Chapter 17: Credibility

Fallacy

Am error in reasoning Eg: Ad Hominim

Using Evidence

Evidence - Supporting materials used to prove or disprove something Three tips for evidence - Use specific evidence - Use novel (not well known) Evidence- shock value - Use evidence from credible sources

Ethos

The name sued by Aristotle for what modern students of communication refer to as credibility

Creating common ground

A technique in which a speaker connects himself or herself with the values, attitudes, or experiences of the audience

Types of Fallacies

Hasty Generalization - A fallacy in which a speaker jumps to a general conclusion on the basis of insufficient evidence False Cause - A fallacy in which a speaker mistakenly assumes that because on event follows another, the first event is the cause of the second Invalid Analogy - An analogy in which the two cases being compared are not essentially alike Bandwagon - A fallacy which assumes that because something is popular, it is therefore good, correct, or desirable Red Herring - A fallacy that introduces an irrelevant issue to divert attention from the subject under discussion Ad hominem - Attacks the person rather than dealing with the real issue in dispute Either-or - Forces listeners to choose between two alternatives when more than two alternatives exist Slippery slope - Assumes that taking a first step will lead to subsequent steps that cannot be prevented Appeal to tradition - Assumes that something old is automatically better than something new Appeal to novelty - Assumes that something new is automatically better tha something old Stawman - An intentionally misrepresented proposition that that is set up because it is easier to defeat than an opponent's real argument

Types of Credibility

Initial credibility - The credibility of a speaker before she or he starts to speak Derived credibility - The credibility of a speaker produced by everything she or he says and does during the speech Terminal credibility - The credibility of a speaker at the end of a speech

Reasoning

Logos- The name used by Aristotle for the logical appeal of a speaker. The two major elements of logos are evidence and reasoning Types of reasoning - Reasoning from Specific Instances: reasoning that moves from particular facts to a general conclusion Reasoning from Principle: reasoning that moves from a general principle to a specific conclusion Casual Reasoning: Reasoning that seeks to establish the relationship between causes and effects Analogical Reasoning: Reasoning in which a speaker compares two similar causes and infers that what is true for thee first case is also true for the second

Appealing to Emotions

Pathos - The name used by Aristotle for what modern students of communication refer to as emotional appeal

Credibility

The audience's perception of whether a speaker is qualified to speak on a given topic. The two major factors influencing a speaker's credibility are competence and character (basically how the topic relates to you)