Our definitions of rhetoric, courtesy of Merriam Webster:

rhetoric

noun

rhet·​o·​ric ˈre-tə-rik

Synonyms of rhetoric

1

: the art of speaking or writing effectively: such 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

also : insincere or grandiloquent language

Key points/people/concepts to know/appreciate:

1. Athens receives credit as the birthplace of classical rhetoric.
2. The Sophists were professional teachers and intellectuals who, for a fee, offered young Athenian males an education in rhetoric. Many people came to question their practices and opinions (pedagogy, if you would like a more formal term), and their name has come to be synonymous with charlatans, quacks, and frauds.
3. The foremost Sophist was Gorgias, who became the subject of a dialogue by Plato through which Socrates and Gorgias debate the nature of rhetoric. Speaking of Socrates and Plato…
4. Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle make up the chief triumvirate of ancient Greek philosophers. Socrates’ work gave us the term Socratic method, which is “a dialogue between teacher and students, instigated by the continual probing questions of the teacher, in a concerted effort to explore the underlying beliefs that shape the students views and opinions.” (Colorado State University). Socrates taught Plato, whose “Allegory of the Cave” and “The Republic” are among the most well-respected rhetorical works. Plato taught Aristotle, who is the pioneer for the following concepts:
5. The three means of persuasion (logos, ethos, pathos)
6. The three genres of rhetoric (deliberative, forensic, epideictic)

5. Quintilian is famous for his Five Canons of Rhetoric. Those items are the following:

• inventio (invention): The process of developing and refining your arguments.
• dispositio (arrangement): The process of arranging and organizing your arguments for maximum impact.
• elocutio (style): The process of determining how you present your arguments using figures of speech and other rhetorical techniques.
• memoria (memory): The process of learning and memorizing your speech so you can deliver it without the use of notes. Memory-work not only consisted of memorizing the words of a specific speech, but also storing up famous quotes, literary references, and other facts that could be used in impromptu speeches.
• actio (delivery): The process of practicing how you deliver your speech using gestures, pronunciation, and tone of voice.

6. Although many people feel rhetoric has lost regard as an art, many individuals have risen to prominence in the field during contemporary times. Chief among them are Kenneth Burke, Jacques Derrida, and Michel Foucault.