UNIT 1. Our Rhetorical World

Part A. Perspectives on Rhetoric

1. Stories and the Rhetoric of Contrariety: Subtexts of Organizing (Change), Martha S. Feldman and Kaj Sköldberg, Culture & Organization, Volume 8, Number 4, 2002

This article used the enthymeme, a concept from classical rhetoric, to reveal the underlying logic contained in stories. The authors go on to discuss the importance of stories and their meaning in our culture.

2. Narratives and Culture: The Role of Stories in Self-Creation, Arran Gare, Telos, Winter 2002

Author Arran Gare examines the connection between narratives and culture. Structural semiotics is used to understand narrative.

3. Ancient Egyptian Rhetoric in the Old and Middle Kingdoms, David Hutto, Rhetorica, Summer 2002

In this study, David Hutto presents classical Egyptian views on rhetoric and communication. He contrasts Egyptian views with prevailing Western views of rhetoric.

4. Reconceptualizing Communication and Rhetoric From a Feminist Perspective, Jessica Lee Shumake, Guidance & Counseling, Summer 2002

In this essay, Jessica Shumake provides a feminist view of rhetoric. She first puts forth the view that communication is an act of co-creating meaning and then provides a contrast between feminist views of rhetoric and more traditional views.

5. The Origins and Nature of Arguments: Studies in Conflict Understanding, Emotion, and Negotiation, Nancy L. Stein and Elizabeth R. Albro, Discourse Processes, Volume 32, Numbers 2 and 3, 2001

Perspectives on argumentation in interpersonal relationships are the focus of this article. The authors explain how various argumentation skills are employed and how use of such skills affects relationships.

Part B. Applications of Rhetoric

6. “It Helps to Be a Don if You’re Going to Be a Deirdre”: Revisiting the Rhetoric of Economics, Davis W. Houck, Argumentation and Advocacy, Fall 2002

This essay reviews several books by Deirdre McCloskey, an economist who advocates a rhetorical view of economics.

7. Rationality and Rhetoric in the Corporate World: The Corporate Annual Report as an Aristotelian Genre, Robert White and Dallas Hanson, Prometheus, Volume 18, Number 3, 2000

This paper analyzes corporate reports as rhetorical documents. The way in which corporate reports are used by corporations to communicate with their publics is illustrated by examples from the annual report of a multinational firm.

8. The Rhetoric of “Terrorism” and Its Consequences, Tomis Kapitan and Erich Schulte, Journal of Political and Military Sociology, Summer 2002

Tomis Kapitan and Erich Schulte present a detailed analysis of the public rhetoric surrounding the topic of “terrorism.” To illustrate their viewpoint, the authors detail a case study of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

9. Kosovo and the Metaphor War, Roland Paris, Political Science Quarterly, Volume 117, Number 3, 2002

Roland Paris asserts that metaphors often function as political communication devices. As an example, he examines the metaphors used to describe the conflict in Kosovo.

10. Discourses of War: The Landscape of Congressional Rhetoric, Glenn A. Phelps and Timothy S. Boylan, Armed Forces & Society, Summer 2002

This article provides a detailed account of the arguments and debate surrounding the War Powers Resolution of 1973. Congressional deliberations surrounding the resolution are analyzed.

11. Hobart and William Smith Professors Give Powell’s Speech a Failing Grade, Virginia Q. Tilley and Kevin C. Dunn, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, February 15, 2003

Two professors of political science provide a detailed critique of the arguments made by Secretary of State Colin Powell before the United Nations in favor of action against Iraq. If Powell were their student, they would have failed him due to both errors of fact and weaknesses in logic.

12. Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song”: The Rhetoric of Reggae and Rastafari, Stephen King and Richard J. Jensen, Journal of Popular Culture, Winter 1995

This rhetorical analysis of Bob Marley’s songs presents the argument that music is a persuasive force. The authors use music from the Rastafarian movement to illustrate the point.

