Deck 1: An Overview of Rhetoric

Question 1

What is the definition of the following term:
-Rhetoric

Answer 1

The use of symbol systems to achieve the purpose of persuasion, clarity, beauty, ormutual understanding.

Question 2

What is the definition of the following term:
-The Art of Rhetoric

Answer 2

The study and practice of effective symbolic expression.

Question 3

What is the definition of the following term:
-Rhetorical Discourse

Answer 3

Messages crafted according to the principles of rhetoric.

Question 4

What is the definition of the following term:
-Rhetor

Question 5

What is the definition of the following term:
-Symbol

Question 6

What is the definition of the following term:
-Rhetorical Theory

Question 7

What is the definition of the following term:
-The Argumentative Hypothesis

Question 8

What are the marks or characteristics of rhetorical discourse discussed in this chapter?

Question 9

Which specific resources of language are discussed under the heading "Rhetoric is Planned"?

Question 10

What social functions of the art of rhetoric are discussed in this chapter?

Question 11

Which three types of power are enhanced by an understanding of the art of rhetoric?

Question 12

What is meant by the statement that rhetoric addresses contingent issues?

Question 13

The following artifacts, Abraham Lincoln's "Second Inaugural Address" and Emily Dickinson's poem "Success Is Counted Sweetest," were written at about the same time, and each is written with reference to the Civil War. The two pieces are often held to represent two different types of discourse: Lincoln's address is categorized as rhetoric, while Dickinson's work fits best into the category of poetry. Thinking back on the characteristics of rhetorical discourse discussed in this chapter, what case could be made, if any, for distinguishing Lincoln's work from Dickinson's? Do they belong in different literary categories? Refer back to the resources of language-argument, appeal, arrangement, and artistic devices-in thinking about these two pieces. Does each employ all four resources?

Question 14

If rhetoric accomplishes the benefits and performs the functions discussed in this chapter, it might follow that rhetorical training should be a central component in education. Has training in rhetoric or some related discipline been part of your educational experience? Should education focus more on the skills that make up the art of rhetoric?

Question 15

Is rhetoric pervasive in private and social life, as the chapter suggests? In what realms of life, if any, does rhetoric appear to have little or no part to play? Where is its influence greatest, in your estimation? Where is it present, but hidden?

Question 16

Steven Mailloux has written that there are "oral, visual, written, digital, gestural" rhetorics. Which other types of rhetoric would you add to this list? What special types or genres would you include under the types you have added?

Question 17

Respond to the claim that rhetoric is important to the process of building community. Has it been your experience, when people come together to form a community, that ways of speaking and reasoning in common are an important part of that process? Could a greater understanding of the art of rhetoric enhance this process of building a community?

Question 18

Some people have criticized rhetoric for being manipulative. Do you believe that rhetoric is, by its very nature, manipulative? If not, what ethical guidelines might be important for constraining the practice of rhetoric so that it does not become a tool for manipulation?

Question 19

The following speech was delivered by Civil Rights activist Mrs. Fannie Lou Hamer on August 22nd, 1964 to the Credentials Committee of the Democratic National Convention in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Though she lacked formal rhetorical training, the speech stands as a powerful example of morally informed oratory. Drawing on this chapter's discussion of the social functions of argument, write a one-page analysis of how Mrs. Hamer's testimony before the committee illustrates any two of those functions.

Question 20

Understanding the art of rhetoric enhances personal power, ____________ power, and political power.

Question 21

____________ are rhetorical elements that add form, beauty, and force to symbolic expression.

Question 22

____________ is defined as discourse characterized by reasons advanced to support a conclusion, as well as reasoning made public with the goal of influencing an audience.

Question 23

One of the social functions of rhetoric is that it builds _____________, which means that rhetoric is instrumental in creating beliefs and values within a group of people.

Question 24

Richard Lanham has defined rhetoric as the study of "how attention is created and allocated." For this reason, he speaks of rhetoric as teaching the ______________.

Question 25

Dispositio or _____________ refers to the planned ordering of a message to achieve the effect of persuasion, clarity, or beauty.

Question 26

Which of the following is not considered one of the six social functions of rhetoric?

A) Ideas are tested
B) Knowledge is shaped
C) Advocacy is assisted
D) Wealth is distributed

Question 27

The word rhetor can be defined as:

A) A type of rhetorical argument
B) Anyone engaged in preparing or presenting rhetorical discourse
C) An abbreviation for rhetorical discourse
D) The name of the ancient Greek city that was the birthplace of rhetoric

Question 28

Which of the following is not one of the terms Cicero uses to highlight the planned nature of rhetoric?

A) Elocutio
B) Dispositio
C) Accio
D) Inventio

Question 29

After many instances of racial discrimination are covered in the news, a theater company decides to put on a performance in which a plea for racial harmony is advanced. Which attribute of rhetoric is highlighted from this example?

A) Rhetoric as conciliatory
B) Rhetoric as discovering facts
C) Rhetoric as personal power
D) Rhetoric as responsive

Question 30

Rhetoric can be defined as:

A) The systematic study and intentional practice of symbolic expression
B) The energy inherent in emotion and thought expressed through systems of signs
C) The study of how we organize and employ language effectively
D) All of the above

Question 31

The attribute most often associated with rhetoric is its pursuit of persuasion. Though some rhetorical texts try to be more persuasive than others. Which of the following is the most explicitly persuasive?

A) A presidential candidate's campaign speech
B) A news report on a link between stress and childhood obesity
C) A scientific article on the amount of carbon emissions produced annually
D) A comedian's monologue on how bad airline food is

Question 32

Issues of power and its distribution have always been central to rhetorical theory.

Question 33

The term rhetorical refers to only language and symbol systems; areas such as architecture and sports are not considered rhetorical.

Question 34

Concerns about the ethical implications of rhetorical persuasion have only recently developed and are largely due to its use in the political arena.

Question 35

Rhetoric only addresses issues that need deliberation or issues in which a case can be made for one side and against another.

Question 36

One social function of rhetoric is that it brings new facts to light through the clash of arguments.

Question 37

Notes, key, melody, harmony, sound, and rhythm qualify as a system of rhetorical expression.

Question 38

Provide the term for the following definitions:
-A system of belief, or a framework for interpreting the world.

Question 39

Provide the term for the following definitions:
-Any mark, sign, sound or gesture that communicates meaning based on social agreement.

Question 40

Provide the term for the following definitions:
-The systematic study and intentional practice of effective symbolic expression.

Question 41

Provide the term for the following definitions:
-A conclusion supported by reasons. Reasoning made public with the goal of influencing an audience.

Question 42

Provide the term for the following definitions:
-Planned ordering of a message to achieve the greatest persuasive effect.

Question 43

What are six characteristics of rhetoric as a type of discourse?

Question 44

What are the four resources of symbols discussed in Chapter One as assisting the goal of persuasion?

Question 45

Rhetoric as an art performs several social functions. List the functions performed by the art of rhetoric.

Question 46

What are the three types of power associated with rhetoric as discussed in Chapter One?

Question 47

In Chapter One a description of rhetorical discourse is advanced. Identify and describe the various characteristics that define the type of discourse called rhetoric. Provide examples of these characteristics in discourse, drawn either from your own experience or from the text.

Question 48

Chapter One described the art of rhetoric. Identify and describe the social functions this art performs. Illustrate your answer with your own examples, or with examples from the text.