Discusses how Bob Dylan's biographical songs promote the myth of the outlaw-hero and offer powerful cultural criticism by appealing to three ethical traits: resistance to corrupt authority, integrity of the self, and simplicity. Shows how Dylan's biographical rhetoric defines a social context that appeals to a vast audience. (JD)

Discusses a number of new books that signal a revival of interest in the role of propaganda as a tool of mass persuasion. Relates the political uses of this revival to modern concerns about public opinion and advertising. (JD)

Discusses a set of options for concluding an essay founded upon Aristotle's four goals of a conclusion: (1) to dispose the hearer favorably towards oneself and unfavorably towards the adversary; (2) to amplify and depreciate; (3) to excite the emotions of the hearer; (4) to recapitulate. Cites various composition theorists to elaborate these…

Two strategies for teaching elementary students to distinguish relevant from irrelevant material are described. The word associates strategy provides students instruction in writing or stating a generalization that expresses the criteria for relevance. The defending a point of view strategy provides instruction in developing relevant arguments to…

Four reproducible pages containing activities to help children understand the effect of television, to question what they watch, to study how they use television, and to explore aural and visual awareness. (MT)

Argues that in order to counter the current elitism of academic debate, exemplars must be developed which emphasize teaching students the skills required to communicate arguments to inspire citizen activism. Proposes a narrative perspective of debate and offers suggestions regarding how this perspective might be applied and practiced. (MM)

Examined techniques of persuasion used in self-help organization for persons with mental problems. Concludes that successful affiliation with the group is a conversion process and that, although acceptance of the organizational ideology may facilitate an individual member's recovery, it simultaneously reinforces an understanding of mental problems…

College education is essentially concerned with argumentation about interpretations. It depends on and trains for the capacity to assume different points of view simultaneously in order to interpret and predict, and it should celebrate playful acts of imagination. (MSE)

Argues that human rigidity of mind is usually the cause of fallacies, humor, and also mental illness. (SRT)

Analyzes results from 38 distraction studies. Concludes it is necessary to distinguish between communication-relevant and communication-irrelevant distractors. Suggests the effect of communication-irrelevant distractors on attitude change is minor. (MS)

Relates some of the public relations achievements and techniques of Edward L. Bernays. Sees modern public relations proceeding from an understanding of individuals, institutions and social groups, and their interrelationships. Considers the information dissemination, persuasion, and attitude integration functions of public relations. Lists…

Describes the propaganda techniques used by ecclesiastical authorities in the Middle Ages. Argues that emerging monarchies of the period transformed these techniques to their own use and thus contributed to the birth of nationalisms. (MS)

Recommends that managers use the skills and talents of people trained in public relations to communicate with and analyze the many components of the public. (SRT)

Uses ERIC documents to examine ethics in forensics, media, and communication research. Considers implications for speech communication teachers. (PD)

Defines the concept of cynicism and explores issues concerning the role of the cynic in rhetoric, the rhetorical payoff of a cynical ethos, and the function of cynical remarks in rhetorical strategies. (EL)