The 11The 11thth grade AP grade AP classroomclassroomOr, “What have I gotten myself into?”Or, “What have I gotten myself into?”

Rhetoric and CompositionRhetoric and Composition

First semester of first year of English in First semester of first year of English in collegecollege

Focus is on writingFocus is on writing The purpose is to prepare the student for The purpose is to prepare the student for

all future university level coursesall future university level courses Second semester in college is literatureSecond semester in college is literature And easier, generally speakingAnd easier, generally speaking

CompositionComposition

There are different forms of writingThere are different forms of writing PersuasionPersuasion ExpositoryExpository NarrativeNarrative DescriptiveDescriptive

and when you add in purpose and and when you add in purpose and audience, the combinations are endlessaudience, the combinations are endless You’ll probably feel like the writing in this You’ll probably feel like the writing in this

class is endlessclass is endless

RhetoricRhetoric

““Art of oratory”Art of oratory” The art of speaking or writing wellThe art of speaking or writing well The study of the rules of compositionThe study of the rules of composition Communication as a means of persuasionCommunication as a means of persuasion

There is a negative connotation that rhetoric There is a negative connotation that rhetoric is empty, useless, although pretty sounding, is empty, useless, although pretty sounding, speech speech

PersuasionPersuasion

““to advise thoroughly”to advise thoroughly” To move a person’s beliefs from one position to To move a person’s beliefs from one position to

another, or the attempt thereofanother, or the attempt thereof Can happen through speech, writing, or actionCan happen through speech, writing, or action

The negative connotation here is that some The negative connotation here is that some people consider persuasion as simply one people consider persuasion as simply one person pushing his beliefs onto anotherperson pushing his beliefs onto another

ArgumentationArgumentation

Discourse intended to persuadeDiscourse intended to persuade A coherent series of statements leading A coherent series of statements leading

from a premise to a conclusionfrom a premise to a conclusion A reason given in proof or rebuttalA reason given in proof or rebuttal

The negative connotation here should be The negative connotation here should be easy – argumentation is fighting or easy – argumentation is fighting or quarrellingquarrelling

Why am I teaching Why am I teaching negativity?negativity?

Rhetoric, argumentation, and persuasion Rhetoric, argumentation, and persuasion are not negative ideas and should not be are not negative ideas and should not be stereotypically rebuked as such.stereotypically rebuked as such.

You’ll learn that these are simply terms in You’ll learn that these are simply terms in normal, healthy, productive speech and normal, healthy, productive speech and writingwriting

btw…btw…

Do you know the difference between Do you know the difference between these:these: DenotationDenotation ConnotationConnotation

Works CitedWorks Cited

Merriam-Webster Online DictionaryMerriam-Webster Online Dictionary. . 2008. 2008.

Merriam-Webster Online. 21 August Merriam-Webster Online. 21 August 2008 2008

<http://www.merriamwebster.com<http://www.merriamwebster.com

/dictionary>/dictionary>