Rhetorical Studies English 472 Spring 2007 Dr. Katherine Heenan

Overview a broad overview of rhetorical studies texts that examine –what is rhetoric; –the historical roots of rhetoric; –the significance and purpose of rhetorical theory; –the relation between rhetoric and philosophy; –the relation between enlightenment and modernity; –and postmodernity.

Rhetoric a body of literature about –MODELS, –PRACTICE, and –THEORIES

The study of Models speakers, speeches, and written discourse

The Study of Practice communication production –Public discourse Spoken written

The Study of Theory focus on our understandings of how discourse operates –historical personages, –Literature, and –social circumstances

Communication Theory social scientific point of view

Rhetorical Theory humanistic point of view

What is Rhetoric? Rhetoric is the art of discovering all the available means of persuasion in any given case (Aristotle) Wherever there is persuasion, there is rhetoric, and wherever there is rhetoric, there is meaning. (Bryant)

Definitions Continued Rhetoric is an instrumental use of language….... Rhetoric is communication that attempts to coordinate social action. For this reason, rhetorical communication is explicitly pragmatic. Its goal is to influence human choices on specific matters that require immediate attention. (Hauser) "Rhetoric is the art, practice, and study of human communication." (Andrea Lunsford)

Rhetoric’s Bad Rap it is empty talk it is the ornamental use of overly fancy words it is the linguistic substitute for action not taken it primarily involves appearances rather than reality it is primarily unethical

“Rhetoric is a complex discipline with a long history: It is less helpful to try to define it once and for all than to look at the many definitions it has accumulated over the years and to attempt to understand how each arose and how each still inhabits and shapes the field.” (Bizzell and Hertzberg)