Claims that two primary and mostly unacknowledged theories dominate writing textbooks: (1) a truncated version of the five classical canons, and (2) the modes of discourse--exposition, description, narration, and argumentation. (SKC)

Argues that C. H. Knoblauch and Lil Brannon's "Rhetorical Traditions and the Teaching of Writing" misrepresents and misunderstands the benefits of classical rhetoric to composition and that writing instructors who oppose the use of principles of ancient rhetoric must re-assess the value of classical rhetoric today. (SKC)

Reviews personality research conflict between trait and situationist positions because of its relevance to communication trait research. Reports results of a study based on a recent theory of argumentativeness that is inherently interactionist. Suggests the possible value of interactionist approaches to communication study, as the hypotheses…

Defines and contrasts the rhetorical status (individual's and groups' potential influence in society through symbols) of some Blacks and Whites under slavery, and analyzes the more powerful forms of persuasion employed by many Blacks during and after Reconstruction. (SR)

Proposes that students' problems controlling the rhetorical features of school discourse (inventing a purpose within one's writing that will also serve the external purpose of impressing a grader) are as fundamental to the difficulties of basic writers in college writing as their syntactical and mechanical errors. (SR)

Recommends an approach, derived from Derridean deconstruction, for the analysis of argumentative/persuasive texts. (MM)

College students read a communication about a textbook, designated either as a "review" or an "advertisement," and containing either a highly explicit or a less explicit influence attempt. Both presenting the communication as an advertisement and a highly explicit influence attempt reduced the communication's effectiveness, indicating the…

Recounts the experiences of a bookseller in dealing with children's books, including what strategies increase sales, how mothers and fathers choose children's books differently, and giving book talks at parents' nights at preschool schools. (NKA)

Examined the use of compliance-gaining strategies among a group of environmentalists. Results indicated that prosocial strategies were used more often than anti-social strategies across all situations. (SRT)

Presents S. Jackson's and S. Jacobs' theory of conversational argument and demonstrates flaws in the representational validity of their research from the perspective of face-to-face interaction. Describes characteristics of a "paradigm case" of interactional argument that extends Jackson's and Jacobs' ideas about argumentation in…

Argues that R. Trapp's reservations regarding the characterization of Jackson's and Jacobs' conversational argument are unfounded. Reports several studies that use procedures similar to those employed by Trapp to confirm Jackson's and Jacobs' theory. Discusses reservations about using subject generated judgments as an unproblematic standard for…

Discusses the narrow range of stylistic choice presented as acceptable to students in typical Business Communication courses by examining a number of prominent instructional sources for business writers. Presents an expanded version of the Plain Style of business prose that allows for a repertoire of dictional, syntactic, and figurative choices to…

Examines the ideas in the parochial sermons of Thomas Cradock of Baltimore County, Maryland. Argues that Cradock's pulpit rhetoric expressed what Richard Weaver, a southern scholar, has called the "roots" of southern thinking. Claims that these roots had begun to develop even earlier than Weaver traces them and from a denominational…

Describes a debating program in a Pennsylvania high school, in order to show how debating can sharpen students' intellectual dexterity. Debate promotes critical thinking, careful listening, and effective use of library resources. (TE)

Describes a business communication teaching technique that uses role playing related to issues of the real estate business. Helps students to develop skill in persuasion, problem analysis, and decision making. (CH)