{"id":564,"date":"2025-08-06T20:07:00","date_gmt":"2025-08-06T20:07:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/csueng100101fall2023\/?post_type=chapter&p=564"},"modified":"2026-03-11T19:21:23","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T19:21:23","slug":"6-7-caring-through-rhetoric","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/csueng100101fall2023\/chapter\/6-7-caring-through-rhetoric\/","title":{"rendered":"7.0 Caring Through Rhetoric"},"content":{"raw":"People share through stories. \u201cHow was your day?\u201d \u201cWhat happened?\u201d \u201cHow did it go?\u201d These are the sort of questions we ask each other day-to-day. They lead to recounts of this or that \u2013 the retelling of a shared experience. But why do we ask? Why does it matter? Because we care. When we care, we invest. When we are invested, we allow ourselves to be drawn in.\r\n

Consider this: When appealing to an audience, what is the most important thing?<\/h2>\r\nYou could answer this question a few different ways. Maybe the answer is thorough research. Maybe the answer is delivery \u2014 a well-practiced speech or well-edited essay. While both things are important, I\u2019d argue that the \u201cmost important thing\u201d has nothing to do with your preparation or how you present your ideas. Just like the friend hearing about your bad day or the partner celebrating in your success, the most important thing is having an audience who cares.\r\n\r\nIf you aren\u2019t talking to your friend or partner, this caring might not be inherent. You might need to convince someone that they should <\/em>care, and there\u2019s one strategy that you\u2019ve probably learned about before: persuasion.\r\n\r\nIn academic writing, we are told that everything we write should have the ultimate goal of persuasion. This is true. You persuade someone to side with your argument, to agree with your thesis, or to support your research. When you go to draft an essay, many prompts even mention persuasion specifically.\r\n\r\nAs you might already know, persuasion often boils down to a series of strategies referred to as rhetoric.\r\n\r\nRhetoric is all about how the treatment of tone, logic, emotion, and timing can sway someone to your side. Using rhetoric, you persuade your audience with statistics and facts, heart-warming and heart-wrenching ideas \u2014 things that encourage them to care. It matters less what people care about (a cause, an idea, a person, etc.), so long as they care about something.\r\n
\r\n

A Rhetorical Problem\/Situation #1 - Persuasive Essay\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<\/header>\r\n
\r\n\r\nYou are tasked with convincing an audience\/readership that they should raise money for a group of shelter animals that are not adoptable. These \u201cforever fosters\u201d are not adoptable for a variety of reasons, dealing with illness, temperament, etc. For the same reasons, these animals are less marketable \u2014 adopting is not an option. But the shelter still must support them for however long they live, and they are desperate for funding.\r\n\r\nFirst, let\u2019s consider how you might persuade an audience using rhetoric, as you\u2019ve been taught to do in academic settings.\r\n\r\nAfter doing proper research, you might find an emotional anecdote to support the idea that \u201cforever fosters\u201d are pets who have experienced consistent hardship. You might locate statistics explaining how much money it takes for a shelter to support just one \u201cforever foster.\u201d You might publish your essay on National Animal Shelter Day to raise awareness and increase visibility. In doing these three things, you are leaning on the rhetorical strategies of pathos, logos, and Kairos, respectively.\r\n\r\nIn combining these tactics, you are persuading your audience, as you\u2019ve been taught to do. But, more plainly, you are making your audience care.\r\n\r\nThese lessons don\u2019t just apply to an essay. They apply to everything we do. It\u2019s the reminder that when people care, they listen. They invest. They can be persuaded. So, understanding the power of caring, how might you employ these persuasion tactics outside of the academic world?\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n \r\n
\r\n

