1.1 - 1.3
1. In the first sentence we read “Rhetoric is the counterpart to dialectic.” What does this mean?
2. Define rhetoric and dialectic. How are they the same? How do they differ? For what reasons does Aristotle say rhetoric should be considered an art?
3. What did writers on rhetoric before Aristotle ‘get wrong’?
4. Name some characteristics of political and forensic oratory. Which does Aristotle consider to be more noble?
5. Why is rhetoric useful?
6. Why did Aristotle feel it important to be able to argue both sides of a question?
7. What is Aristotle’s definition of rhetoric? Is this similar to any others you discovered?
8. How does Aristotle distinguish between the artistic and inartistic proofs of persuasion?
9. What does Aristotle consider to be the controlling factor in persuasion?
10. Name and define the three artistic means of persuasion.
11. Why is character important?
12. Why is it important to lead the audience to feel certain emotions?
13. Which of these means is most persuasive?
14. On what does each of these means of persuasion depend?
15. On what sorts of issues do we deliberate?
16. What are the two proofs in dialectic (logic)?
17. What are their counterparts in rhetoric?
18. Which of these is generally more effective?
19. What is the duty of rhetoric?
20. Explain what an enthymeme is.
21. What is a probability?
22. Name the two kinds of signs.
23. Give an example of each.
24. Name the three divisions of rhetoric.
25. How are they determined?
26. What are the three elements of rhetoric?
27. Which of these determines the speech’s end or objective?
28. List the three types of hearers and the time associated with each.
29. What are the differing purposes of each kind of speech?
2. Define rhetoric and dialectic. How are they the same? How do they differ? For what reasons does Aristotle say rhetoric should be considered an art?
3. What did writers on rhetoric before Aristotle ‘get wrong’?
4. Name some characteristics of political and forensic oratory. Which does Aristotle consider to be more noble?
5. Why is rhetoric useful?
6. Why did Aristotle feel it important to be able to argue both sides of a question?
7. What is Aristotle’s definition of rhetoric? Is this similar to any others you discovered?
8. How does Aristotle distinguish between the artistic and inartistic proofs of persuasion?
9. What does Aristotle consider to be the controlling factor in persuasion?
10. Name and define the three artistic means of persuasion.
11. Why is character important?
12. Why is it important to lead the audience to feel certain emotions?
13. Which of these means is most persuasive?
14. On what does each of these means of persuasion depend?
15. On what sorts of issues do we deliberate?
16. What are the two proofs in dialectic (logic)?
17. What are their counterparts in rhetoric?
18. Which of these is generally more effective?
19. What is the duty of rhetoric?
20. Explain what an enthymeme is.
21. What is a probability?
22. Name the two kinds of signs.
23. Give an example of each.
24. Name the three divisions of rhetoric.
25. How are they determined?
26. What are the three elements of rhetoric?
27. Which of these determines the speech’s end or objective?
28. List the three types of hearers and the time associated with each.
29. What are the differing purposes of each kind of speech?
1.4 - 1.8
1. With what sorts of topics must a speaker concern himself?
2. With what is deliberative rhetoric concerned?
3.What are the five sources of propositions for deliberative rhetoric?
4. Why is knowledge of these important for the political speaker?
5.What determines the choices of all men? Why?
6. How does this aim relate to political oratory?
7. List Aristotle's definitions of happiness.
8. List 5 constituent parts of (things leading to) happiness with which you agree and 5 with which you do not.
9. Aristotle says, "Whatever creates or increases happiness or some part of happiness, we ought to do; whatever destroys or hampers happiness, or gives rise to its opposite, we ought not to do." Agree or disagree?
10. How does Aristotle define "the good"?
11. Which of these "goods" seem most important? Why? What makes them important?
12. Why is it important for a political speaker to have some knowledge of these things considered good?
13. Aristotle divides these goods into things admittedly good and things whose goodness is disputed. Be able to explain how one example of each is placed into its particular category.
14. Why does Aristotle establish a difference between goodness and utility?
15. Be able to give an example of two opposite things which are each identified as the greater good.. (more advantageous).
16. List and describe (supreme authority, ends, methods of filling offices) of the four forms of government according to Aristotle.
17. Why is it important for the political orator to know the ends of each of the forms of government?
1.9
Define virtue and vice. What are their characteristics?
What does this chapter deal with?
What does Aristotle consider to be the noble and the base?
