This document provides questions to evaluate rhetoric and determine whether it accurately addresses an issue, appeals to its intended audience, and provides complete information for an informed decision without manipulation. It suggests considering whether the rhetoric targets those able to create change, relies on assumptions about what the audience values, and what negative effects could potentially result.

1. Does the rhetoric attempt to manipulate in any way (by
.Does the rhetoric address the problem it claims to address?Is the rhetoric targeted at an
audience who has the power to make change?Are the appeals appropriate to the
audience?Does the rhetor give enough information to make an informed decision?Does the
rhetoric attempt to manipulate in any way (by giving incomplete/inaccurate information or
abusing the audience’s emotions)?What other sub-claims do you have to accept to
understand the rhetor’s main claim? (For example, in order to accept the Ad Council’s claim
that the arts boost math and science scores, you first have to value the boosting of those
scores.)What possible negative effects might come from this rhetoric?