One of the big things that professors consistently tell me about 'pre-writing' is to just simply start writing. When thinking about a project, many have suggested making a rolling list of all of my thoughts that could be incorporated in my piece. Also, a good professor that I love encouraged me to read often. He says that in order to write well, you have to know how to read well.
Most of my professors have actually mentioned some form of pre writing and one even called it that. She said it was essential for "planning and working through a good piece of writing." The piece of advice that many writing teachers give for pre writing that makes me cringe every time is one simple word - outline. There is nothing that I hate more about writing than being forced to make an outline. It is legitimately nearly painful for me both physically and emotionally. Now, don't get me wrong, outlining may be fine for some people, but a technique called 'reversed outlining' is what works for me. A professor showed me some years ago this method and it is awesome.
Something that really stood out to me in the reading was the quote in line 8: "Speech is a powerful lord...it can stop fear and banish grief and create joy and nurture pity." It seems as though the author is touching also on themes of justice in regards to Helen. Is this quote basically the definition of rhetoric? If it is, how does something so wholeheartedly on the side of justice get such a bad name throughout history? This reading made sense to me generally, but I just couldn't get my mind around whether or not the author was arguing justice for Helen or praise to his supreme speaking abilities.
I am in the same category as you...what are the true motives to this speech?
ReplyDeleteWas he trying to help Helen or just 'tooting his own horn'? It seems this is where rhetoric has recieved such a bad name...it is typically done for the wrong reasons.
Political debates are the biggest example I come up with anytime rhetoic is discussed. It becomes a game of who can out yell or pile on the B.S. deep enough to make the other person look bad. I have watched numerous debates over the years, and it never seems to be effective dialogue, just blanket statements about nothing.
I agree that rhetoric is distrusted as science often is because it can be wielded in "the wrong hands."
ReplyDeleteHate speech and writing is excellent source material for visceral methods. There is a "shock" value to it also where opponents of the hate speech won't engage, like a charging porcupine will cause bigger predators to flee, and that is part of the strategy.
There is also a qualitative part where the writer risks ruination if a piece fails, like climategate emails. or Dr. Laura's on-air fubar.
It's one definition, Molly, but certainly not a cover for all of them, as you've learned. Gorgias is showing off, that's the general theme of the piece - so I think you kind of understood it, even if it confused you.
ReplyDeleteI hate outlines and never use or teach them. I hope now after we've made our way through Aristotle that you see another way of pre-writing built into his definition of rhetoric: it's a way a seeing what you might say about something, which is more complex than any sort of pre-writing I've ever learned as a student.