Questions on "Rhetorical Ethos"

1. Describe the communicator and audience input for each of the four ‘communication styles’.

The main difference between the four communication styles is the sufficiency of the information the communicator has.

The tell and sell styles should be used when the communicator has sufficient information. Also, the communicator wants to control the message content. In the tell style, the communicator is instructing or explaining something, informing the audience. For instance, it could be submitting requested information to boss. No audience’s opinions are needed and the audience will learn from the communicator. In the sell style, the communicator is persuading the audience. The objective is to make the audience change their behavior, to do something the communicator wants. For example, the sell style could be used when the communicator wants a client to sign a contract. Therefore, some audience involvement is needed.

On the contrary to the tell and sell styles, when the communicator does not have sufficient information, the consult and join styles should be used. The communicator wants to learn from the audience. In the consult style, audience’s opinions are needed, but the communicator still has some control over how the opinions are collected. Typically, a questionnaire can be used. By far, the most collaborative communication style is the join style. In the join style, the communicator and the audience are working together. For instance, there is a problem and both the communicator and the audience will have a group meeting to come up with a solution to the problem. In other words, the communicator needs the audience’s opinions and ideas.

2. What factors may contribute to your credibility?

The communicator’s credibility is the audience’s perception of him/her, including their belief, confidence and faith in the communicator. Credibility can be divided into to categories, initial credibility and acquired credibility. The first one refers to what the audience...