September 20

In the Rhetorical Traditions reading for today I found the An Overview of the Structure of Rhetoric section particularly interesting.  I found the three species, as the author called it, of rhetoric interesting because we have mentioned them somewhat in class and they have been mentioned somewhat in other readings, but this particular reading went a little more in depth into their uses.  It was clear to me which applies to what after reading "Anything seeking just for its goal is judicial; anything dealing with what is useful or proper in public action is deliberative; and anything treating of the propriety, justice, or goodness of an ac already performed in a matter of public interest is demonstrative." (489).

This section also discussed the five parts or cannons of rhetoric, another topic both class time and reading has been devoted to.  It was interesting to me that the author said they were called parts because if the rhetor is lacking any then their use of rhetoric is imperfect because a number of the parts are no longer used for the most part yet rhetoric as a whole still thrives.

I also found the six parts of oration interesting namely because most, if not all, of them can be applied to rhetorical writing.  Rhetoric still requires and introduction, argument, proof, and a refutation (if it is a very strong argument at least).  As for the other two, partition and peroration, I would need to have a more clear understanding of what they were before I could decide whether they are currently used or not.

Including the audience and the rhetor in the consideration of goals was another good point the author made.  This way the rhetor is not only making the argument which they choose to the extent which they choose but they are also persuading the audience along the way.