Instructions
Read Chapter 4 of Paideia 18, “Working with Writing: A Rhetorical Approach” by Kellie Sharp-Hoskins
Write a two-paragraph response in which you:
[Paragraph 1] In a thoughtful and developed academic paragraph, identify and summarize two concepts or ideas from Paideia 18, Chapter 4: “Working with Writing: A Rhetorical Approach” that stood out, seemed important, or confused you.
NOTE: For more on academic writing, see the “Academic Writing Handout.”
[Paragraph 2] Under the section “What is Rhetoric? Histories, Purposes, Definitions” of Paideia 18, in Chapter 4, Kellie Sharp-Hoskins provides a definition of rhetoric via Sharon Crowley and Debra Hawhee which states that rhetoric is the “art that helps people compose effective discourse (436)” where “art” means the “expression or application of human creative skill and imagination” (49). Focusing on these definitions and the conversation in Chapter 4, find and reflect on an argument that you think is creative and artistic. This can be a famous speech, lyrics from a song, a passage from a book, etc. In your discussion, summarize the argument, situate where and when you encountered the argument, and discuss how you think the argument was artistic and creative in making an effective argument. If possible, provide a link to the text. The goal of this paragraph is for you to use a personal or textual example to explain your understanding of the meaning of rhetoric.
EXAMPLE:
Using Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech as a textual example, we can look to his use of images in his speech as a contributing factor to its effectiveness. The speech was made in an era where Black and Brown people in America faced discrimination and his speech sought to call attention to it and to compel American leaders to pass laws to end it. I encountered this speech as I looked for examples of great speeches. In the first paragraph of his speech, King says: “This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.” In these two sentences, he creates images of light and hope and fire and injustice in the minds of his audience, images with which they can readily associate. He was being creative as part of his rhetorical performance by conjuring those images which among other things accounts for the effectiveness of his speech.