A First Look At Communication Theory, 10e (Griffin)
Chapter 22 The Rhetoric
1) Aristotle envisioned rhetoric as:
A) being focused on one-to-one communication.
B) addressing specific, practical questions.
C) a search for truth.
D) essentially immoral.
2) The canon of rhetoric that includes topoi is:
A) invention.
B) arrangement.
C) style.
D) delivery.
3) The issue of speaker credibility relates most specifically to:
A) logos.
B) pathos.
C) topoi.
D) ethos.
4) A deductive argument that omits a premise is called a(n):
A) enthymeme.
B) syllogism.
C) topoi.
D) example.
5) Early Athenian public speaking professors whose practical approach lacked a theoretical
foundation were called:
A) Platonists.
B) Aristotelians.
C) Dialecticians.
D) Sophists.
6) According to Aristotle, which of the following was NOT a fundamental component of ethos?
A) perceived intelligence
B) virtuous character
C) dynamism
D) goodwill
7) In Rhetoric, which of the following qualities did Aristotle identify as necessary for seeming
credible to an audience?
A) invention
B) arrangement
C) style
D) goodwill
8) For Aristotle, metaphor was a key component of:
A) invention.
B) delivery.
C) style.
D) memory.
9) ________ are the principle divisions of the art of persuasion established by ancient
rhetoricians.
A) Ordinances of coercion
B) Edicts of influence
C) Decrees of persuasion
D) Canons of rhetoric
10) In the context of the five canons of rhetoric, ________ refers to a speaker’s “hunt” for
arguments that will be effective in a particular speech.
A) delivery
B) style
C) invention
D) arrangement
11) Any form of presentation that calls attention to itself takes away from the speaker’s proofs.
12) In the context of the five canons of rhetoric, metaphor is an important component of
invention.
13) On the whole, Aristotle’s concept of ethos has held up well under scientific scrutiny.
14) Pathos refers to both positive and distressing emotional responses that a speaker tries to
stimulate.
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15) According to Aristotle, audiences reject the delivery of speeches that seems planned or
staged.
16) Aristotle believed that an effective speaker must know how to appeal to the emotions of the
audience.
17) The example form of logos is inductive in nature.
18) In the context of artistic proofs, emotional appeals that strike a responsive chord are called
logos.
19) Rhetoric has been defined as the discovery in each case of “the available means of
persuasion.”
20) Aristotle believed that truth has a moral superiority that makes it more acceptable than
falsehood.
21) ________ proofs are those not created by the speaker such as a letter or testimony of a
witness.
22) ________ is an artistic proof that appeals to listeners’ rationality.
23) Rather than cater to any extreme position, Aristotle advocated ________.
24) List and briefly describe the five canons of rhetoric.
25) What is the difference between a syllogism and an enthymeme? Provide an example of each.
Under what conditions should you use one and not the other?
26) What were Aristotle’s three types of proof? Which is most important in the political rhetoric
of today?
27) What are the major criticisms of Aristotle’s Rhetoric? Which do you believe is the most
damaging?
28) Discuss the specific components of Aristotelian ethos. How well has the concept of ethos
held up under scientific scrutiny?
29) In light of Plato’s critique of the Sophists, how did Aristotle justify the art of rhetoric? Do
you find his justification convincing?
30) Discuss why Aristotle was skeptical about appeals to the emotions. What might his concerns
tell us about Aristotle’s view of the audience? Can you think of examples of speakers or speeches
that might seem to validate some of his concerns about destructive appeals to emotion? Can you
think of examples of speakers using pathos ethically?
31) How would Aristotle respond to Hirokawa and Gouran’s functional perspective? What would
they have to say back to him?
32) For good reasons, Aristotle’s theory is listed under the category of “public rhetoric,” but it is
also a theory of influence. How does it compare to social judgment theory and the elaboration
likelihood model?
33) Compare Aristotle’s approach to metaphor with Geertz and Pacanowsky’s.
34) At the conclusion of the chapter, Griffin claims that Aristotle’s Rhetoric “remains a
foundational text of our discipline—a starting point for scientists and humanists alike.” Based on
your burgeoning knowledge of the discipline, would you support this assertion?
35) After graduation, you land a job in your college or university’s development office. Your first
task is to design a fundraising campaign that targets recent alumni like yourself. Discuss how
social judgment theory, the elaboration likelihood model, and Aristotle’s rhetoric might help you
shape your pitch. Which approach would be the most useful?
36) How might you relate Aristotle’s concept of ethos to Burgoon’s work on expectancy
violations?