A Rhetorical Problem\/Situation #2 - Social Media Platforms\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<\/header>\r\n
\r\n\r\nYou have the same \u201cforever fosters\u201d topic and the same goal. But, instead of an academic essay, your platform is social media. How would you achieve the same results and make your audience care?\r\n\r\nOur tried-and-true rhetorical strategies still apply, but they look a little different.\r\n\r\nYou might lean on Kairos the same way, posting on National Animal Shelter Day. But, as with an Instagram reel, you must get your audience\u2019s attention \u2013 fast. You could do this with a photo of a \u201cforever foster\u201d and a phrase that leans on pathos \u2013 something like \u201cHave you ever been homeless, with no way to take care of yourself?\u201d Then, that statistic could flash on screen \u2013 \u201cX% of foster animals aren\u2019t adoptable. It takes $Y to care for each one.\u201d This grips your viewer. It makes them care. Then, by the time you say \u201cShelters need your help,\u201d they already have their credit card out to donate.\r\n\r\nYou are leaning on the same strategies you\u2019ve learned in class: pathos, logos, ethos, Kairos. You\u2019re just applying them beyond the classroom.\r\n\r\nBut, whether you get there by reel, essay, or blog, the goal stays the same: Make someone care.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n \r\n
\r\n

A Rhetorical Problem\/Situation #3 - TV and Book Fandoms<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<\/header>\r\n
\r\n\r\nA fandom, or a group of people who are very enthusiastic about a team, story, or similar, can be a powerful thing. Fandoms wear merchandise, attend events, and generally support anything that involves their TV show or book series. But why?\r\n\r\nThey care.\r\n\r\nIn reading or watching, the fandom has grown to care. They identify with the characters. They sympathize with the stories. They cheer when there is success and despair when there is loss. Because of this caring, they talk about their fandoms, which in turn help the fandom grow. With such a large foundation, companies can market to these fandoms with theme parks (such as Universal\u2019s The Wizarding World of Harry Potter) and events (like Comic-Con or other meet-and-greets). The fandom shows up, each and every time.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\nThis is the power of caring. You might not write a NYT <\/em>Bestselling series like The Hunger Games<\/em>, or produce a show like Supernatural<\/em>, but you might be able to make someone care about something else. And, the strategies that you\u2019ve been taught in high school or English Composition aren\u2019t useless<\/em>. If you ask me, they are actually useful<\/em>.","rendered":"

People share through stories. \u201cHow was your day?\u201d \u201cWhat happened?\u201d \u201cHow did it go?\u201d These are the sort of questions we ask each other day-to-day. They lead to recounts of this or that \u2013 the retelling of a shared experience. But why do we ask? Why does it matter? Because we care. When we care, we invest. When we are invested, we allow ourselves to be drawn in.<\/p>\n

Consider this: When appealing to an audience, what is the most important thing?<\/h2>\n

You could answer this question a few different ways. Maybe the answer is thorough research. Maybe the answer is delivery \u2014 a well-practiced speech or well-edited essay. While both things are important, I\u2019d argue that the \u201cmost important thing\u201d has nothing to do with your preparation or how you present your ideas. Just like the friend hearing about your bad day or the partner celebrating in your success, the most important thing is having an audience who cares.<\/p>\n

If you aren\u2019t talking to your friend or partner, this caring might not be inherent. You might need to convince someone that they should <\/em>care, and there\u2019s one strategy that you\u2019ve probably learned about before: persuasion.<\/p>\n

In academic writing, we are told that everything we write should have the ultimate goal of persuasion. This is true. You persuade someone to side with your argument, to agree with your thesis, or to support your research. When you go to draft an essay, many prompts even mention persuasion specifically.<\/p>\n

As you might already know, persuasion often boils down to a series of strategies referred to as rhetoric.<\/p>\n

Rhetoric is all about how the treatment of tone, logic, emotion, and timing can sway someone to your side. Using rhetoric, you persuade your audience with statistics and facts, heart-warming and heart-wrenching ideas \u2014 things that encourage them to care. It matters less what people care about (a cause, an idea, a person, etc.), so long as they care about something.<\/p>\n

\n
\n

A Rhetorical Problem\/Situation #1 – Persuasive Essay\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/header>\n
\n

You are tasked with convincing an audience\/readership that they should raise money for a group of shelter animals that are not adoptable. These \u201cforever fosters\u201d are not adoptable for a variety of reasons, dealing with illness, temperament, etc. For the same reasons, these animals are less marketable \u2014 adopting is not an option. But the shelter still must support them for however long they live, and they are desperate for funding.<\/p>\n

