What does the passive voice present in a sentence?
An action happening on its own without showing the actor.
How does the passive voice affect the speaker's presence?
It disembodies the speaker by removing the actors.
What effect does the passive voice have on events?
It makes events appear impersonal or accidental.
How does “The account got fouled up” differ from “Marcia fouled up the account”?
It describes wrongdoing without naming the coworker responsible.
Why should the passive voice not be used when the speaker is the culprit?
Because audiences may see it as evasion if they detect the disguise.
What is a backfire in rhetoric?
A rhetorical routine exaggerating audience anger to inspire sympathy.
How does a backfire work to repair a mistake?
By admitting the mistake, describing repair steps, and expressing self-anger.
When does a backfire work best?
One-on-one with someone who knows and likes the speaker.
Why might strangers misunderstand a backfire?
They may take the dramatic statement literally.
What effect can a backfire have on an individual's emotion?
It can calm emotion before anger escalates.
When is a backfire especially useful to prevent wrath?
When the speaker made a mistake and wants to prevent authority's wrath.
How was the speaker's mistake about Mount Saint Helens softened?
By calling it “sloppy and stupid,” promising it won't recur, and correcting it.
Which emotions does humor best calm, excluding one?
Humor best calms most emotions except anger.
Who said laughter relieves anxiety by releasing impulses?
Sigmund Freud said that in Jokes (Der Witz).
How does humor relieve anxiety according to Freud?
By releasing impulses in a disciplined manner.
How can humor defuse a sensitive argument?
By distracting people to focus on the joke instead of the subject.
When does humor enhance ethos?
When it is used properly.
What is said about joke telling as persuasion?
Joke telling is a relatively ineffective form of persuasion.
What does urbane humor depend on?
An educated audience.
What does urbane humor rely on?
Wordplay or puns.
Who used the Latin word “PECCAVI” in 1843 for urbane wordplay?
Charles Napier.
What does the Latin word “PECCAVI” mean?
I have sinned.
What type of humor is wit?
Dry, mildly amusing humor.
What does wit play off instead of relying on wordplay?
A situation.
What is the primary purpose of facetious humor?
To make people laugh.
What is banter in argumentation?
A form of attack and defense using clever insults and quick replies.
What does bantering concession do with an adversary's statement?
It accepts it at face value and follows its logic to a ridiculous conclusion or twists it back.
How does banter work best in deliberative argument?
Defensively by conceding a point and using it to the speaker’s advantage.
How did Churchill's reply to Lady Astor exemplify bantering concession?
He turned her insult back with concession and wit by saying he'd drink poisoned coffee if he were her husband.
What does the source warn about the timing of banter?
Banter requires rapid-response humor but slower forms allow more time to devise a retort.
How does the passive voice affect the direction of anger in rhetoric?
It redirects anger away from a person.
What effect does backfire have on an individual in rhetoric?
It calms the individual by exaggerating the speaker’s guilt.
How does humor function to lower tension rhetorically?
By amusement or distraction.
According to Cicero, what should humor avoid targeting?
A shocking crime or a pitiful victim.
Which author advised about limits of acceptable jokes in humor?
Cicero.
Why is banter especially useful in rhetorical defense?
Because concession lets the speaker throw the opponent’s argument back at him.
What rhetorical effect does the passive formulation “The chair got broken” have?
It redirects attention from the person who broke the chair.
Test your knowledge with 15 questions on Rhetorical Tools for Calming Emotions.
1. Which rhetorical tool best calms an individual by deliberately exaggerating the speaker’s own guilt?
2. In which situation is a backfire especially useful for calming emotion?
Review the complete course in the study sheet for Rhetorical Tools for Calming Emotions.
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