, emotional appeal, and the use of rhetorical devices like metaphors, analogies, and repetition.

Now, when it comes to influencing people's attitudes and beliefs, rhetoric plays a crucial role. It helps individuals or entities to present their ideas, arguments, or opinions in a persuasive manner, with the aim of convincing others to adopt those ideas or beliefs.

Rhetoric is essential because it allows individuals to craft their messages in a way that appeals to the emotions, values, and rationality of the target audience. By choosing specific words, employing effective rhetoric techniques, and structuring arguments logically, speakers or writers can make their case more convincing and appealing to others.

Consider a political speech, for example. A politician may use rhetoric to connect with the audience emotionally, appealing to their values and desires. Through persuasive language and compelling arguments, they can shape the audience's attitudes and beliefs on specific issues or topics.

To further understand the role of rhetoric in influencing people's attitudes and beliefs, it would be beneficial to explore the recommended resources. The first link provided seems to be broken, but you can try searching for "rhetoric" on Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhetoric). Wikipedia can provide you with a general overview of the subject, its history, and various examples of how rhetoric has been used to influence people throughout time.