The first of his influences is Edward Copleson who was Whately s tutor and friend. Copleson assisted in Whately s early training in logic along with Aristotle s Rhetoric. He was also influenced by his time in the Oriel Common Room along with his interest in various subjects such as politics. Whately s definition treats Rhetoric as argumentative composition, generally and exclusively. Conviction, the focus of Whately s interest, is also the part of Rhetoric that lies closest to logic.
Rhetoric focuses specifically on issues of argument.
Basically, if you have a convincing argument, the audience will most likely be persuaded. Whately s theory as stated on page 185 of our book, The History and Theory of Rhetoric , breaks away from the classical tradition of rhetoric seeking probable truth .