Language persuades us that we, indeed, were the weakest link if we couldn't answer some senseless questions on some game show. It wasn't the British lady who made it hurt, it was the fact that these words had meaning. I blame the words themselves. Not the British. We won that war.
I agree with the idea that language persuades us. We are constantly asking ourselves or proving to someone else what we do every day. We persuade the voices in our head that it was okay that we had McDonalds for dinner, even though we're on a diet. We persuade others that we know something in every day conversation. We persuade others by our appearance and manner of speaking who we are and what we stand for.
I think this is an excellent point to bring up to students. Rhetoric gives them a power they already have to run with and develop. Often when I'm tutoring, I ask my students the question of "why". It takes an understanding of rhetoric to satisfy the need to know "why" or persuade your audience of a certain idea. I want to know why your dog ate your homework.
After taking a technical communication class last semester, I find myself occupied with critiquing how clear and concise, not only documents are, but how others use language. Clarity in language helps us to function. Rhetoric helps us to know what someone is clearly asking of us.
The art of rhetoric is everywhere. Viewing the world through rhetoric causes us to question and come up with answers. Don't we want to join this game show?
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haha, it's awesome that you used the line from the weakest link. Anyway, I completely see what you're saying about encouraging students to grasp the idea of rhetoric. I like that you said you are constantly asking "why", it is much better than simply punishing the student because the must come up with an explanation. I'm taking technical communication now and I am noticing that it is much different from other english classes that want you to be extra wordy and sophisticated.
ReplyDeleteI agree that rhetoric gives students power and better understanding. Rhetoric definitely gets the students to ask "why" and therefore understand what is being conveyed to them through writing. It helps them have a better grasp of not only understanding what others want to convey to them, but it also helps students better convey to others what they want to put out there.
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