The easiest way to examine the choices we make when building an argument is to consider three key elements, represented in the accompanying diagram, which is often referred to as the rhetorical triangle:
When we develop arguments, we’re looking at the interaction between and among the three key elements—speaker (writer), subject, and audience—and how those three elements determine the form and content of the argument. Think about changing just one of them. If, for instance, you’re asked to persuade a group of fourth graders about the importance of reading both widely and often, how would you approach them? Would you consider research studies and all sorts of statistical data? Not likely. You might if you were asked to make a formal presentation to a group of your peers, but what would get the fourth graders’ attention? A personal story? Maybe a video clip of celebrities or famous athletes talking about what reading means to them?
