"Rhetoric may be defined as the faculty of observing in any given case the available means of persuasion." Aristotle, Rhetoric, Bk. I.
I. The Speaker and his resources A. Invention 1. The status of the case (fact, definition, or quality) 2. The forms of proof a. Ethos (the speaker's character, or reputation) b. Logos (arguments and evidence) c. Pathos (Psychological or emotional appeals to the audience) 3. The sources of argument (standard arguments and commonplaces) B. Arrangement (Dispositio) 1. Strategy (adaptation to audience) 2. Organization (structural pattern) C. Style (Elocutio) 1. Accuracy (clarity, correctness) 2. Aesthetics (tropes and figures of thought and language) 3. Propriety (appropriateness to audience, place, time, speaker, subject) 4. Levels a. Plain (natural conversational style) b. Middle (metaphorical, philosophical) c. Grand (vigorous, copious, sublime) Which correspond to the following purposes: a) to instruct b) to please c) to persuade D. Delivery (voice and action) E. Memory (natural and artificial systems) II. The Structure of the speech A. Exordium (introduction) B. Narration (statement of facts) C. Partition (statement of method-preview of organization) D. Confirmation (presentation of arguments and proofs) E. Refutation (anticipation of counter-arguments and proofs) F. Peroration (conclusion) III. The Occasion of the speech A. The nature of the issue 1. Forensic or legal (time, past; ends, justice and injustice; means, accusation and defense) 2. Epideictic or ceremonial (time, present; ends, honor and dishonor; means, praise or blame) 3. Deliberative or political (time, future; ends, the expedient or the inexpedient; means, exhortation and dehortation) B. The nature of the audience (general and specific analysis) C. The circumstances of the speech (historical context) D. The speaker's adaptation to the audience and the circumstances