Survey of
Rhetorical Theory
Communication
Studies 300 Fall, 2004
Introduction:
Aristotle
defined rhetoric as the art of finding in any given case the available means of
persuasion. Before you can
understand that definition you need to understand what persuasion is and how it
differs from other forms of communication.
If communication is the elicitation of meaning in an
other, then there are three main types of communication: Informative,
which adds to our knowledge; entertaining, which holds our attention and/or
fascinates us; and persuasive, which attempts to change our beliefs, attitudes,
opinions, and actions. Persuasion
is with us every hour, because every time we make a decision we persuade
ourselves or others persuade us to go a certain way. Thus, there can be no more important
study than the study of rhetoric which deals with persuasive strategies in all
sorts of cases.
In most
cases, we live in a world that is more concerned with perceptions than
realities. Thus, rhetoric equips us
to live in a world filled with choice and illusions, some good and some bad. Finally, the study of rhetoric is
important because of the adaptability and flexibility it gives the individual
not only in terms of defining one's self, but in coping with the rest of the
world. It provides an intimate
understanding of the message or topic the speaker addresses. It provides a means for assessing
discourse in terms of strengths and weaknesses in credibility, emotion,
delivery, and other verbal abilities.
One of the goals of an undergraduate education is to learn to think in
new patterns. The more patterns you
know, the more adaptable your mind becomes. Adaptation will not only serve you well
in whatever career you choose, it will make you more tolerant of the thinking
of others and more appreciative of the creative process. Throughout
this course, we will examine the prolific and sometimes controversial
relationship between philosophy and rhetoric. We will begin with standard theories of
rhetoric deduced from Greek thinkers.
Then we will move to Roman, Medieval, Renaissance and modern theories of
rhetoric that expand on the classical base. At the same time, while we will begin
with standard speeches and assess them, we will also expand to other rhetorical
events, such as films, to see if rhetoric is used in other art forms. The text for the course, Rhetoric and
Human Consciousness, is the authority for all questions on the midterms and
the final, though some questions will be drawn from examples used in the
lectures. The lectures will amplify
on the readings and demonstrate the crosscurrents in rhetorical theory across
the centuries. Feel free to ask
questions during the lectures.
See
Web Site at http://www.csulb.edu/~crsmith/smithm.html, click on
300 for study guides.
Major
Assignments:
1. Midterm covering Pre-Socratic, Sophistic, Platonic, and
Aristotelian systems of rhetoric. 2. Midterm covering Romans, St. Augustan
through rise of Islam. 3. Midterm
covering Renaissance and Modern English periods. 4. Final covering
Existentialism, Burkean, and post-modern rhetorical
theory. While these tests
are objective multiple choice tests, make up tests are not. Make up tests will consist of short
answer essays.
Grading:
The three
midterms and the final examination will each count for 25% of final grade; each
is a 50 question multiple choice objective test. Grades will be given on 0 to 4.0 basis:
a total average of 0 to .4 is an F; .5 to 1.4 is a D; 1.5 to 2.4 is a C; 2.5 to
3.4 is a B; 3.5 to 4.0 is an A.
Each test will be given a numerical assignment and multiplied by the
percentage above. By averaging your
grades, you can tell where you stand as the class progresses. You call also check your grades once
they are posted on Blackboard. All
tests will be class curved at the discretion of the professor. According to University rules -- see
your catalogue (bulletin) – for hour you spend in class, you should study
for three outside of class. The
catalogue also makes clear that dropping a course after the
second week of class but before the last three weeks of class requires a
"serious and compelling" reason.
Dropping during the final three weeks is not possible unless you can
prove there has been a serious "accident or illness" where the causes
of withdrawal are "beyond your control." Instructors cannot drop students from
classes, they can only give you a grade if you refuse or forget to withdraw. They can ask you to drop and then your
petition to drop, but you must file it.
Attendance
and Classroom manners:
You should
make every effort to arrive at class on time. If you are late, try to sit in the back
of the class so as not to disrupt the lecture. You should make every effort to stay for
the whole class. Should you have to
leave early, you should notify the professor before class, sit in the back of
the class, and exit as unobtrusively as possible. mailto:crsmith@csulb.edu.Students
should dress in a manner that is conducive to learning. Distractive clothing and behavior are
unacceptable in an institution of higher learning. Please do not eat in class.
Books:
Purchase
SECOND EDITION (2003) Craig Smith, Rhetoric and Human Consciousness: A
History (Waveland Press).
Examine the course outline below and correlate your readings from the
book to the topics discussed. Tests
will cover both lectures and readings.
COURSE
OUTLINE and Approximate Dates of Lectures and Tests
You should
read each unit BEFORE it is cover in class and have questions ready when the
topic is covered.
August 30:
Orientation. Discussion
of syllabus. What is
theory? What is rhetoric? The rhetorical
situation.
September
1: Rhetoric and
philosophy. The
September
8:
September
13: Plato
September
15: Plato and Aristotle
September
20: Aristotle
September
22: History of
September
27: MIDTERM #1 on Greeks BRING SCANTRON AND PENCIL FOR 50 five
answer questions.
September
29: Rhetorica, Cicero and Quintilian.
October 4: Longinus, Christianity Conquers
October 6:
Augustine
October 11: Charlemagne,
the Rise of Islam
October 13: (It’s
somebody’s birthday), Marco Polo, Aquinas
October
18: MIDTERM #2 on Romans through Islam.
October 20: Rhetoric
in the Renaissance
October 25: Rhetoric
and the Protestant Reformation
October 27: Bacon
and Locke
November 1:
Campbell, Blair & Whately
November 3:
Delivery, and review for hardest midterm
November 8: MIDTERM
#3
November
10: Existentialism
November
15: Marxism
November
17: Freud
November
22: Burke
November
24: General discussion
November
29: Richards, Perelman and Toulmin
December 1:
Postmodern
December 6 : Feminist
Theory
December 8: Review
for Final
Mark in
date and time of final here:____________________________________________________