Rhetoric and Law

Catalog description

Rhetoric and law were interdependent in Ancient Greece. This course introduces students to rhetorical concepts and appeals that remain critical to the practice of American law as they arise out of western rhetorical history. Legal concepts from other cultures will provide further context. The course will also introduce rhetorical analytical methods for understanding the textual features of law and policy through concepts such as stasis theory, audience, appeals, and common ground. Assignments might include rhetorical analyses of legal documents, presentation of legal cases, analyzing an important legal decision, analyzing the impact of particular laws on issues of race, class, gender, orientation or disability. Students will study written rhetorical and textual features of legal genres.