Rhetoric and Stylistics Course

Lesson 1 • Stylistics as a Discipline

Stylistics examines how linguistic choices create meaning and effect. It bridges literary analysis and linguistics, providing tools for systematic text evaluation.

Lesson 2 • Historical Development of Rhetorical Theory

Traces rhetoric from ancient Greece through modern theory. Understanding this arc reveals why certain techniques persist and how context shapes persuasive norms.

Lesson 3 • The Rhetorical Situation

Introduces Bitzer's concept of exigence, audience, and constraints as situational factors. Recognising the rhetorical situation is prerequisite to all subsequent analytical work.

Lesson 1 • Logos: Logical Structure and Evidence

Logos encompasses argument structure, evidence types, and reasoning patterns. Students learn to construct and evaluate logically sound arguments.

Lesson 2 • Pathos: Emotional Engagement

Pathos operates through emotional resonance to move audiences toward action or belief. Students examine emotional triggers, narrative, and imagery as rhetorical instruments.

Lesson 3 • Ethos: Credibility and Character

Ethos is the appeal built through the speaker's perceived trustworthiness and expertise. Students analyse how credibility is constructed linguistically and contextually.

Lesson 1 • Argument Mapping and Outlining

Argument mapping visualises claim-support relationships before drafting. This section connects structural planning to the appeals covered in Chapter 2.

Lesson 2 • Arrangement Strategies by Genre

Different genres demand different organisational logic, from problem-solution to narrative. Students match arrangement strategies to communicative goals.

Lesson 3 • Classical Dispositio and Its Parts

The classical five-part oration provides a template for structured argumentation. Students map this framework onto contemporary texts to see its enduring relevance.

Lesson 1 • Diction: Word Choice and Register

Diction encompasses vocabulary level, connotation, and register appropriateness. Students learn to select words that align with audience expectations and rhetorical goals.

Lesson 2 • Style Levels and Decorum

The classical doctrine of high, middle, and low style links stylistic choice to occasion and audience. Students apply decorum principles to evaluate and revise texts.

Lesson 3 • Tone and Voice in Discourse

Tone reflects the speaker's attitude toward subject and audience; voice is the distinctive personality of the text. Students identify and craft consistent tonal registers.

Lesson 1 • Amplification and Emphasis Techniques

Amplification expands an idea to heighten its importance or emotional weight. Students use accumulation, climax, and other devices to build argumentative force.

Lesson 2 • Schemes: Patterns of Sound and Structure

Schemes manipulate the arrangement of words for emphasis, rhythm, and memorability. Students practise identifying and writing schemes in varied prose contexts.

Lesson 3 • Figures in Professional and Public Discourse

Figures appear in speeches, advertising, journalism, and corporate communication. Students analyse authentic texts to see how figures function in real-world persuasion.

Lesson 1 • Anticipating and Addressing Objections

Proactive refutation strengthens credibility and disarms resistance. Students practise concession-refutation moves and steelmanning opposing views.

Lesson 2 • Values, Beliefs, and Common Ground

Shared values and common ground are the foundation of audience identification. Students learn to locate and leverage shared premises without misrepresenting positions.

Lesson 3 • Adapting Style and Content to Audience

Adaptation translates audience analysis into concrete stylistic and content decisions. Students revise the same argument for multiple distinct audiences.

Lesson 1 • Constructing a Full Persuasive Argument

Students synthesise all prior skills into a complete, multi-part persuasive text. This capstone section for the chapter requires integrating structure, appeals, and style.

Lesson 2 • Rogerian and Invitational Rhetoric

Non-adversarial rhetorical strategies prioritise mutual understanding over winning. Students apply Rogerian and invitational frameworks to polarised or sensitive topics.

Lesson 3 • Evidence, Warrants, and Backing

The Toulmin model is extended to include backing and rebuttal for complex arguments. Students evaluate evidence quality and make implicit warrants explicit.

Lesson 4 • Strategic Framing and Narrative

Framing shapes how audiences interpret issues before explicit argument begins. Students use narrative and metaphor to establish favourable interpretive frames.

Lesson 1 • Writing the Rhetorical Analysis Essay

The rhetorical analysis essay synthesises critical frameworks into a coherent written argument. Students practise thesis construction, evidence selection, and analytical prose.

Lesson 2 • Evaluating Rhetorical Effectiveness

Effectiveness is measured against the rhetorical situation, not universal standards. Students develop criteria-based evaluation methods tied to purpose and audience.

Lesson 3 • Analysing Discourse and Power

Critical discourse analysis reveals how language constructs and maintains power relations. Students examine how rhetoric naturalises ideological positions.

Lesson 4 • Frameworks for Rhetorical Criticism

Multiple critical frameworks—neo-Aristotelian, generic, ideological—offer different analytical lenses. Students select and apply frameworks appropriate to specific texts.