As the United States entered the nineteenth century, it did so under the influence of the Second Great Awakening. This was the second wave of revivalism to sweep the nation, and it originated in the frontier as the Great Western Revival. One pertinent characteristic of the revival was its rhetoric, a rhetoric that was a prime expression of a…

Part of a larger investigation of the rhetorical character of the presidencies of Harry Truman through Jimmy Carter, this report concentrates on the presidents' linguistic styles and their semantic choices. The first half of the report discusses the background of the study and the development of a computerized language analysis…

This monograph examines the way in which ideas emerged and grew in the rhetorical process of creating an American people, and the ways in which the ideas were transformed into fundamental symbols that have exerted their influence throughout United States history. The first chapter analyzes certain discourses of the American Revolution to show the…

The key element in negotiation is power. This case study shows how one conservative group (ONE, the Organization of the Northeast, a Chicago community group) used "radical rhetoric" to achieve functional power in negotiations for community improvements. "Radical rhetoric" employs the tactics and the strategies used by…

This study determines the extent to which skills of written composition, as defined by a modern rhetorical theory, appear in a selected sample of resources available to teachers. The sources judged and evaluated in the content analysis were textbooks used in preparation of English teachers, textbooks used by students in English classes,…

"Newsweek's" article "Why Johnny Can't Write" (Dec. 8, 1975), adopts a "know it all posture" which defies the real evaluation of the statistical decline in language skills among high school graduates. "Newsweek's" attribution of this decline to the presence of television culture and its focusing of blame on…

During the late nineteenth century, political rhetoric in some regions of the United States was affected by the philosophy of "populism," based on the belief that government exists to serve all the people, not just special interests. The Populist Party thrived in isolated rural areas, particularly the Dakota territories, at a time when…

Rhetorical critics generally base their comments on the assumption that a communicator has all the reasons, persuasive devices, and approaches available in the rhetorical situation, and that he can make choices of what should be utilized. The lawyer-persuader, however, does not have unlimited choice since he is bound by legal rules and…

In this study of the organizational patterns of 46 United States presidential inaugural addresses there were four research questions, relating to the overall pattern of the speeches and the internal structure of ideas and topics. Key findings indicate that: (1) 25 of the 46 speeches have three easily discernible parts--introduction, body,…

This anthology of contemporary messages is designed to offer the student a combination of varied readings related to the medium and subject matter of speech communication. The messages involve a variety of speakers and issues. The emphasis is on the contemporary, with special attention given to the relevance of speech communication to our society.…

Consciousness-raising as a prime rhetorical strategy of the women's liberation movement is examined. One goal of the women's liberation movement is to persuade women that they live in a state of oppression and, bringing them to this realization, to provide them with the means of breaking out of their psychological bondage. The…

A critique of the Arts, Americans, and Education Panel report, "Coming to Our Senses," for its study methods, its national policy recommendations, and its rhetorical styling. (SJL)

Examines the challenge posed by the naturalist philosophy of language--the view that the meanings of symbols are fixed by the environment. Compares the naturalist philosophy with that presented in an activist Native American essay that argues for the preservation of traditional native languages. (SRT)

Discusses the radical dramatism of language and the implications for writing instruction. (MM)

Analyzes the American Indian Movement (AIM) with respect to (1) the role of tradition in AIM demands; (2) militant Indian rhetoric as a form of ritual self-address; (3) how Indian religious/cultural beliefs restrict the ability of language to persuade Whites; and (4) how militant Indian rhetoric fulfills its function. (PD)