First, let\u2019s consider how you might persuade an audience using rhetoric, as you\u2019ve been taught to do in academic settings.<\/p>\n

After doing proper research, you might find an emotional anecdote to support the idea that \u201cforever fosters\u201d are pets who have experienced consistent hardship. You might locate statistics explaining how much money it takes for a shelter to support just one \u201cforever foster.\u201d You might publish your essay on National Animal Shelter Day to raise awareness and increase visibility. In doing these three things, you are leaning on the rhetorical strategies of pathos, logos, and Kairos, respectively.<\/p>\n

In combining these tactics, you are persuading your audience, as you\u2019ve been taught to do. But, more plainly, you are making your audience care.<\/p>\n

These lessons don\u2019t just apply to an essay. They apply to everything we do. It\u2019s the reminder that when people care, they listen. They invest. They can be persuaded. So, understanding the power of caring, how might you employ these persuasion tactics outside of the academic world?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\n

A Rhetorical Problem\/Situation #2 – Social Media Platforms\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/header>\n
\n

You have the same \u201cforever fosters\u201d topic and the same goal. But, instead of an academic essay, your platform is social media. How would you achieve the same results and make your audience care?<\/p>\n

Our tried-and-true rhetorical strategies still apply, but they look a little different.<\/p>\n

You might lean on Kairos the same way, posting on National Animal Shelter Day. But, as with an Instagram reel, you must get your audience\u2019s attention \u2013 fast. You could do this with a photo of a \u201cforever foster\u201d and a phrase that leans on pathos \u2013 something like \u201cHave you ever been homeless, with no way to take care of yourself?\u201d Then, that statistic could flash on screen \u2013 \u201cX% of foster animals aren\u2019t adoptable. It takes $Y to care for each one.\u201d This grips your viewer. It makes them care. Then, by the time you say \u201cShelters need your help,\u201d they already have their credit card out to donate.<\/p>\n

You are leaning on the same strategies you\u2019ve learned in class: pathos, logos, ethos, Kairos. You\u2019re just applying them beyond the classroom.<\/p>\n

But, whether you get there by reel, essay, or blog, the goal stays the same: Make someone care.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\n

A Rhetorical Problem\/Situation #3 – TV and Book Fandoms<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/header>\n
\n

A fandom, or a group of people who are very enthusiastic about a team, story, or similar, can be a powerful thing. Fandoms wear merchandise, attend events, and generally support anything that involves their TV show or book series. But why?<\/p>\n

They care.<\/p>\n

In reading or watching, the fandom has grown to care. They identify with the characters. They sympathize with the stories. They cheer when there is success and despair when there is loss. Because of this caring, they talk about their fandoms, which in turn help the fandom grow. With such a large foundation, companies can market to these fandoms with theme parks (such as Universal\u2019s The Wizarding World of Harry Potter) and events (like Comic-Con or other meet-and-greets). The fandom shows up, each and every time.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

This is the power of caring. You might not write a NYT <\/em>Bestselling series like The Hunger Games<\/em>, or produce a show like Supernatural<\/em>, but you might be able to make someone care about something else. And, the strategies that you\u2019ve been taught in high school or English Composition aren\u2019t useless<\/em>. If you ask me, they are actually useful<\/em>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"menu_order":1,"template":"","meta":{"pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":["mackenzie-rossero"],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[94],"license":[],"class_list":["post-564","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry","contributor-mackenzie-rossero"],"part":119,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/csueng100101fall2023\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/564","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/csueng100101fall2023\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/csueng100101fall2023\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/csueng100101fall2023\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/csueng100101fall2023\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/564\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":670,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/csueng100101fall2023\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/564\/revisions\/670"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/csueng100101fall2023\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/119"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/csueng100101fall2023\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/564\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/csueng100101fall2023\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=564"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/csueng100101fall2023\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=564"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/csueng100101fall2023\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=564"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/csueng100101fall2023\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=564"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}