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Introduction to Rhetorical Communication, An, 9/E
James C. McCroskey, West Virginia University

ISBN-10: 0205453511
ISBN-13: 9780205453511

Publisher: Allyn & Bacon
Copyright: 2006
Format: Paper; 352 pp
Published: 06/10/2005

Suggested retail price: $86.60
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An Introduction to Rhetorical Communication offers a true integration of rhetorical theory and social science approaches to public communication.

 

This highly successful text guides students through message planning and presentation in an easy step-by-step process. An Introduction to Rhetorical Communication provides students with a solid grounding in the rhetorical tradition and the basis for developing effective messages.

  • Provides an introduction to rhetorical and communication theories in the context of public communication.
  • Includes a survey of the history of rhetorical theory.
  • Discusses the audience, the speaker, and the message (Chs. 4-7).
  • Contains discussions of four classical rhetorical canons: invention, disposition, style and delivery (Chs. 10-12, and 14).
  • Discusses the important ethical choices that rhetoricians face (Ch. 15).
  • Provides sample speeches for analysis and criticism.
  • Includes a full chapter (Ch. 8) on culture and diversity, which focuses on how the changing world raises new concern for rhetorical communicators and emphasizes ethnocentrism using a new self-assessment measure.

  • Chapter 5, "Ethos" has been completely revised and updated with the most current research. The chapter in the new edition now recognizes and includes more references that the classical concept of ethos was more than just "source credibility."
  • The new edition has been thoroughly updated with new and revised examples.
  • The text has been updated to include new discussions that reflect current research findings.

Preface.

I. GETTING STARTED.

1. A Rhetorical Tradition.

Earliest Writings.

The Greek Period.

The Roman Period.

Third Century A.D. to the Renaissance.

The Renaissance.

The Colonial Period.

The Twentieth Century.

History in Perspective.

 

2. The Nature of Rhetorical Communication.

The Meaning of Rhetorical Communication.

Models of the Communication Process.

Interpersonal Communication Model.

Some Important Distinctions.

Misconceptions about Communication.

The Goals of Rhetorical Communication.

Listening

 

3. Stage Fright: A Normal Problem.

A Normal Problem.

Communication Apprehension.

Causes of Stage Fright.

Effects of Stage Fright.

Controlling Stage Fright.

A Final Word.

II. BASIC THEORY.

4. The Nature of the Receiver: Attitude Formation and Change.

The Nature of Attitudes.

Attitudes and Beliefs.

Attitude Formation.

The Persistence of Attitudes.

Attitude Consistency and Attitude Change.

Message Discrepancy and Attitude Change.

Retention of Attitude Change.

Rhetorical Thought.

 

5. Ethos: A Dominant Factor in Rhetorical Communication.

Ethos Defined.

The Dimensions of Ethos.

The Effect of Initial Ethos.

Initial Ethos and Learning.

Derived Ethos.

Terminal Ethos.

Long-Term Effect of Ethos.

Power and Ethos.

 

6. The Nature of Persuasive Argument.

A Psychological Model of Argument.

The Types of Claims.

The Types of Warrants.

Verification of Warrants.

The Types of Data.

Options Regarding Reservations.

 

7. Nonverbal Communication.

The Importance of Nonverbal Messages.

Proxemics.

Chronemics.

Oculesics.

Haptics.

Kinesics.

Objectics.

Vocalics.

 

8. Diversity and Culture.

Cultural Sensitivity.

Culture.

On Becoming Enculturated.

Culture as Communication Context.

Xenophobia and Ethnocentrism.

The Ethnocentrism Continuum.

Improving Rhetorical Communication Across Cultures.

III. MESSAGE PREPARATION AND PRESENTATION.

9. Message Preparation: Preliminary Considerations.

Selection of a Topic.

Selection of a Purpose.

General Audience Analysis.

Channels and Forms for Presentation of Messages.

Perception of the Possible.

 

10. Informative Messages.

Persuasive versus Informative Intent.

Pseudo-Informative Messages.

The Goodwill Informative Message.

The Motivation to Inform.

Understanding and Belief.

