Contemporary Rhetorical Criticism

Contemporary Rhetorical Criticism invites students to explore a wide range of texts, applying both traditional methods and very recent approaches. Clear presentations of theory and principles, with abundant examples, explain and illustrate the rhetorical workings of historical and contemporary public address, films, television shows, musical performances, and other verbal, visual, and material texts—even personal interactions. The book emphasizes the considerations in choosing methods to analyze particular texts. Each chapter includes guidelines for “choosing this method” and outlines the “strengths and weaknesses of this approach,” guiding students to choose the most appropriate method or methods for a particular text. Summaries of research examples show various ways scholars have used each method—sometimes in combination with others—to reveal their texts and engage with issues of concern. As students approach their own works of rhetorical criticism, the first two chapters guide them through the process of exploring a text in context. Two appendices guide them through the process of composing a formal critical essay.