521 is a basic, survey course which reviews theories of rhetoric and persuasion ranging from classical to contemporary. The course is concerned with major theoretical and philosophical concepts related to communication and rhetorical theory, as well as with the relationships among rhetoric, philosophy, and literature. Emphasis is on the transition from Aristotelian and neo-Aristotelian rhetorics to the new rhetorics of the present. Rather than a psychological or experimental approach to the study of communication, the course considers more traditional literary and philosophical approaches. The departure from Aristotelian and neo-Aristotelian theories.
Representative works for reading and discussion.
This booklet is available at University Book Store, Follett's Purdue Book Store, etc. Two collections of readings have been prepared for Com. These collections will be available during the second or third week of the course. Both collections include the required readings for this course. There will be only a few readings assigned outside these materials.