13. Faking Identity in Clubland: The Communicative Performance of “Fake ID”, Dean Scheibel, Text and Performance Quarterly, Volume 12, 1992

The author’s research discusses the communicative process engaged in by underage college students when attempting to gain access to bars and clubs. The study describes varying social contexts, “good fake IDs,” and interactions between female partyers and male “gatekeepers.”

14. The Role of Humor in Political Argument: How “Strategery” and “Lockboxes” Changed a Political Campaign, Chris Smith and Ben Voth, Argumentation and Advocacy, Fall 2002

Chris Smith and Ben Voth analyze the use of humor in political argumentation, highlighting examples from the 2000 campaign between George W. Bush and Al Gore. The authors also trace the historical connection between humor and rhetoric.

Part C. The Ethical Implications of Rhetoric: Avoiding Plagiarism

15. Plagiarism, Fabrication, and Lack of Attribution, Stephanie C. Ardito, Information Today, July/August 2002

Stephanie Ardito discusses the topic of plagiarism in academia and the business world. Award-winning historians Stephen Ambrose and Doris Goodwin are held up as examples of what not to do.

16. The Great ‘Intelligence’ Fraud, Alexander Cockburn, The Nation, March 3, 2003

This article provides a detailed critique of Secretary of State Colin Powell’s address to the United Nations on February 5, 2003. Alexander Cockburn critiques the arguments made by Powell to justify action against Iraq.

17. Cheat Wave, Richard Jerome and Pam Grout, People, June 17, 2002

The plagiarism controversy in Piper, Kansas, raised serious concerns across the nation. Christine Pelton, a biology teacher, failed several students who copied material from the Internet. This article discusses reactions from parents and the school board and the subsequent fallout from other academics.

18. Make Your Paraphrasing Plagiarism Proof With a Coat of E-Prime, David F. Maas, ETC: A Review of General Semantics, Summer 2002

David Maas discusses the topic of plagiarism. A strategy called E-Prime is presented to help students understand how to paraphrase information ethically.

19. Honesty and Honor Codes, Donald McCabe and Linda Klebe Trevino, Academe, January/February 2002

Because academic dishonesty is on the rise in colleges and universities, many institutions are now developing honor codes to address the issue. This article discusses why the authors believe that honor codes are necessary to combat academic dishonesty and plagiarism.

20. The Plagiarism of Generation ‘Why Not?’, Deborah Straw, Community College Week, July 8, 2002

Author Deborah Straw discusses the topic of plagiarism in secondary education in the United States. She provides accounts of why students plagiarize and statistics that reveal how widespread the problem is.

UNIT 2. Public Speaking Skills

Part A. Nonverbal Communication

21. Is Your Body Language on Your Side?, Lisa Frederiksen Bohannon, Career World, November 11, 2000

Lisa Bohannon discusses the importance of body language in communicating with others and suggests how eye contact, posture, and other body language can improve clarity and confidence. As examples, she focuses on job interview situations.

22. Do You Speak Body Language?, Anne Warfield, Training & Development, April 2001

The author discusses how body language and other elements of nonverbal communication are used during communication situations.

23. More Powerful Communication: From the Language of Prizes and Praising to the Language of Ongoing Regard, Robert Kegan and Lisa Laskow Lahey, Journal of Organizational Excellence, Summer 2001

The authors discuss the use of language to communicate “ongoing regard” for employees, which is deeper and can be more meaningful to employees than simple “praise.”

24. Use Large Words Sparingly, Paula LaRocque, Quill, December 2002

Paul LaRocque focuses on the use of large words and difficult-to-understand language in writing and speaking. The use of overblown gobbledygook can result in loss of meaning or misunderstanding by the audience.

Part B. Self-Esteem

25. Shyness: The New Solution, Bernardo Carducci, Psychology Today, January/February 2000

In addition to discussing strategies for becoming more confident, this article presents the results of a survey on shyness. The author explains various factors associated with shyness and how shyness affects people.

