What is Rhetoric and Writing?

Rhetoric

The dictionary defines rhetoric as "the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing, especially the use of figures of speech and other compositional techniques". I like to think of it as the philosophy of writing, communication, and persuasion. Rhetoric is the message being communicated by anything and everything, and it's up to us, the audience, to define the takeaways. I can use ethos (credibility, ethics), pathos (emotion), and logos (logic) to establish myself and my message to a specific audience, but so can any person, place or thing. While rhetoric is much more complex than this, a curiosity to learn more might lead you to a degree in rhetoric!

Why study Rhetoric?

Studying rhetoric can be useful in any field. Understanding how to tailor a message to an audience, knowing how to endear yourself to certain people with the use of rhetorical tactics and clues, understanding how to write and craft compelling arguments for any medium and more can all help one excel anywhere. A degree in rhetoric can help students form a unique point of view, understanding the meaning and drive behind a message which allows us to understand our own subjectivity and play on the subjectivity of others. Rhetoric students have particular success in fields like law and often pursue rhetoric as a second degree or as a segue to graduate school. With a blend of classical knowledge and foundations from some of the greats like Aristotle and Plato and modern thought, it really is the best of both worlds.

Why I love Rhetoric and Writing

I came to UT for the Women's and Gender Studies degree, I'll be honest. I needed to fill 30 hours and chose a second degree that looked good. Boy, did I get lucky. We begin with rhetoric as it was 'created' and taught by the ancient Greeks, understanding vital philosophical and functional aspects of their culture that still live on in rhetoric today. Then, once students realize that rhetoric is inherently found in everything, we can move on to modern rhetoric. I think that everyone should take an introductory rhetoric course in order to understand how to effectively communicate with others in a way that the audience accepts whatever message that we want to produce. Understanding rhetoric changed the way I see the world, making me a more open and ethical person. If you like writing, public speaking, and understanding the power that lies behind words, consider looking into a degree in rhetoric.