Interviews were conducted with each of the nine speech ghostwriters for Florida's seven statewide elected officials (including the governor) to determine the writer's methods of operation, his background and the extent of his preparation for the position. All of the ghostwriters defended their job as ethical, with the justification that…

The purpose of this study was to organize, synthesize, and explain Kenneth Burke's Title I; the uses of Title I; Process for developing Title I proposals--responsible to rhetoric instruction in the secondary schools. Sections contain (1) a chronological survey of Burke's writing, (2) a consideration of rhetoric as a primary dimension of language,…

The author presents a tested method for the judging of intercollegiate debate rounds. The procedure utilizes three types of judges for each round: the forensics expert, the non-forensics layman, and a student participant. Their decisions would be entered immediately on a debate evaluation grid. The tournament schedule would provide time at the end…

Despite the educational value of the intercollegiate debating experience in itself, tournaments do not inspire an impressive degree of participation unless there is a catalyst of competition with the prospects of rewards to the better teams. Procedures conducive to the realization of this goal are featured at most debate tournaments, in the form…

The discussion outlines a number of complex problems in both measuring counterarguing and establishing its causal role in the persuasion process. The authors emphasize that given these limitations, data from measures cannot at this point clearly establish the validity of theoretical positions that emphasize counterarguing as an intervening…

Richard Nixon's "Checkers" speech, a response to charges brought against the "Nixon fund," was primarily an effort to explain the behavior of Eisenhower's 1952 presidential-campaign staff. The effectiveness of this speech was largely due to Nixon's self-disclosure within the context of the speech's narrative mode. In…

Examines the way in which Darwin employed conventional language and conventional religious categories of popular thought to explain and lend credibility to the ideas he advanced in "The Orgin of Species." (MH)

Knowledge of classical rhetoric is still useful to writing teachers.

Examines the effect of varying the quality of evidence in a persuasive message. Concludes that, while good evidence may not be necessary to persuasive communication, poor evidence is detrimental. (PD)

Defends and clarifies his redefinition of argument from the perspective of constructivism, particularly the implications that arguments may be wholly or partially nonverbal. (JMF)

This article attributes the impact of Urban II's call to arms to the events and issues of the times, as well as to Urban's unique shaping of a new image of redemption for an audience saddled by guilt. The address also appears to fit a discernible pattern of war rhetoric. (JMF)

Examines the results of selected high school debate tournaments to determine whether variables other than debate skills are predictors of the outcome. Variables investigated are gender, side of the questions, and speaking position. (PD)

Presents transcript, editorial analysis, and critiques of the National Debate Tournament final debate: resolved that U.S. law enforcement agencies should be given significantly greater freedom in the investigation and/or prosecution of felony crime. (PD)

An observer of American schooling reviews the books of the radical school reform movement and explains why their ideas have petered out. (Editor)

Looks at the question of assessment in drama in education. Examines how the student develops through experience in drama both in and out of school. (Editor/RK)