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Foss states that rhetoric is “how we perceive, what we know, what we experience, and how we act are the results of our own symbol use and that of those around us; rhetoric is the term that captures all of these processes.” (1) According to Foss, Foss and Trap rhetoric is composed by three parts; part one being human. It is stated how humans create symbols to define our world and when we change those symbols we ultimately end up changing the world. The second part is the composition of rhetoric is symbol itself. Symbols differ from signs by which a sign could be a toilet bowl signifying that you might be in the bathroom, it is the word bathroom that is the symbol. (Foss, 2) The third and final component of rhetoric according to Foss is communicate, stating that “rhetoric refers to intention, purposive interactions, while communication covers all kinds of meanings, whether intended or not.” (4) Rhetoric hails from ancient times in which Aristotle is credited for organizing rhetoric into a solid and comprehensible notion. Aristotle included four out of the five major cannons of rhetoric. These canons were made up from invention, organization, style, and delivery. The fifth canon, which Aristotle did not write about, is memory. (Foss, 7)

Rhetoric can be found in many aspects of life and because of that it is a form of communication in its entirety. While it may have many components, all representing different things, rhetoric is a way that we communicate with one another. We live through rhetoric or more specifically rhetoric lives through us. Rhetoric is every time a person speaks, gives something a name, or even argues a point. Due to the fact that rhetoric lives through us it can be found when a student is standing in from of the class arguing their viewpoint on any particular subject. Every time politicians give speeches rhetoric is found through the ways they try to persuade you to vote for them or agree with their ideas. Rhetoric is any time two or more people hold a conversation. Overall it is any form of communication that human beings make, whether actually conversing or something as simple as drawing a picture for another person. Rhetoric doesn’t necessarily need words, sometimes it is just found in the actions of others and oneself.

Definitions:

Rhetoric- n. 1-the art of speaking or writing effectively: as a : the study of principles and rules of composition formulated by critics of ancient times b : the study of writing or speaking as a means of communication or persuasion
2 - a : skill in the effective use of speech b : a type or mode of language or speech;
3-verbal communication

Rhetoric- n. 1. (in writing or speech) the undue use of exaggeration or display; bombast.
2. the art or science of all specialized literary uses of language in prose or verse, including the figures of speech.
3. the study of the effective use of language.
4. the ability to use language effectively.
5. the art of prose in general as opposed to verse.
6. the art of making persuasive speeches; oratory.
7. (in classical oratory) the art of influencing the thought and conduct of an audience.
8. (in older use) a work on rhetoric


Work Cited:
1. Foss, Foss, and Trapp. Contemporary Perspectives on Rhetoric, Third Edition. Washington: Waveland Press, Inc.

2. “Rhetoric.” Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2010. Merriam-Webster Online. 1 February 2010


3. “Rhetoric.” Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. 1 Feb. 2010.
< http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/rhetoric>.