Rhetoric is about awareness of the words, the circumstances and the form. Anyone engaged in practical rhetorical communication must do so in a specific situation, with certain frameworks and circumstances. The mediator, the rhetoric, conveys his case and argumentation by giving it a rhetorically well-formed and appropriate expression to influence the recipient in the desired way. The course is built on these necessary elements of rhetorical communication.

This course will provide introduction to and knowledge of the theoretical foundation of conviction, persuasio. What has the rhetoric done to create the desired conviction? This means that the students will have both a theoretical and a practical relationship with conviction. In this lies both the pure words, that is, the narrow persuasio - and the broad persuasio; all extraneous, yet significant elements of what has created the conviction.

Central to the course are Aristotle, but also newer rhetoricians and new-rhetoric. But the Aristotelian orientation is central. Aristotle understood rhetoric as the ability to convince, but also an awareness of abuse and manipulation, including the concepts of propaganda, dialogic communication and monologue.

Therefore, the following topics will be taught:

The rhetorical preparatory phases that structure the various elements of the rhetoric
Conviction, words and defense strategies
How speeches, texts and appeals are developed
Audience analysis
Credibility/speaker's ethos
Forms of debate and timing
About the rhetorical kairos; the meaning of time/place

Subject description RET3200

Rhetorics and Argumentation

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