Part C. Nervousness

26. Presenting With Power, Angela Kay Larson and Tom Mucciolo, Communication World, August/September 1997

This article provides tips for effective business presentations including the importance of rehearsal, ways to reduce nervousness, and using nonverbal communication.

27. Performance Anxiety, Mark McMaster, Sales & Marketing Management, August 2002

This article provides case study information from sales executives who have overcome speaking anxiety. Preparation for presentations and learning from the audience are empahsized as effective solutions.

28. 7 Steps to Fearless Speaking, Lilyan Wilder, from 7 Steps to Fearless Speaking, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1999

The author discusses the fear of public speaking and offers seven techniques that can be employed to help reduce this fear.

Part D. Listening

29. A Manager’s Guide to Effective Listening, Dr. Robert C. Boyle, Manage, July 1999

This article discusses the importance of effective listening in business situations. It provides examples of how detrimental ineffective listening can be.

30. Good Listeners Are Better Communicators, Bob Lamons, Marketing News, September 11, 1995

Effective listening is an essential communication skill. Factors that constitute poor listening as well as strategies for becoming a more effective listener are covered.

Part E. Presentation Technology

31. What Do We Do With These Computers? Reflections on Technology in the Classroom, Mark Goddard, Journal of Research on Technology in Education, Fall 2002

Mark Goddard suggests appropriate uses of instructional technology. He advocates a diffusion of technology from the classroom to the community and discusses the relationship between technology and curriculum.

32. Speaker’s Notes, Michael Kerr, Presentations, November 2002

Michael Kerr discusses effective ways to use Microsoft PowerPoint during business presentations. Specifically, he addresses how PowerPoint can be used to make presentations more humorous.

33. The Good, the Bad and the Very Ugly, Patricia Moore, NZ Business, September 2002

This article presents a discussion of business presentations in New Zealand. It can be useful for understanding how speaking practices might differ between cultures.

Part F. Persuasion

34. Persuasion: A Modern Management Technique, Ken Fracaro, Supervision, June 2002

Ken Fracaro analyzes the relevance of persuasion in management situations. He explains techniques for improving skills in persuasion.

35. A War Fought Without Guns, Dean E. Murphy, New York Times, October 14, 2001

This article engages in a discussion of the current “war of words” in which the United States is involved with some countries and ideologies in the Middle East.

36. Persuading Powerfully: Tips for Writing Persuasive Documents, Philip Vassallo, ETC: A Review of General Semantics, Spring 2002

Philip Vassallo provides practical suggestions for writing effective persuasive documents, as well as pointing out things to avoid.

Part G. Visual Aids

37. Visual Aids, Stephen D. Boyd, Credit Union Management, May 2001

Stephen Boyd offers tips on how to effectively incorporate visual aids into a speech. Introducing visual aids, using color, and relying on simplicity are all covered.

38. Winning Over the Boss, Rae Cook, IIE Solutions, January 2001

Rae Cook suggests ways to achieve conciseness and clarity in presentations to management executives. The article stresses the use of visual aids for clearer communication of ideas.

39. Props Help Bring Content Into the Visual Realm, Andrea Nierenberg, Presentations, April 2002

This article deals with how to use visual props in a presentation to effectively illustrate and emphasize the point of a speech.

UNIT 3. Contemporary Speech Issues

Part A. The Digital Culture

40. Digital Democracy, B. Keith Fulton, Vital Speeches of the Day, February 15, 2002

Keith Fulton, vice president of the AOL Time Warner Foundation, speaks before the National Civic League’s Digital Democracy Conference. Fulton discusses the role of the Internet post September 11, 2001.

41. Closing the Digital Divide, William B. Harrison Jr., Vital Speeches of the Day, July 15, 2002

William B. Harrison Jr., CEO of J. P. Morgan Chase & Co., discusses the use of information technology and steps that should be taken to address the digital divide.

42. The Disconnect Between Hollywood and America, Pat Sajak, Vital Speeches of the Day, August 15, 2002

Game-show host Pat Sajak discusses the incongruity between Hollywood and the mainstream American community.

