What is the primary goal of rhetoric in writing?

• A. To entertain readers with humor
• B. To persuade, inform, or motivate an audience
• C. To create complex narratives
• D. To establish a formal writing style

Answer: (B)

The primary goal of rhetoric in writing is to persuade, inform, or motivate an audience. Rhetoric is the art of effective or persuasive communication and encompasses various strategies that writers employ to influence their readers' thoughts, beliefs, or actions. This involves using techniques such as ethos (credibility), pathos (emotional appeal), and logos (logical reasoning) to tailor the message to the audience's values and experiences.

While entertainment, narrative complexity, and formal style can all play a role in writing, they are not the central focus of rhetorical practices. Rhetoric is fundamentally concerned with shaping how an audience perceives and reacts to the content, making it clear that its primary aim is communication that drives an intended response. Thus, the option highlighting the persuasive, informative, and motivational aspects of rhetoric accurately captures its main objective in writing.