DEFINING RHETORIC &

RHETORICAL THEORY
ENG 211: RHETORIC
T H U R S D AY J A N U A R Y 1 4 2 0 1 6

ACTIVITY I: RHETORIC & INTENTION

In your groups discuss a time you assigned meaning to something that was
not intended as communication. For instance, a friend who yawned in a
discussion who was not necessarily communicating that he or she was bored.
Then, answer these questions.
How much weight did you put on the unintentional behavior?
What caused you to assign meaning to the action?
How did your interpretation of the other persons behavior influence the
conversation?

ACTIVITY II: ANALYZING OPINION

WRITING
Who is the audience for the rhetoric youve identified? What action can the
audience take regarding the rhetoric?
Describe the symbols that are used in the rhetoric. Are there any that are
especially powerful? Overall, do you think the rhetoric is effective? Why or
why not?
What are the various social truths that are part of the issue? Which belief do
you think is most widely held by our culture? Why?
Predict the outcome of the issue. Which side do you think will prevail? Why?

ACTIVITY III: RHETORIC & SYMBOLS

Which symbols were most powerful? Which influenced you the most? Why?
Which symbols were least powerful? Why?
Would you do anything different if you could redesign the advertisement?

DEFINITIONS OF RHETORIC, PART I

At the most basic level, rhetoric includes words, images, and gestures presented
to an audience.
Aristotle associated rhetoric with the tools used in persuasion.
The book, Rhetorica ad Herennium, identified the five basic functions of rhetoric:
invention, arrangement, style, delivery, and memory.
Peter Ramus separated the delivery aspects of rhetoric from its inventional
components.
Francis Bacon applied psychological principles to rhetoric, saying that the duty
and office of rhetoric is to apply reason to imagination for the better moving of
the will.

DEFINITIONS OF RHETORIC, PART II

Marie Hochmuth Nichols implied that rhetoric was used to make choices
and pass judgment.
Kenneth Burke equated rhetoric with identification and cooperation.
Sonja Foss and Cindy Griffin focused on how rhetoric can create equalitarian
relationships between speakers and audiences.
Thomas Farrell focuses on the social act of rhetoric, which allows people to
collaborate and make decisions.
Thomas Rosteck added that rhetoric is used to create individual and social
identities.

ADDITIONAL TERMS USED IN THE

STUDY OF RHETORIC
Rhetoric is used to define both the content of what someone
communicates as well as the theory that explains certain forms of
communication.
In this book, rhetoric, or rhetorical practice, will refer to the symbols people
communicate.
Rhetor is used to define the person communicating.
Rhetorical theory describes and explains rhetorical practice.
Rhetorical theorist refers to the person who develops a particular rhetorical
theory.

R H E T O R I C H A S , AT
MINIMUM, FOUR
BASIC
CHARACTERISTICS

RHETORIC RELIES ON SYMBOLS

Symbols represent something else.
Symbols are arbitrary and subjective.
Symbols include letters, words, pictures, and nonverbal gestures.

RHETORIC INVOLVES AN AUDIENCE

Audiences determine the meaning of symbols.
Because an audience is involved, rhetoric is practical.
Audiences are either immediately present or dispersed in time and space.

RHETORIC ESTABLISHES WHAT IS

PROBABLY TRUE
Rhetoric is used to communicate about ideas that are not certain.
Some theorists are skeptical of rhetoric because it does not communicate
absolute truths.

RHETORICAL THEORY IS ANALYTICAL

AND INVENTIVE
Rhetorical theory can be used to create effective forms of communication.
Rhetorical theory also addresses the implications of how rhetoric is used.

THEORISTS DISAGREE ABOUT FIVE

QUESTIONS REGARDING PERSUASION
Theorists question whether rhetoric is limited to persuasion, or if it includes
informative discourse as well.
Theorists disagree about whether rhetoric is intentional.
Theorists focus on different types of symbols. Some theorists focus mostly
on words, others on images and pictures.
Rhetorical theory has been expanded to explain mediated forms as well as
traditionally oratorical forms.
Rhetorical theorists have, at various times, focused on either the content or
stylistic qualities of rhetoric.

RHETORICAL PRACTICES CHANGE IN

DIFFERENT TIMES & CONTEXTS
Culture influences how rhetoric is practiced.
Technology has also affected how we think about rhetoric.