What is Rhetoric? Introduction to Rhetoric as a Topic of Study

What are we going to study?  The history of Rhetoric as a topic consists of 2,500 years of communication practice, theorizing as to how that practice works, and teaching as to how to best produce it. In other words, a body of literature as to:  Theories,  Models, and  Practice  The history of Rhetoric as a topic consists of 2,500 years of communication practice, theorizing as to how that practice works, and teaching as to how to best produce it. In other words, a body of literature as to:  Theories,  Models, and  Practice

The study of Models speakers, speeches, and written discourse--is generally done in courses perhaps titled "history of [X type of] rhetoric"

The study of Practice  communication production--takes place in public speaking, oral interpretation, interpersonal, small group, listening, and writing courses. by examining the historical personages, literature, and social circumstances which produced our understandings of how communication operates.  Rhetorical Studies examine these questions from a humanistic point of view.  communication production--takes place in public speaking, oral interpretation, interpersonal, small group, listening, and writing courses. by examining the historical personages, literature, and social circumstances which produced our understandings of how communication operates.  Rhetorical Studies examine these questions from a humanistic point of view.

How may we define the topic? Over the course of 2,500 there have been numerous definitions for the term "Rhetoric." Let's note three main approaches, the details and significance of which we will examine in greater detail through the course.

Three Definitions  -Rhetoric is the art of discovering all the available means of persuasion in any given case (Aristotle)  -Rhetoric is adjusting ideas to people and people to ideas (Bryant)  -Rhetoric is communication which helps people think alike so that they may share values, dispositions toward actions, and actions. (Burke and Perelman)  -Rhetoric is the art of discovering all the available means of persuasion in any given case (Aristotle)  -Rhetoric is adjusting ideas to people and people to ideas (Bryant)  -Rhetoric is communication which helps people think alike so that they may share values, dispositions toward actions, and actions. (Burke and Perelman)

So why do we study Rhetoric: who needs it?  Every discipline which seeks to convey its subject matter in order to gain adherents:  Every individual who wants their communication to have impact:  Any speaker or writer must use rhetoric if they are to succeed.  Every discipline which seeks to convey its subject matter in order to gain adherents:  Every individual who wants their communication to have impact:  Any speaker or writer must use rhetoric if they are to succeed.

Why is Rhetoric Important ?  Humans cooperate by the social act of constructing mutually compatible interpretations of reality. Rhetoric is the refinement of the communicative life of the individual for the good of the society. It is essential to democracy (more on this later)

Course Overview We’ll be studying rhetoric and rhetoricians from three major periods:  Pre-modern--Sophists, Gorgias, Isocrates, Plato, & Aristotle  Modern--Locke, Vico, Bitzer,Burke, Perelman, & Vatz  Postmodern--Foucault, Althusser & Habermas We’ll be studying rhetoric and rhetoricians from three major periods:  Pre-modern--Sophists, Gorgias, Isocrates, Plato, & Aristotle  Modern--Locke, Vico, Bitzer,Burke, Perelman, & Vatz  Postmodern--Foucault, Althusser & Habermas