The objective of this essay is to analyze the rhetorical strategies in the article, “The Mystery of the Bermuda Triangle” by Emily Upton. I will first provide a short discussion of the various definitions of rhetoric to be followed by a discussion of the rhetoric appeals such as ‘logos’, ‘ethos’, ‘pathos’, and ‘kairos’. The analysis of the article, will then follow which would involve the examination of rhetoric appeals and devises.
A popular definition of rhetoric is by Barry Brummett, which stated, “One term that has most consistently been used throughout history to mean ‘influence’ is the word rhetoric” (1). Jonas Heide Smith further explains rhetoric is persuasive and operates to influence attitudes, beliefs, opinions, and behavior (7). Additionally, rhetoric can be defined as “the human effort to induce cooperation through the use of symbols” (Brock, Scott, and Chesebro 8). Foss, maintains rhetoric is “the action humans perform when they use symbols for the purpose of communicating with one another” (4). Rhetoric, and the study of it, is important, because “the most fundamental human reality is grounded in symbol usage, primarily language” (Brummett 741).
Another concept of language was discussed by Burke, who stated rhetoric is using language as a “symbolic means of inducing cooperation in beings that by nature respond to symbols” (43). His concept of rhetoric “was based on the centrality of language” and the shared meanings that come through that method of symbol usage (Brummett 741).
Analysis
Ethos or appeal to credibility. The ‘ethos’ presented in the article are the several bad reputation which started with Christopher Columbus and the researchers claimed that, “…the book did such a thorough job of debunking the myth that it effectively ended most of the Bermuda Triangle hype”.
Pathos or the appeal to emotion. The ‘pathos’ presented in the article is the researchers statement that, “…but most likely, it’s simply an area in which people have experienced a lot of bad luck—the idea of it being a “vortex of doom” is no more real than Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster”.
Logos or appeal to logic. The appeal to logic of the researcher is in the statement: “Here are some natural explanations from the Coast Guard to combat some of the “alien” and other fantastical theories”.
Kairos or appeal to timeliness. The ‘kairos’ is in the final paragraph provided by the researcher, “Because the number of disappearances in the Bermuda Triangle is no greater than any other similarly trafficked area of the world’s oceans, they don’t really need an explanation”.
Conclusion
The aim of this essay was to analyse the use of some rhetorical appeals and devices the article, “The Truth about the Bermuda Triangle” by Emily Upton. I am less convinced on the discussion of the researcher about the “The Mystery of the Bermuda Triangle” since the researcher had employed lesser number of rhetorical appeals and devices in the article and did not describe nature in neutral, dispassionate language. Instead, the researcher used several persuasive strategies to explain his ideas to the nonscientist which can be regarded as an antithetical mode of human activity.
Works Cited
Brock, Bryan, Scott, Riedley, and John Chesebro. Methods of rhetorical criticism: A twentieth-century perspective. Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 2000.Print.
Brummett, Barry. Reading Rhetorical Theory. Fort Worth: Harcourt College, 2000. Print.
Smith, Jonas Heide. Plans and Purposes: How Videogame Goals Shape Player Behaviour. Unpublished PhD dissertation, IT University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, 2006.