So far this class has been pretty helpful. First, I really like the format Professor Garrison uses to get his points across. The short, focused lectures allow for a real digging into the main concepts as opposed to survey classes where you are responsible for so much you struggle to truly grasp any one thing. Discussions are usually informative, and with the use of blogs to get our ideas across to everyone we get to see the good ideas from everyone, even the individuals who do not like to talk in class. This format builds a good classroom, close to the democratic classroom we hinted at in class on Tuesday.
I think the argument that language is what separates us from animals, whether true or not, definitely stresses the importance of language. Whether language is the single factor that separates us is something that can still be debated, but I do not think we can argue against the importance of language. I like the idea that language is what took us away from settling arguments in a Darwinist, “the strong survive,” fashion. It brings power to individuals with a large mental capacity and the means to improve this capacity. Placing this power in an every day situation, such as settling an argument, as opposed to typical composition situations such as passing a Bill or writing a book, highlights its importance and should make it important to everyone.
The idea that all language is rhetoric is one that I think is helpful as well. I am still a little skeptical, but I can believe that all language may be rhetoric. I think bringing this idea into the composition classroom can serve to improve composition. Composition is very audience oriented. Who are you writing to? Knowing your audience and being conscious of the persuasive possibilities of your writing can only improve your writing. Understanding that even when you are not trying to persuade someone, you may very well be, can bring more focus to even the seemingly unimportant parts of compostion.
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Man, I wish we would have more time to focus on the "audience" aspect of rhetoric and composition. It seems to me that you were suggesting that rhetoric is most important because of audience awareness.
I could be wrong, but it seems to me that if rhetoric is something beyond a cool buzzword, then it is something that works because it forces people to listen. I read this article that said the power of rhetoric is not in persuasion, but rather that for persuasion to work, we must listen to our audience to find out what they feel is persuasive. And when we listen to our audience, we most often find some amazing things working in their heads.
Kids are a good example. I made a million dumb mistakes as a kid, including breaking lightbulbs on my back porch where the dog nearly cut his feet up. But believe it or not, I had logic informing my decision, even though no one wanted to hear it. People have lots that they think about and want to say, but the big question is who is listening....
Good, provocative post. Keep them coming.
Ha ha. That's awesome! (Not laughing at your blog, by the way ... at your "cookie monster" comment.) Yeah, I was pretty disappointed with him. Most of the rest was good times, though.
I agree with what you said when you said "Composition is very audience oriented. Who are you writing to?" Its like when we listened to that speach by Kennedy, he would bring up all these points and then defuse them with ever popular "but it doesnt matter" If it didnt matter why would he have said it in the first place? It doesnt matter and those words were recorded forever and they will put weight on ones decision or perspective. Every thing written is meant for someone to read later at some point, even if the audiance is yourself. Every little detail to diction matters.
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