Part B. American Education

43. Developing a World Class Education System, Blouke Carus, Vital Speeches of the Day, August 15, 2002

In this speech to the Forum on Reinventing Secondary Education in the United States, this corporate chairman discusses the importance of supporting political leaders who have progressive visions for education.

44. Embodying Our Messages, Teaching Our Students, John Hammerback, Vital Speeches of the Day, November 1, 2002

John Hammerback is a professor of communication at California State University, Hayward. Hammerback delivered this speech on the importance of rhetoric and communication pedagogy after receiving an outstanding professor award.

45. American Education, Luis M. Proenza, Vital Speeches of the Day, June 15, 2002

Luis Proenza is the president of the University of Akron. In this speech, he discusses a plan for rebuilding the U.S. educational system.

Part C. The World of Medicine

46. The Coming Golden Age of Medicine, Richard F. Corlin, Vital Speeches of the Day, July 1, 2002

Dr. Richard Corlin, president of the AMA, delivered this address to the Hahnemann University School of Medicine. In the address, Corlin speaks about medical malpractice, insurance, and other issues relevant to the medical profession.

47. Education Through Drug Use, Beverly K. Eakman, Vital Speeches of the Day, November 15, 2002

Beverly Eakman discusses the issues of socialization and mental health before the Citizens Commission on Human Rights. Eakman is the executive director of the National Education Consortium.

48. The Price of Prescription Drugs, Robert Ingram, Vital Speeches of the Day, September 1, 2002

Robert Ingram is the chief operating officer and president of pharmaceutical operations at GlaxoSmithKline. In this address, Ingram discusses the pharmaceutical industry and the topic of prescription drug pricing.

49. Medicine A Noble Profession, Donald J. Palmisano, Vital Speeches of the Day, September 15, 2002

Donald Palmisano is a professor of surgery and medical jurisprudence at Tulane University School of Medicine. In this address at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center commencement, he discusses the nature of the medical profession and the potential for those who work in it.

50. A Passion to Heal, William F. Sasser, Vital Speeches of the Day, April 1, 2002

William Sasser is the president of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Sasser’s address before the annual meeting of the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association discusses the dissatisfaction of many doctors with U.S. medical policy and managed care.

51. Smart Medicine Is Coming, Tony White, Vital Speeches of the Day, March 15, 2002

Tony White is the chairperson and CEO of Applera Corp. This Weiss lecture at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health discusses the Human Genome Project and the possibilities for increased knowledge of genetics.

Part D. Corporate Responsibility

52. The Enron Saga, Leon T. Kendall, Vital Speeches of the Day, July 15, 2002

Leon Kendall, a professor of finance and real estate at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, presented this address to Marquette University’s School of Business on May 9, 2002. Kendall discusses the Enron scandal and the need for corporate responsibility.

53. Success in Management, Anne M. Mulcahy, Vital Speeches of the Day, November 1, 2002

Anne Mulcahy is the chairman and CEO of Xerox Corporation. This address, delivered to the Economic Club of Detroit, discusses the value of leadership and communication in times of crisis.

54. Enron, Bob Wright, Vital Speeches of the Day, August 1, 2002

Bob Wright is an executive for both General Electric and the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC). In this address, Wright uses the Enron scandal to highlight the obligations inherent in the legal profession.

55. Restoring Trust, Bob Wright, Vital Speeches of the Day, December 15, 2002

In this speech, Bob Wright, an executive for both General Electric and the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), uses the Enron scandal to exemplify the topic of corporate responsibility and ethics.

Part E. Religious Identity

56. One Nation Under God, J. Kenneth Blackwell, Vital Speeches of the Day, October 1, 2002

The Ohio secretary of state, J. Kenneth Blackwell, presented this speech to the American Muslim Council in Alexandria, Virginia. Blackwell discusses the situation facing Muslim Americans after September 11, 2001.

