Final answer:
Critical listening is the style of listening where the listener evaluates a speaker's argument by analyzing content, context, and evidence, and considering the rhetorical situation, including ethos, pathos, logos, and kairos.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a listener actively attempts to comprehend the reasoning behind a speaker's argument, this style of listening is known as critical listening. Critical listening involves analyzing the content, understanding the context, evaluating the evidence, and determining the credibility of the speaker. It is a key component of engaging with speeches or debates, and it requires the listener to engage with the speaker’s use of rhetorical appeals such as ethos, pathos, logos, and kairos.
To effectively practice critical listening, the listener must recognize the argument's strength, identify any logical fallacies, and consider the timing and the circumstances in which the argument is presented (kairos). Rhetorical strategies like using credible sources and appealing to the audience's emotions or logic are often employed by speakers to enhance their arguments and persuade their audience. Critical listeners are attuned to these strategies and assess how effectively they serve the speaker's purpose.