Rhetoric
For this module of our class, our readings have focused on rhetoric, more specifically, what rhetoric should be.Aristotle, a classical rhetorician, draws a distinction between essentials and non-essentials and suggests that the purpose of rhetoric, or persuasive speech, is to reveal truth. Booth, on the other hand, concerns himself less with what rhetoric should be, preferring to discuss how one can master the art of persuasive speech. Pericles’s “The Funeral Oration” is an example, or perhaps exemplar, of persuasive speech.

Each of the aforementioned texts takes a particular stance with regards to rhetoric. Your task as a writer is to take a position about the purpose and ethics of rhetorical speech; for example, do you agree with Aristotle that “[i]t is not right to pervert [a] judge by moving him to anger or envy or pity” (178)?

Choose two of the four readings from this module (Aristotle, Pericles, Booth, and MLK, Jr.) to use as your “expert” sources. You must also use the TED Talk (TsheringTobgay) we watched in class last weekas an example of persuasive speech.

Using your expert sources, develop your own ethic of rhetoric. What is acceptable in persuasive speech? Why? Then, analyze and critique the TED Talk based on the criteria you establish in your rhetorical ethic.

Requirements:

4-6 page minimum length
12 pt. Times New Roman font
MLA style throughout, including a complete and correct works cited page
Heavy analysis (no summary)
No five paragraph essays

Final draft due: 4/10via turnitin.com.