Rhetorical Research Methods Unit 1 Exam

What are three standards for judging an essay of criticism?

1. Does the critic provide evidence to justify her or his claims? 2. Does the critic make reasonable inferences based on the evidence? 3. Are the arguments coherent?

What are four purposes of rhetorical criticism, according to Foss?

1. Enables understanding of a particular artifact 2. helps in understanding more about the nature of rhetoric (theory) 3. helps in becoming more effective users of symbols 4. helps in becoming more effective audience members (sophisticated interpreters of symbols) (notes 1.22.18)

What are Aristotle's rhetorical categories?

1. Forensic rhetoric: reconstruction of someones version of the past. 2. Epideictic rhetoric: concerns the present; ceremonial rhetoric 3. Deliberate rhetoric: concerning future; political rhetoric; what "should" happen.

What are the types of generic criticism?

1. Generic Description: Does a genre exist? 2. Generic Participation: Does this belong to an identified genre? 3. Generic Application: How do we evaluate a particular text within a genre based on our expectations.

What are two primary assumptions that underlie standards for evaluation?

1. Reality is created through rhetoric 2. A critic can know an artifact only though personal interpretation of it.

What are two reasons to engage in generic criticism?

1. Rhetorical critics can understand social reality and its relationship to rhetoric. 2. Critics who study genres can see how rhetorical acts influence each other and how rhetoric is shaped by prior rhetoric.

What were possible options about ending or continuing the Vietnam War that Nixon discussed (and could have discussed) in the speech?

1.Immediate withdrawal. 2.Fixed-schedule withdrawal. 3.Negotiation. 4.(Escalation). 5."Vietnamization."

What were Hill's general conclusions about Nixon's speech?

1.Nixon's message was designed for a middle-of-the-road audience (the "silent majority"). 2.The speech was written by a "superior technician" to reach this audience.

What is Plato's allegory of the cave?

Allegories are meant to teach. In the Allegory of the cave people sit at the bottom of the cave stumbling in dark, cold ignorance. Someone builds a fire that creates flickering shadows of reality (forms). The shadows can't be trusted. Plato's view of rhetoric.

What is Vatz's response to Bitzer's rhetorical situation?

Argued that rhetors don't discover rhetorical situations, rhetors create rhetorical situations.

What is Aristotle's view on truth and rhetoric?

Aristotle defined rhetoric as: "the faculty of discovering the available means of persuasion in any given case." Aristotle also argued that rhetoric is useful because "things that are true and just have a natural tendency to prevail over their opposites."

How did Hussein try to establish ethos?

By removing the responsibility of his actions from himself and attributing his power to God's will. Also, attempting to unite the Arab people to fight for a common cause.

How does Brown describe the style of Hussein's speeches?

Classical Arab dialect demonstrated authority. Promotes image of prestige and grace from its association to politics & religious. Contributed to his authority as a religious leader protected by Allah, declaring the war a "holy war" and then using the language of the muslim religion.

What is Kenneth Burke's "unending conversation" metaphor?

Critical conversation: You get to a parlor late, the people there are in a heated discussion too complicated for anyone to stop and tell you what's going on. The conversation has gone on the original people who started the conversation left so no one is qualified to retrace the conversation anyway. You listen, you out in your thoughts. Someone answers you, you answer them, another defends you and another attacks you. And the conversation continues despite being late when you leave.

What is the apologia strategy of denial?

Disavow act, intent to do wrong, or wrongness of the act. Regardless of the level of denial, it needs to be plausible to work.

How does Brown describe the delivery of Hussein's speeches?

Dynamic and energetic, especially when he read from the Koran. Pre-prepared.

What are two important Sophistic ideas?

For every argument there is an equal and opposite argument. Humanity is the measure of all things.

What are differences between humanistic and social sciences research?

Humanistic (rhetorical): assesses texts that are delivered in natural contexts. Rhetorical criticism offers one well argued interpretation. Social science (empirical): manipulates contexts to identify and study variables. Social science tries to achieve results that can be replicated.

How does Foss describe the standards of evaluation for critical essays?

Justification: must be able to justify what you say or offer reasons in support of the claims you make in your report of your findings. Reasonable inference: must know how you moved from the data of the artifact to the claims you are making. Coherence: must arrange and present you findings so they are congruent and consistent.

What were Hussein's three major logical arguments?

Justified the conquering of Kuwait by 1. Pointing out that his success meant he was right in the eyes of Allah. 2. The common mentality among Iraqis that Kuwait lands actually belong to Iraq. 3. Urging other Arab nations to support the fight against "evil" Western societies.

What type of organization did Hussein use?

Started with a quote/paraphrase from the Koran. Then, praise of Iraqi citizens enduring constant air raids. Reassured citizens of an Iraqi victory. Finished by criticizing the Western nations. Encouraged Arab nations to join in the fight.

What are the substantive requirements of genre?

features of the rhetoric itself

What is genre or generic criticism?

seeks to discover the commonalities in rhetorical patterns across recurring situations

What are the situational requirements of genre?

the perception that conditions in a situation calls forth a particular kind of response

What is apologia?

to account or defend oneself against accusations of wrongdoing

What are four communicative purposes of rhetoric?

(1) To persuade (2) To invite understanding (3) As a way of knowing ourselves/ self-knowledge (4) to define reality (pg. 5 & class)

According to Nelson, what apologia strategies did Billie Jean King use in her defense?

