Unit 1 Reflections

How do speakers & writers use Rhetorical devices to communicate their ideas?

Based off of our Unit 1 studies, reflect on the meaning/your understanding of this Essential Question. Use specifics from Unit 1 to support your answer.

      A multitude of rhetorical devices are used to successfully communicate the thoughts and ideas of a rhetor to their audience. Before speaking in front of a crowd, or writing the first sentences of a book, speakers and writers have to consider what devices and elements would make their work effective. For the audience to interpret the rhetors purpose correctly, rhetors first form an outline including ideas and devices. . When speaking in-front of a crowd, a speaker needs to establish who they are talking to. Who the audience is depicts the authors diction, as well as tone. A writer on the other hand would not necessarily  take tone into consideration. They too have to focus on diction along with appeals, style, bias, subject, and audience. Using rhetorical devices effectively makes for successful communication.  The author and writer must know what devices are appropriate and how to apply them. My understanding of the prompt is that rhetorical devices are used among authors and speakers, along with listeners and painters. When looking at Pablo Picasso's piece Weeping Women and Guerica, I as an interpreter analyzed the piece according to arrangement, contrast, and color. Considering these devices, it allowed for me to properly understand the paintings true meaning. 

What single assignment, reading, activity or 'something else' was most helpful to you so far and why? Be specific.

          Considering every piece of literature and handout focused on so far, I find the    handout titled Stylistic and Rhetorical Analysis is most beneficial. I feel this way because when I was analyzing work, the organization of the charts help me with knowing what devices to look for. Knowing what devices to focus on lead me to the correct interpretation of the piece. When I am writing pieces of my own, the charts able my writing to be more effective. This handout provides elements for all types of work including verbal and non-verbal text,non-verbal visual text, aural and electronic text. This paper works as a check list to help include the multitude of stylistic device that will improve the sophistication of the piece and make it easier for the audience to understand.