COMM 3600 EXAM 1 | COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | STUDY
GUIDE 2026
The faculty of observing in every case the available means of persuasion. (AKA: How we
persuade) - ANS ✔✔Defining rhetoric- What was Aristotle's definition?
The art of the good man skilled in speaking. (AKA: the person's character affected their ability in
speaking. ex- Good polished speaker but trying to fool people? Not a rhetoric.) - ANS
✔✔Defining rhetoric- What was Quintilian's definition?
The duty and office of rhetoric is to apply REASON to IMAGINATION. (EX: Using your weight
concerns to work out) - ANS ✔✔Defining rhetoric- What was Francis Bacon's definition?
The art or talent by which discourse is adapted to its end. (AKA: Make things more interesting to
get to the audience) - ANS ✔✔Defining rhetoric- What was George Campbell's definition?
Rhetoric is the study of misunderstandings and their remedies. (AKA: It is hard to create
understanding. How easy it is to be stuck in a misunderstanding so quickly and how we can fix
it!) - ANS ✔✔Defining rhetoric- What was I.A Richards' definition?
The most characteristic concern of rhetoric is the manipulation of men's beliefs for political
ends... the basic funciton of rhetoric is the use of words human agents to form attitudes or to
induce actions (persuading) in other human agents. (AKA: We see manipulation is being more in
place of persuasion. He doesn't mean for it to be in that connotation, but it is hard to NOT see it
that way. He means making people see things in different lights.) - ANS ✔✔Defining rhetoric-
What is Kenneth Burke's definition?
1. Rhetoric is planned (Who am I talking to? What is my goal?
2. Rhetoric is adapted to my audience (Appeal to who you are talking to; know your big
audience as well as sub audiences as well)
, 3. Rhetoric reveals human motives (Understand human nature)
4. Rhetoric is responsive/response (inviting)
5. Rhetoric seeks persuasion
6. Rhetoric addresses contingent issues - ANS ✔✔What are the six distinguishing characteristics
of rhetoric?
D. Spontaneous - ANS ✔✔Which of the following is NOT one of the characteristics of rhetoric as
identified by Herrick Chap 1?
A. Adapted to audience
B. Responsive
C. Seeks persuasion
D. Spontaneous
E. Reveals human motives
1. Spontaneous
2. Informative
3. Artistic
4. Created for "art" rather than for audiences - ANS ✔✔Six Distinguishing Characteristics of
Rhetoric:
Discourse is not rhetorical if it is: (4 things)
1. Ideas are tested
GUIDE 2026
The faculty of observing in every case the available means of persuasion. (AKA: How we
persuade) - ANS ✔✔Defining rhetoric- What was Aristotle's definition?
The art of the good man skilled in speaking. (AKA: the person's character affected their ability in
speaking. ex- Good polished speaker but trying to fool people? Not a rhetoric.) - ANS
✔✔Defining rhetoric- What was Quintilian's definition?
The duty and office of rhetoric is to apply REASON to IMAGINATION. (EX: Using your weight
concerns to work out) - ANS ✔✔Defining rhetoric- What was Francis Bacon's definition?
The art or talent by which discourse is adapted to its end. (AKA: Make things more interesting to
get to the audience) - ANS ✔✔Defining rhetoric- What was George Campbell's definition?
Rhetoric is the study of misunderstandings and their remedies. (AKA: It is hard to create
understanding. How easy it is to be stuck in a misunderstanding so quickly and how we can fix
it!) - ANS ✔✔Defining rhetoric- What was I.A Richards' definition?
The most characteristic concern of rhetoric is the manipulation of men's beliefs for political
ends... the basic funciton of rhetoric is the use of words human agents to form attitudes or to
induce actions (persuading) in other human agents. (AKA: We see manipulation is being more in
place of persuasion. He doesn't mean for it to be in that connotation, but it is hard to NOT see it
that way. He means making people see things in different lights.) - ANS ✔✔Defining rhetoric-
What is Kenneth Burke's definition?
1. Rhetoric is planned (Who am I talking to? What is my goal?
2. Rhetoric is adapted to my audience (Appeal to who you are talking to; know your big
audience as well as sub audiences as well)
, 3. Rhetoric reveals human motives (Understand human nature)
4. Rhetoric is responsive/response (inviting)
5. Rhetoric seeks persuasion
6. Rhetoric addresses contingent issues - ANS ✔✔What are the six distinguishing characteristics
of rhetoric?
D. Spontaneous - ANS ✔✔Which of the following is NOT one of the characteristics of rhetoric as
identified by Herrick Chap 1?
A. Adapted to audience
B. Responsive
C. Seeks persuasion
D. Spontaneous
E. Reveals human motives
1. Spontaneous
2. Informative
3. Artistic
4. Created for "art" rather than for audiences - ANS ✔✔Six Distinguishing Characteristics of
Rhetoric:
Discourse is not rhetorical if it is: (4 things)
1. Ideas are tested