-Bolstering: King appeared with her husband. King and her husband talked of starting a family. -Differentiation: King (and her husband) talked of the pressure of the tennis tour and of King's travel.

According to Nelson, what apologia strategies did Billie Jean King's peers use in defense of King?

-Bolstering: They reminded people of King's work on behalf of female athletes, male athletes, and women outside of sports. -Differentiation: They made a distinction between public and private behavior..

What are some limitations of neo-Aristotelian criticism, according to Foss and class discussion?

-Effect: Only looks at effect, not always the best method of speech. -Rational Bias: Makes a point for others to see but won't stop the problem. -Discursive Bias: a form of words. Arguments made with language. Nonverbal choices. -One speaker/speech at a time. -Bias towards famous or significant speeches.

What are three things that neo-Aristotelian criticism does not account for, according to Hill?

1. The wisdom of the speaker's choice of target audience. 2. Whether a political policy is viable. 3. The estimated truth of a rhetor's statements.

What is the difference between rhetorical acts and rhetorical artifacts?

Acts: executed in the presence of a rhetor's intended audience. Harder to study because it's in the moment. Artifacts: the text/ tangible evidence of the act. Accessible to a wider audience. (pg. 6)

What is the apologia strategy of transcendence?

Admit act, defend it with a higher goal/purpose (would do it to try to help, etc.)

What is the apologia strategy of differentiation?

Admit to act, but reframe it for the audience.

What is Plato's theory of the forms?

Every concept has a "form"; an ideal representation of a concept inborn in us. Plato's view of ultimate truths.

How did Gary Brown describe the context of Saddam Hussein's war addresses?

His war addresses being for the untrained military public as given the context of not having previous military experience. He would also make radio addresses to the average people of Iraq & the neighboring nations given the context of the low morale in Iraq and the chosen casual arabic language.

What is Foss's definition of rhetoric?

Human use of symbols to communicate (pg. 3)

5 (6) canons of reasoning

Inductive reasoning, deductive reasoning, organization, style, delivery, and memory (the lost canon).

What is the function of literary criticism, according to Herbert Wichelns?

Literary criticism is concerned with permanence & beauty.

What is the apologia strategy of bolstering?

Positive relationships between speaker & audience values.

What does Foss mean when she says that rhetoric "tells us what reality is"?

Reality is not fixed. It changes based on the symbols (words) we use to talk about it. (pg. 5)

What does it mean to say that communication is the purpose of rhetoric?

Rhetoric functions to allow humans to communicate. (pg. 5)

What is Plato's vision of rhetoric?

Rhetoric is invariably bad. Rhetors cannot be trusted.

What does it mean to say that humans are the creators of rhetoric?

Rhetoric is limited to human rhetors as the originators/creators of messages (pg. 4)

What is the Sophists' view of rhetoric?

Rhetoric is necessary. Ideally, rhetoric is responsible.

What is Bitzer's rhetorical situation? How does it define rhetoric?

Rhetoric ultimately performs a task, produces action, or change. This is what makes Communication different from psychology, business, or sociology.

What is the function of rhetorical criticism, according to Herbert Wichelns?

Rhetorical criticism is concerned with effect.

What does it mean to say that symbols are the medium for rhetoric?

Symbols stand for or represent something else. Our choice of symbol are words. (pg. 4 & class)

What is "systematic analysis" and how does it enable us to explain rhetoric?

Systematic analysis is the more conscious, focused, strategic way of the natural process of responding to symbols. It enables us to explain rhetoric because it allows us to become more sophisticated in explaining, investigating and understanding symbols and our responses to them. (pg. 6)

What is Foss's definition of criticism?

Systematic investigation and explanation of symbolic acts and artifacts for the purpose of understanding rhetorical processes. (pg. 6)

What is Plato's vision of truth?

Truth is absolute. Truth is unchanging. Truth is difficult for people to apprehend. People's perception of truth often changes.

What are some negative (and from our perspective, wrong) associations with the word "rhetoric?"

Typically, the term is used to mean empty, bombastic language that has no substance... or flowery, ornamental speech with metaphors and other figures of speech (pg. 1)

How did Hussein try to generate pathos?

Used his speeches to unite the Muslim/Arab people to stir up emotions to sway other Muslims/Arabs to help Iraq fight.

How did Brown argue that Hussein used invention?

Used religious law as a base for logical arguments.

Does Brown argue that Hussein's speeches were effective or not? Why and how?

Yes, it was successful in obtaining sympathy from other muslim nations. It promoted Arab pride. And finally it reached his intended audience.

1. What are the following components of Bitzer's rhetorical situation? a. Exigence b. Audience c. Constraints

a. Exigence: imperfection marked by urgency that can be modified through discourse (needing a job, apply and present self as credible & excited) b. Audience: capable of being influenced, impacts exigence (employer, can change your employment status) c. Constraints: anythings that impacts audience ability to modify exigence, can be negative/positive, tangible/intangible.

What happens in each of the parts of a neo-Aristotelian criticism? a. Reconstructing the context in which the rhetorical artifact occurred. b. Applying the five canons of rhetoric to the artifact: c. Assessing effects of the rhetorical artifact.

a. Reconstructing the context in which the rhetorical artifact occurred: what were the talents, positions, and goals of the rhetor? what elements of the occasion influenced the rhetor? what can we know about the audience? WHAT WAS THE RHETOR'S GOAL. B. Invention: speaker's major ideas, line of argument, and content. C. Assessment of the effects: immediate effects, long term effects.