The purpose of this book is to assist undergraduates in discovering basic phenomena of rhetorical situations and rhetorical talk and in interpreting those phenomena socially. The nature of oral rhetoric and its criticism is treated in chapters one and two. Chapters three and four deal with how obvious and less obvious ideas may be espied and…

This book is designed to help teachers and students of speech, language, English, rhetoric, public address, and speech communication understand the nature of discourse and analyze communicative behavior. Chapters deal with (1) the philosophical bases for the relationships between the speech act and the rhetorical act, (2) the basic concepts of the…

The western is the most popular and enduring of Hollywood forms. It is one embodiment of a traditional theme in American culture: the West as both Garden of natural dignity and innocence and also as treacherous Desert resisting the gradual sweep of agrarian progress and community values. Westerns have in common: a) history, America's past; b)…

Interpretive remarks have both a subjective element and an objective element: subjective in the sense that an intelligent and full understanding of a work of literature may depend upon the reader having a certain background experience and knowledge; objective in the sense that, to be valid, an interpretation must have an objective basis in the…

Theory-building in any field of inquiry is essential and utilitarian. This paper argues two points: that a concern for theory could redirect some of our typical approaches to rhetorical criticism; and that generic criticism must, by its nature, fully respond to this call for theory-building. Four important areas of rhetorical criticism are…

The author of The Coming Crisis of Western Sociology considers some of the criticisms directed at it in the July 1972 American Journal of Sociology, and expresses some of his reactions to them. (Author)

The rich tradition of drama as instrument, the many eloquent defenses of drama as teacher, and the structural potentialities of thought-controlled drama argue convincingly that didactic drama can be both useful and fascinating. (Author)

While a critic measures a speech against a number of standards to determine its worth, a historian attempts to explain it in the context of social-institutional activity. After discussing the differences between rhetorical criticism and rhetorical history, this paper distinguishes among various types of historical explanations, illustrates each…

Describes a method of teaching composition that focuses on rhetorical strategies in fiction, poetry, drama, and the essay, and by considering how these strategies are used effectively to achieve particular effects. (TO)

Examines the relationship between rhetorical theory and rhetorical criticism, and discusses the current evolution of rhetorical criticism and the theoretical suppositions accounting for this evolution. (MH)

The contents of this book represent one critic's views on some qualities and questions in the theater between 1964 and 1975 and include relevant biographical (e.g., the career of Joseph Papp) and historical articles. The five parts of the book deal with theaters--American and foreign; productions--revivals and new plays; notes on music; stages of…

Evaluates President Nixon's speech of November 3, 1969 in literary terms-as an example of the genre known as the quest story. (AN)