Definition of Rhetoric

Rhetoric: effective communication of an idea or concept of a subject; arrived to by the communicator through careful study, thought and consideration of the subject.

       The first part of my definition for rhetoric “effective communication” makes point that in rhetoric one has to take into account whom they are communicating too. Effective communication can only take place when the writer or speaker etc. takes into consideration whom is being spoken too and how to approach or meet that person from their current place of understanding. Knowing where the audience is coming from allows the author to create a path of understanding starting with where the audience is to the point the author wishes to communicate. 

       The second part of the definition for rhetoric involves the process of arriving to the understanding of the subject in which the author communicates. In order to effectively communicate upon a subject one has to first be knowledgeable of the subject. This includes what is understood by others about the subject. The awareness of the diverse opinions and viewpoints of others about the subject allow a person who is thinking and acting rhetorically to have a number of options in tackling a particular subject. That awareness is mentioned in Everyone’s An Author as a part of the process of thinking and acting rhetorically. They summarize a number of steps for thinking and acting rhetorically. The first part “To Listen,” the second “Hear What Others Are Saying-and Think about Why,” the third “What Do You Think- and Why,” the fourth “Do Your Homework,” and the last part of the process “Put in Your Oar,” all call for the careful study, thought, and consideration listed in the definition.