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Communication: A Critical/Cultural Introduction, 2e Warren & Fassett
Chapter 2: Communication and Power: A Cultural History
Discussion Questions
1. What is your history with speech communication? Have you had a class prior to taking this
one? How was it similar/different?
2. What do you see as the goal of today’s public speakers? What are they working toward? Who
are these individuals?
3. How have you seen public speaker’s use Aristotle’s persuasive appeals (pathos, logos, or
ethos)? How in/effectively were they used?
4. What are the benefits and/or drawbacks to memorizing a public presentation?
5. Talk about a time when you had to adjust your communication for a particular audience.
What factors influenced you to adapt?
6. Imagine you are a Communication scholar. Which paradigm would you most likely use to
study Communication? In other words, would you do research in rhetoric, elocution, social
science, social constructionism, or critical/cultural studies? Justify your position by
explaining why you think the paradigm you choose is the best to study Communication and
the limitations of adhering to the other paradigms. Also, what are the limitations to the
paradigm you chose?
7. Your friend has decided to take this particular Communication course next semester. S/he
asks you to explain something you have recently learned in the course. Since you just
finished reading Chapter 2, you decide to explain to her/him the different paradigms within
the field of Communication. How would you explain these paradigms to your friend? What
would you say? What examples would you use so that your friend could understand what
each paradigm deems significant in regards to studying Communication?
