ENGL 2XXX

Honors History of Rhetoric

As long as there has been such a social construct as formal education, rhetoric (defined by Aristotle as discovering the available means of persuasion in any situation) has been the cornerstone of instruction. Rhetoric has changed as human societies have changed, but two elements remain constant: Rhetoric provides us with the skills to persuade others effectively, and it provides us with tools to effectively evaluate the way people are trying to persuade us (or others). Given the centrality of rhetoric to the educational system and to the role that persuasion plays in our everyday life, a course that acquaints you with major concepts in rhetorical thought and that teaches you to apply those concepts to public and private communication should be of great use to you, both academically and personally. This class will give you a snapshot of three different periods in rhetorical history: the classical period, the Enlightenment, and the contemporary period

Units: 3.0