This paper presents three units of study and discusses ways that teachers can incorporate Kenneth Burke's ideas on symbolic action into the basic communication course. The three units discussed in the paper address: meaning in language and symbolic reality; persuasion; and rhetorical criticism. Each unit includes a brief introduction to the topic,…

This paper contends that former Secretary of Education William Bennett's "war on drugs" (he now directs the government's campaign against drugs) is not being waged against those who sell and use drugs, but against the civil liberties of everyone. The paper maintains that under the guise of ridding society of what President Bush called…

Professional and disciplinary rhetoric often breaks down when texts cross professional boundaries. An ethnographic study conducted in an Indiana courtroom during a civil trial demonstrates the failure of disciplinary rhetoric. Despite the fact that the plaintiffs in a personal injury case had demonstrated the negligence of the defendant according…

Few concepts in argumentation theory have produced as much discussion as the idea that argument practices can be divided into distinct public, technical, and private spheres. The first important question relating to the spheres concept is whether the distinction between the spheres is useful. The second primary issue concerns the degree to which…

One approach to field theory in argumentation begins with a description of argumentation and, by identifying similarities or regularities in discursive practice, attempts to induce the nature and characteristics of a field. The controversy surrounding the use of Laetrile, a proposed cancer treatment, provides an example of this approach. Assuming…

Prepared by educators and researchers involved in argumentation and debate, the articles in this special journal issue are based upon the assumptions that presidential debates are important, are likely to continue, and are of unique interest to students, scholars, and practitioners of argument. The first two articles in the issue provide overviews…

Examines the relationship between rhetorical theory and rhetorical criticism, and discusses the current evolution of rhetorical criticism and the theoretical suppositions accounting for this evolution. (MH)

Examines mock trial exercises which are useful for providing students with experience in developing and judging argument and persuasive appeals. (MH)

Explains the dramatistic method of interpreting public communications and applies it in analyzing the discourse surrounding the Indian occupation of the Bureau of Indian Affairs building in the fall of 1972. (MH)

Considered the separation between church and state in Australia and the effects caused by introduction of federal aid to nongovernmental schools in Australia. (Author/RK)

Outlines the need for preparing students to develop critical reading, listening, and viewing skills which will enable them to deal with commercial and political propaganda. (RB)

Eighteen issues are outlined concerning theory and measurement of attitude, and language attitude in particular, and research motivated by these issues described. (RM)

Programs aimed at analyzing the propaganda techniques of television commercials need to be developed by the schools. (JH)

Today, abstract exposition has lost its power to persuade; attitudes are changed by the narrative techniques of the media and the new journalism. (JH)

Research shows that information received by one brain hemisphere (e.g., auditory messages entering the right ear) is processed and transferred to the other, interpretation being a combination of right and left brain processing, with high intensity messages shifting control from the left to the right brain. If information is received by one…