I have to say that I enjoy this class very much. I love the discussions that we have requiring deep thought. I like learning how abstract this idea of rhetoric really is. It seems the idea we’ve been given most is that rhetoric is really just “thinking”. I still think that rhetoric can change the world. I’ve been observing several different classrooms through my education courses and see that often at times students aren’t allowed to or aren’t encouraged to think. Information is just thrown at them and they are expected to assimilate it, not analyze it. In reality, rhetoric is just a component of higher thinking. As humans, we’ve acquired this realm and ability to share complex ideas. Through the Toulmin model, we can successfully develop ideas and break them down. Furthermore, we can develop ideas that can’t be attacked. How much power is in that alone? Perhaps I am just power hungry, but the thought that rhetoric is such an art that I can learn entices me.
I can honestly say my brain hurts sometimes after class. However, it has sparked other creative and thoughtful juices I haven’t had since high school. These juices have helped me endeavor to spark higher thinking in the students I’ve been working with. So overall, I do believe I’m enjoying this course and it has been very helpful.
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“Perhaps I am just power hungry, but the thought that rhetoric is such an art that I can learn entices me.” Whoa…scary. =] I agree with you that a lot of time students do not question what they are told, they just accept it as fact because someone older and in a position of power told them so. I think it would be interesting to give students a completely bogus piece of information just to see how many of them instantly scribbled it down in their notebooks, and how many of them took the time to question what they had just heard. (Of course you have to correct them after blatantly lying to them! I think it would be an interesting lesson to teach within itself!) This class definitely gets me thinking, too! It’s interesting to hear the many different opinions that people have!
ReplyDelete"I still think that rhetoric can change the world. I’ve been observing several different classrooms through my education courses and see that often at times students aren’t allowed to or aren’t encouraged to think." I absolutely agree with this! Many students aren't encouraged to think for themselves. In so many English classes, students are encouraged to agree with whatever their teacher thinks, and to write their papers accordingly. I think by encouraging our students to learn the art of rhetoric, and to engage in discussions, we will help the to become much better students, especially in the composition classroom.
ReplyDeleteAwesome post. You've clearly been contemplating these ideas in numerous ways. If your brain is hurting after class, then it means that you are wrestling with ideas. I guess that is better than having your brain hurt from memorizing vocabulary words in high school, though I don't know that I could defend that idea.
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