Rhetorical Theory

Catalog description

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. COURSE OVERVIEW. Introduces major traditions of rhetorical theory from antiquity to the present, examining how thinkers have defined persuasion, argument and public influence across changing political and cultural contexts. Considers contributions from figures across historical and contemporary contexts and how they theorize the role of rhetoric to shape civic life, challenge authority and/or construct knowledge. Focuses on how rhetorical theories and practices emerge in moments of conflict, uncertainty and social change. RELEVANCE AND APPLICATION. Provides grounding in the foundations of rhetorical theory, building academic preparation for advanced study in rhetoric, political communication, law, public affairs and media criticism. Builds familiarity with frameworks widely used in speechwriting, advocacy, leadership communication and public reasoning. Supports professional and civic participation by clarifying how arguments gain legitimacy, how authority is constructed and how persuasive strategies function across traditions and institutions. DEEPENING UNDERSTANDINGS. Highlights how rhetoric is more than just “style” or manipulation by revealing its role in philosophy, religion, science and governance. Reveals how foundational ideas such as reason, justice, virtue and truth were articulated through rhetorical means. Highlights how rhetorical theory reflects its time and audience, prompting reflection on how present-day communication inherits past assumptions about credibility, character and civic participation. TOPICS AND THEMES. Topics may include the study of classical Greek and Roman rhetoric, including persuasion, ethos and civic speech; consideration of Enlightenment and revolutionary rhetoric in the formation of democratic publics; examination of modern/contemporary rhetorical theories; exploration of rhetoric as epistemology — how discourse shapes truth, identity and/or power. Course material may include texts addressing religion, gender, sexuality, class, race, nationality and/or ideology, reflecting the diverse contexts of how rhetorical traditions have been developed and contested. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification.