I remember when I was first asked the definition of the word “rhetoric”. I was only a freshman in Composition 102 and I had no idea what it meant. The best I could come up with was that it was the “fluff” that politicians used to make people vote for them.
As I went on in that class, and eventually onto other higher level classes, I have learned what rhetoric is and what it takes to be a rhetorician. Though I cannot use one line or even many more to describe the true meaning of rhetoric, I would say that it is the art of speaking, writing, and arguing. Rhetoric is used in every aspect of life. From winning an argument against your spouse/parent to backing up a point in a master’s thesis, the art of rhetoric is essential to master.
It is a beautiful thing as well. Have you ever been taken back by a speech given by a true rhetorician? I know that in my life there have been times when I am truly amazed by the power of one’s words. Whether the words are used to hurt, to help, or to praise, they are most definitely powerful.
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Thursday, February 18, 2010
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5 comments:
Rhetoric is a really hard idea to define. Like you said rhetoric is a lot of things its the art of argumentation, persuasion,but also its the art communication. I think that even though a lot of people talk today, few people communicate.
I remember learning about rhetoric too, its weird to try and make it fit a definition. The power of words can be very influential and can really change the entirety of the situation.
Rhetoric is complex. I think we sometimes get the definition and meaning confused with one another. The meaning will come in the future but the definition is coming to us now. I did my blog on rhetoric and I think that the more practice we get with it, the better we understand it! Good job!
Great use of rhetoric in your explanation of rhetoric. :D
I agree with Matty that a lot of people talk, but few people communicate. Rhetoric provides a way to not only say what you need to say, but to say it in a way that can be effectively communicated with the audience. A tool that I have learned from rhetoric that I absolutely love, I use it on my husband all the time, is the "feel, felt, found" method as I and my sorority call it. I say to him, "I understand how you feel. I too have felt this way before. But I have found that if you do x,y, and z, things will improve"... or whatever you want the outcome to be. I win almost every argument that I have with my husband. The sorority benefits from using this method too. Try it! You'll be amazed :)
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