Aristotle: Rhetoric is “the faculty of discovering in any particular case all of the available means of persuasion.”
Lloyd Bitzer: “. . . rhetoric is a mode of altering reality, not by the direct application of energy to objects, but by the creation of discourse which changes reality through the mediation of thought and action.
Andrea Lunsford: “Rhetoric is the art, practice, and study of human communication.”
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Although rhetoric is often misportrayed as simply the manipulative use of language, over the two thousand odd years of its history, the discipline of rhetorical studies has provided a rich and diverse set of tools for analyzing and producing discourse that creates real effects—both beneficial and harmful—in the world. At a time when the misuses of rhetoric in the public sphere are accelerating and the ability to distinguish fact, opinion, manipulation, and outright deception has become increasingly difficult, rhetorical theory offers a uniquely apropos set of tools for wading through the mire. This class will offer an introduction to the history, theory, and practice of rhetoric.
While rhetoric as a field does trace its origins to Greco-Roman thinkers like Gorgias, Plato, Aristotle, Isocrates, Cicero, and Quintilian, this class will move beyond the idea of a singular tap-root of tradition to explore the rhetorical multiverse from ancient to modern times. We will begin by exploring rhetoric in Ancient Greece and Rome, alongside rhetoric from other ancient civilizations, such as Sumeria, China, and Egypt. We will then look at the development of medieval European rhetoric after the fall of the Roman empire, alongside the rise of Islamic rhetoric, before turning to the Renaissance, Scientific Revolution, and Modern era. Finally, we will consider the contemporary strands of rhetorical theory, including contributions to rhetorical theory from around the world. While we will be moving fairly rapidly through a number of complex and diverse movements in rhetorical history, the goal is for us to identify the ways that thinkers across cultures, locations, and eras have articulated visions of rhetoric(s) that have allowed them to respond ethically (mostly) and effectively (sometimes) to contemporary social and political upheaval.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
- understand the ways rhetoric functions in various publics, mediums, and genres through the use of rhetorical theory.
- recognize and situate various approaches to rhetoric in their historical, social, and political context.
- position their own research and thinking within historical and contemporary conversations in the field of rhetoric
- produce work within the genres of academia (e.g., abstract, conference paper, etc.) in response to current conversations in rhetorical studies
REQUIRED TEXTS
- Bizzell, Patricia, Bruce Herzberg, and Robin Reames (eds). The Rhetorical Tradition : Readings from Classical Times to the Present. 3rd ed, Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2020. (Note: If you are interested in rhetorical studies, I highly recommend purchasing this text; however, it is also available via the UHM Library. I’m also okay with you purchasing the 2nd edition, as it has many of the same readings and additional readings and introductions can be supplement via the UHM Library)
- Wu, Hui, and Tarez Samra Graban (eds). Global Rhetorical Traditions. Parlor Press, 2023.
All other readings and supplementary materials will be available to you via our Weekly Schedule, the UHM Library, or the course Google drive.
ASSIGNMENTS
In-class papers:
Three one-page, single spaced papers, due throughout the semester, that critically and thoughtfully bring into conversation two to three readings on rhetoric (each paper will engage with a unique set of sources). Papers will be read in class on the day they are due.
Proposal and Annotated Bibliography:
A 300-1000 word conference proposal (dependent on conference) and an annotated bibliography of around 12 sources on a project related to rhetorical studies.
Conference Presentation:
15-minute presentation of a conference paper with a slide deck, expanding on work done for abstract and annotated bibliography.
Conference Paper:
Your final project is a paper of 4,000 to 5,000 words that refines, revises, and expands on the work you done in your presentation.