COMMRC 0310 Exam Questions with Correct Answers

COMMRC 0310 Exam Questions with Correct Answers How do Keith and Lundberg define rhetoric? - Answer-the study of producing discourses and interpreting how, when, and why discourses are persuasive Who were the Sophists and why were they important? - Answer-The Sophists were a group of wandering Sicilians that taught Athenians how to speak persuasively with the goal of navigating the courts and senate. They were important because Athenian citizens relied heavily on public speech to deal with the new political process. What was Plato's criticism of rhetoric? - Answer-Rhetoric was dangerous because it didi not have the rigor of a scientific enterprise or the critical quality of a philosophical endeavor; rather, it was a group of random techniques that helped those in the wrong win their support for their cause. What are Aristotle's three types of speeches? What do they do? - Answer-Forensic - a speech that is given in a public forum such as in front of an Athenian jury; purpose is for justice Epideictic - a speech that displays the qualities of something; purpose is for honor Deliberative - a speech that argues for a course of action; purpose is for utility What three basic points did Aristotle argue about rhetoric? - Answer-Rhetoric can be treated as a coherent area of inquiry Rhetoric and logic are necessary counterparts The form and function of speeches are shaped by the possible speech goals How do Keith and Lundberg define identity? - Answer-The set of labels, patterns of behavior, and ways of representing yourself that make up your public persona. What two senses of the term 'rhetoric' do these authors recognize? - Answer-actions humans perform and perspective humans take What two things do we do when we engage in rhetorical action? - Answer-conscious decisions to communicate and conscious choices about the strategies we will employ Considering rhetoric as a perspective that humans take, what are the two key terms? - Answer-Process and Symbolism When do we focus on the process of symbolism rather than the content? - Answer- when we analyze how the symbols work together What two ways can we focus on the process of symbolism? - Answer-by analyzing how people perform rhetorical action by analyzing how people interpret symbols What was Aristotle's definition of rhetoric? - Answer-the ability, in each particular case, to see the available means of persuasion What was Kenneth Burke's definition of rhetoric? - Answer-the use of language as a symbolic means of inducing cooperation in beings that by nature respond to symbols What are the four characteristics of rhetoric? - Answer-rhetoric is symbolic rhetoric involves an audience rhetoric establishes what is probably true rhetorical theory is inventive and analytic If we view communication from a rhetorical perspective, which is more important, the intent of the rhetor or the influence of the practice of modern rhetoric? - Answer-the influence of the practice of the modern rhetoric Define metaphor, analogy, form, and crescendo - Answer-metaphor - a usually indirect comparison used to describe something with a word or phrase that is not meant literally, but that, by means of a vivid comparison, expresses something about it (Joe is a deer) and in which qualities of one are transferred by implication to the other analogy - a (usually) direct comparison between two things that are similar in some way, often used to help explain something or make it easier to understand (Joe runs like a deer) - because one thing is like another, the truth of one shows the truth of the other. "The universe is like a pocket watch and a pocket watch has a designer, so the universe must also have a designer." form - the raising and fulfilling of expectations in an audience, or simply the structure of a rhetorical act crescendo - a gradual increase in intensity Define climax, hyperbole, alliteration, and anaphora - Answer-climax - the conclusion of a sequence of phrases or sentences, each more forceful or intense than the last hyperbole - deliberate and obvious exaggeration used for effect alliteration - a poetic or literary effect achieved by using several words that begin with the same or similar consonants (Let us go forth to lead the land we love.) anaphora - the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses or lines. (We shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end. [ . . . ] We shall never surrender. - Winston Churchill) Define irony, satire, eloquence, and euphemism - Answer-irony - a statement whose real meaning is recognizably opposite of what is literally said satire - the use of wit, especially irony, sarcasm, and ridicule, to criticize faults eloquence - the ability to speak forcefully, expressively, and persuasively euphemism - a word or phrase used in place of a term that might be considered too direct, harsh, unpleasant, or offensive - - less objectionable and often less accurate terms substituted for harsher or emotionally charged terms. "For the time being, it is necessary to make a readjustment of rations." Animal Farm, George Orwell Define identification, victimization, cynicism, example, and demonization - Answer- identification - a proposal which produces in the audience a powerful feeling of affinity with another person or group, often the speaker victimization - to single somebody out unfairly for punishment or ill treatment or to use the perception of victimization as a rhetorical tactic cynicism - in the modern sense, doubting or contemptuous of human nature or the motives, goodness, or sincerity of others example - something that is representative by virtue of having typical features of the thing it represents demonization- Define deduction, induction, syllogism, and enthymeme - Answer-deduction - an argument in which, if the premises are true, the conclusion must be true induction - an argument in which, if the premises are true, the conclusion is probably true syllogism - a formal deductive argument made up of a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion in which, if the premises are true, the conclusion must be true. enthymeme - a syllogism with one missing premise, usually supplied by the audience What is the herd instinct? - Answer-tends to keep our beliefs and thus our actions, within the bounds of what society will accept as a whole What is culture lag? - Answer-the tendency of practices and beliefs to persist long after whatever conditions made them useful or sensible have disappeared What is provincialism? - Answer-tendency to see things from the pov and interests of our primary culture What is prejudice? - Answer-thinking ill of others without sufficient warrant What are scapegoats? - Answer-others we can blame for the ills of the world What is a partisan mindset? - Answer-leads people to perceive evidence and to judge arguments via an "us against them" or a "my right view against your wrong view" attitude What is confirmation bias? - Answer-the tendency to interpret new evidence as confirmation of one's existing beliefs or theories What is the difference between wishful thinking and self-deception? - Answer-wishful thinking is believing what we would like to be true no matter what the evidence self-deception is consciously believing what we know at a deeper level to be dubious What is rationalization? - Answer-when we ignore or deny unpleasant evidence so as to feel justified in doing what we want to do or in believing what we find comfortable to believe What is procrastination? - Answer-putting off for tomorrow what common sense tells us needs to be done today What is the difference between suppression and denial? - Answer-suppression is avoiding thoughts that are stressful by either not thinking about them or by thinking of non stressful thoughts denial is similar but you are changing your interpretation of the situation to perceive it as less threatening