57. Unlocking the Power of Your Brand, Robert L. Dilenschneider, Vital Speeches of the Day, January 15, 2003

Robert Dilenschneider speaks about the issue of national branding—presenting an image of “western democracy” and of “Islam.” He discusses how the West has become branded and how Islam has not effectively communicated Muslim culture to the United States.

58. Jews in America, Max M. Kampelman, Vital Speeches of the Day, July 15, 2002

Former U.S. ambassador Max M. Kampelman delivered this speech at the Jewish Community Center in Washington, D.C. on May 14, 2002. Kampelman discusses issues facing Jewish Americans.

59. Israel Stands at a Crossroads, Ariel Sharon, Vital Speeches of the Day, April 15, 2002

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel discusses the Arab-Israeli conflict in the context of terrorism in this address broadcast to the Nation of Israel March 31, 2002.

Part F. Diversity

60. Diversity, America’s Treasure Chest, Frank J. Belatti, Vital Speeches of the Day, August 1, 2002

Frank Belatti, chairman and CEO of AFC Enterprises, observes in this speech to the Women’s Foodservice Forum, that differences of opinion and diversity are hallmarks of American values.

61. Women and Minorities in Business, Edie Fraser, Vital Speeches of the Day, March 1, 2002

Edie Fraser, president of the Business Women’s Network (BWN) and Diversity Best Practices, speaks about the role of women and minorities in business. Fraser advocates governmental actions to improve the standing of women- and minority-owned businesses.

62. The Elusive Concept of Community, Richard D. Lamm, Vital Speeches of the Day, February 1, 2001

Richard Lamm, former governor of Colorado, discusses the importance of leadership in promoting tolerance, diversity, and community culture.

63. Globalization and Issues of Intercultural Communications, Susumu Yoshida, Vital Speeches of the Day, September 1, 2002

Susumu Yoshida is the managing director of Sumitomo Chemical Asia Pte Ltd. Yoshida discusses the importance of intercultural communication in a globalized economy.

Part G. The Environment

64. Coal Is Not a Four Letter Word, Richard A. Abdoo, Vital Speeches of the Day, January 1, 2002

In this speech before the Clean Coal and Power Conference, Richard Abdoo, CEO of Wisconsin Energy, argues that the United States should reduce reliance on natural gas for electric power. He states that technology is enabling coal-fired power plants to reduce emissions.

65. Environmentalism, Eugene Delgaudio, Vital Speeches of the Day, July 1, 2002

Eugene Delgaudio, county supervisor of Loudoun County, Virginia, discusses the threat of ecoterrorism, environmental regulations, and the connection between religion and environmentalism.

66. Water for the Future, Bruce I. Knight, Vital Speeches of the Day, October 1, 2002

Bruce Knight is the chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service. This address analyzes the water crisis facing the western United States.

67. Forests and Foresters, Steve Rogel, Vital Speeches of the Day, November 1, 2002

Steve Rogel is the chairman and CEO of Weyerhauser. Rogel discusses the interrelationship between a healthy environment and the forestry profession.

Part H. Ethics and Morality

68. A Just and Peaceful World, George W. Bush, Vital Speeches of the Day, June 15, 2002

This speech was delivered by President George W. Bush to the U.S. Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, New York, on May 29, 2002. Bush discusses how basic morals are common across cultures. Bush also discusses the traditions of the USMA.

69. Standing Tall Against Underage Drinking, J. Edward Hill, Vital Speeches of the Day, September 15, 2002

Dr. J. Edward Hill is the chairman of the board of trustees at the American Medical Association. Hill addresses the “serious, even deadly” issue of underage drinking.

70. The Family, John A. Howard, Vital Speeches of the Day, December 1, 2002

John Howard is a senior fellow of the Howard Center for Family, Religion and Society. This speech addresses the value of family and the importance of religion in our lives.

71. Ethics, Joseph Telushkin, Vital Speeches of the Day, July 1, 2000

Joseph Telushkin, a rabbi and author, delivered this address at Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan, on November 15, 1999. Rabbi Telushkin proposes that people have an ethical obligation to perform moral deeds on a daily basis.