What is rhetoric?

Before enrolling in English 201, I didn't have a very clear understanding of what the term rhetoric meant. Based solely on the context in which I've heard the word used, I would say that rhetoric is the way that somebody uses language when speaking to somebody else. More specifically, I would say that rhetoric is a form of using propaganda orally; it is the clever use of language to persuade others. For example, when somebody asks a rhetorical question, they don't really expect a reply but rather use it as a way to get you to agree with what is being said.

Having read Chapter One from James A. Herrick's The History and Theory of Rhetoric: An Introduction, I now realize that that is much more to be said about what the term rhetoric encompasses. First of all, it is important to note that the term has had a history of ups and downs. As we look through the past few thousand years, rhetoric has been an important tool in society for some, while for others the idea of using rhetoric has been so potentially harmful that its teachings have been banned from many colleges and universities. Based on the recent interest in this discipline, it seems that more and more people are beginning to realize that rhetorical work does have an important place in society. For example, Herrick states that the use of rhetoric is paramount in everything from shaping our economy to figuratively selling ourselves to potential lovers to taking those horse pills the doctor prescribed. The importance of rhetoric doesn't stop here. It is monumental in shaping policies on the communal, local, national and world levels.

Perhaps a better definition of rhetoric is the study of using symbols in a carefully thought out manner to attempt to persuade. More simply put, it is the study of how to use symbols to effectively transmit your argument to those people who need convincing. These symbols can be inanimate or not, ideological or real, simple or ornate. When carefully planned out, these symbols can be highly affective and persuasive. The key to maximizing the effectiveness is to study your audience and prepare for dialog both for and against what you have said.