Examines the strategy of universalization during the nuclear freeze movement of 1981-82 by drawing upon the insights of Celeste Condit and William Bailey. Identifies strengths and weaknesses of the Condit/Bailey concepts and suggests modifications. (KEH)

Investigates the underlying rhetorical functions of how Benjamin Franklin used the medal to praise the national characters of France and the United States in those two countries, while he also used it to influence government policy in Malta and to vindicate himself from criticism in England. (KEH)

Analyzes Alexander Richardson's clothing metaphors which connected Ramist precepts to social values and philosophic assumptions drawn from the fields of fashion, psychology, and Puritan theology. Describes how these metaphors presented the Puritan community with an orientation toward listening and inculcated the Puritan speech community with…

Advocates the development of an international perspective in the study and application of issues management. Proposes an action determinant matrix approach to classifying issues and quantifying the potential impact of an issue so that corporations can determine appropriate actions, if any. (KEH)

Examines the extensive system of advocacy (based on the idea of group consensus) among the Yoruba in Nigeria. Gives a detailed account of communicative forms and functions of advocacy in legal proceedings and their relationship to Yoruba culture. Explores how Yoruba people argue their cases and find harmony out of a context of disputations. (SR)

Discusses the Greek approach to conflict in interpersonal communication, which permeates everyday life. Explores traditional foundations of struggle as a way of life. Uses the verb "palevome" (struggle) to illuminate conflict and its role in interaction. Discusses ingroup and outgroup distinctions and the importance of…

Uses William R. Brown's theory of interventional rhetoric to describe a strategy of "participation"--a communicative strategy by which one community of Ohio Mexican Americans employs discourse to reinterpret social roles and expectations. Notes that this strategy attempts to maintain cultural identity while reducing intercultural…

Uses meta-analysis to test three models of the "sleeper" effect (a theory proposing that in the long term low credible sources may actually attain greater attitude change in message recipients than high credible sources). Concludes that the sleeper effect does exist, and offers suggestions for practitioners and theorists. (SR)

Examines cultural and personal values constraints on apologia through a case study of Governor Ray Blanton's apologia. Applies Bitzer's concept of functional communication and extends Jamieson's concept of the constraint of antecedent genre upon the rhetorical situation, examining of the impact of a speaker's antecedent rhetorical style upon later…

Examines how amplification (rhetorical techniques by which discourse is extended to enhance its appeal and information value) tends to increase and improve the coverage, rationale, warnings, behavioral alternatives, examples, previews, and general emphasis of technical manuals. Shows how classical and modern rhetorical theories can be applied to…

Summarizes information on general and specific uses of computers in teaching business and professional writing. Presents research that examines both general computer usage in business communication courses and specific computer usage, such as electronic communication and text analysis. Provides background information on the importance of college…

Describes a theory of reinterpretation assessment that explores the relationship between second-guessing and the use of social information-gathering tactics. Tests four principles on which this theory is based, concerning the effects of motivational, cognitive, and practical antecedents on the tactics employed by social actors to improve…

Examines how actors' goals, gender, and locus of control affect conflict strategy behaviors. Classifies goals into proactive and reactive categories. Finds that distributive strategies were used more for reactive goals of defending rights and integrative tactics more for the proactive goal of changing relationships. (SR)

Analyzes the visual and verbal content of the 1984 televised debates between Walter Mondale and Ronald Reagan. Asserts that the televised depiction of the debates visually structured portions of them in a manner inconsistent with their verbal content. Focuses on clash, when candidates engaged in arguments of attack or defense. (MS)

Analyzes four research reports to identify the similarities and differences in beliefs about the nature of discourse and how one acquires knowledge about it. Considers implications of these distinctive styles for cross-disciplinary communication about discourse. (SR)