What is Rhetoric?

Chapter one of, Contemporary Perspectives on Rhetoric, by Foss, Foss, and Trapp, is an interesting read on the topic of rhetoric, and what their definition is of the subject, as well as it's history. According to Foss, Foss, and Trapp, "rhetoric is the human use of symbols to communicate" (Foss, Foss, and Trapp 1-13). How would I interpret this? Well, I would say based off the reading, and the examples they provide in chapter one, that rhetoric is the ability to communicate efficiently with your intended audience, in an effective and persuasive manner. I do agree with this, as one needs to be able to communicate their ideas well, whether it be writing, speaking, body language, or through other various forms.

As we all know, humans can communicate with one another, in one way, shape, or form, but are we doing this as effectively as we could? I'd say the answer is no. How many misunderstanding do we have with people? How about that text you sent to a friend, which they misconstrued? How about that class presentation you gave, and you didn't know what you where talking about...guess what? Your audience didn't know what you were talking about either. These misunderstandings happen all the time, and with the ever increasing use of multi-media flat forms, in which we use to communicate, I'd say the study of rhetoric is more important than ever. The ability to communicate well, is the ability to reach many.

Aristotle: Rhetoric is "the faculty of discovering in any particular case all of the available means of persuasion.

A. Richards:  Rhetoric is the study of misunderstandings and their remedies.

"A Few Definitions of Rhetoric." Stanford University. Web. 25 Aug. 2011. 
             <http://www.stanford.edu/dept/english/courses/sites/lunsford/pages/defs.htm>.