Understanding: Determining the Informative Goal.

Characteristics of Informative Messages.

The Materials for Informative Messages.

Visual Aids for Informative Communication.

 

11. Message Preparation: Invention.

Invention Defined.

The Basic Plan.

The Generation of Argument.

Determination of Needed Arguments.

Audience Analysis.

Inoculation and Reservations.

Topoi and the Generation of Argument.

The Aristotelian Topoi of Good and Evil.

Topoi of Policy Argument: Stock Issues.

The Town Public Policy Topoi.

The Topoi of Fear and Pleasure.

The Topoi of American Values.

Using Topoi in Invention.

Securing Data for Argument.

Tests of Evidence.

How to Obtain Evidence.

Recording Evidence.

 

12. Message Preparation: Disposition.

Selecting.

Apportioning.

Arranging.

Invention and Disposition: The Siamese Twins.

Research on Arrangement.

Outlining the Message.

 

13. Message Preparation: Style.

The Function of Style.

Characteristics of Good Style.

Differences in Oral and Written Style.

Factors of Attention and Interest.

Suggestion.

Satire and Humor.

Controlling Message Discrepancy through Style.

Distortion and Prior Knowledge of Source's Attitude.

Style, Power, and Behavior Alteration Messages.

 

14. Introducing and Concluding Messages in Rhetorical Communication.

Introductions.

The Problem of Forewarning

Conclusions.

 

15. Message Preparation: Oral Delivery.

The Effect of Delivery on Attitude Change.

The Effect of Delivery on Comprehension of Content.

The Effect of Delivery on Ethos.

The Nature of Good Delivery.

Nervousness and Delivery.

Elements of Good Delivery.

Using Notes.

How to Achieve Good Delivery.

IV. RHETORICAL COMMUNICATION AND SOCIETY.

16. Ethics and Rhetorical Communication.

The Ethics of Means or of Ends.

An Ethic Based on Intent toward the Audience.

Ethics and Ethical Proof.

Persuasion and Coercion.

Amoral versus Moral Approaches to the Ethics of Rhetorical Communication.

Ethical Obligations in a Free Society.

The Difficulty in Exercising Obligations in a Free Society.

A Final Word on Ethics.

 

Appendix: Sample Speeches.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Declaration of War Address.

John F. Kennedy, Inaugural Address.

Anonymous, The Proposed Basketball Rule Changes.

George Bush, Remarks at a Ceremony Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor.

Hillary Rodham Clinton, Address to the World Health Organization Forum on Women and Health Security.

Charlton Heston, Winning the Cultural War.

Zel Miller, Address at 2004 Republican Convention

 

Author Index.

 

Subject Index.

An Introduction to Rhetorical Communication offers a true integration of rhetorical theory and social science approaches to public communication. This highly successful text guides students through message planning and presentation in an easy step-by-step process. An Introduction to Rhetorical Communication provides students a solid grounding in the rhetorical tradition and the basis for developing effective messages.

New and Enduring Features

  • The chapter on Ethos has been completely revised and updated with the most current research. The chapter in the new edition now recognizes and includes more references that the classical concept of ethos was more than just “source credibility.”
  • The new edition has been thoroughly updated with new and revised examples.
  • The text has been updated to include new discussions that reflect current research findings.
  • Discusses
  • Contains discussions of four classical rhetorical canons: invention, disposition, style and delivery.
  • Includes a full chapter on culture and diversity, which focuses on how the changing world raises new concern for rhetorical communicators and which emphasizes ethnocentrism using a new self-assessment measure.
  • Discusses the important ethical choices that rhetoricians face.
  • Provides sample speeches for analysis and criticism.
Praise for An Introduction to Rhetorical Criticism

“McCroskey offers a solid, time tested, traditional approach to the study of rhetoric. The book offers an impressive distillation of classical rhetoric. . .[and] demonstrates that these principles still work and that they can be taught.”
Jim Hasenauer, California State University at Northridge

“McCroskey’s book necessitates that students raise themselves beyond the level of most texts to that of true college students.”
J. Kanan Sawyer, University of Texas — Austin

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