List nine virtues identified by aristotle. Why dies Aristotle say each is a virtue?
What steps does Airstotle recommend when the speaker "does not have material enough" to praise or blame?
Define encomium.
What are four methods of heightening praise?
What advice is given about audiences?
Why does Aristotle say amplification is best suited to ceremonial rhetoric?
What is the best method of developing deliberative rhetoric?
For Judicial?
What was Aristotle's purpose in this chapter?
1.10 - 1.15
What is injustice? Do you agree with Aristotle’s definition?
For what two reasons might a person do wrong (commit injustice)?
The wrongs a man commits are aligned with the bad qualities he possesses. List those qualities and the types of injustices associated with each.
Some actions are due to the person (voluntary) and others are not (involuntary). List the causes of human actions of each kind.
What are the actions that happen by chance?
What are the actions that happen by nature?
What actions are the result of compulsion?
What are the actions that happen by habit?
By reason?
By anger?
By desire?
Again, Aristotle says that all actions due to ourselves seem to be_______________. Do you agree?
Definitions:
Pleasure
Pain
Rational desires
Irrational desires
List those things which Aristotle deems pleasurable
What are three reasons men feel they might do wrong?
What are the two types of laws?
What is Aristotle’s definition of an unjust act?
Why is a voluntary act wrong?
How may the magnitude of a wrong be determined?
Which kinds of wrongs does Aristotle consider to be the greatest?
What are the artistic means of persuasion?
The non-artistic? To which branch of rhetoric do they belong?
For what two reasons might a person do wrong (commit injustice)?
The wrongs a man commits are aligned with the bad qualities he possesses. List those qualities and the types of injustices associated with each.
Some actions are due to the person (voluntary) and others are not (involuntary). List the causes of human actions of each kind.
What are the actions that happen by chance?
What are the actions that happen by nature?
What actions are the result of compulsion?
What are the actions that happen by habit?
By reason?
By anger?
By desire?
Again, Aristotle says that all actions due to ourselves seem to be_______________. Do you agree?
Definitions:
Pleasure
Pain
Rational desires
Irrational desires
List those things which Aristotle deems pleasurable
What are three reasons men feel they might do wrong?
What are the two types of laws?
What is Aristotle’s definition of an unjust act?
Why is a voluntary act wrong?
How may the magnitude of a wrong be determined?
Which kinds of wrongs does Aristotle consider to be the greatest?
What are the artistic means of persuasion?
The non-artistic? To which branch of rhetoric do they belong?
II.1-II.11
Why is it important to consider more than just logos centered arguments?
Why is ethos more important in or useful in deliberative rhetoric and pathos more central to forensic rhetoric?
What are the three characteristics necessary for projecting a positive ethos?
Why does Aristotle define and describe emotions?
For each emotion Aristotle names, be able to tell:
the nature (definition) of the emotion (thwe state of mind or mental disposition that prompts the emotion)
the object of the emotion (toward who or what things you experience it)
the cause of the emotion (why is the emotion felt, under what circumstances, what occasions give rise to the particular emotion). You may find it helpful to create a chart for this info. In addition to these questions, be sure to jot down other interesting insights to share: how can you induce pity in your audience/ What pleasure do people get from giving insults? How can the forgetfulness of names produce anger? Should you be honest about a friend's faults? And what about the dogs?
Do you agree with Aristotle's analysis of these emotions? Where would you differ? Why?
II.19
List the 17 lines of argument linked to the possible. Be prepared to give an example of these.
What are the assumptions corresponding to past events?
What assumptions are attached to future events?
Aristotle writes that " in each branch of Rhetoric the end set before it is a good, such as the ___________, the __________. or the _______________. To which branch of rhetoric does each of these apply?
These arguments are named past fact, future fact, possibility, and degree.
II.20-21
What are the two means of argument (forms of proof) common to all three genre of rhetoric?
Under which of these two does maxim fall?
Example belongs to which kind of reasoning?
What two forms can example take?
What are the two forms of invented examples?
Which form of oratory is fable best suited for? Why?
In what way are fables better thann historical parallels?
Political speakers will find __________more effective.
If a speaker can not use enthymeme, he should use_______. If he can use enthymeme, how does he use example?
What is a maxim?
How can a maxim become an enthymeme?
Are maxims suitable for all audiences? Why or why not?
What three steps will help a speaker to use maxims most effectively?
II.2 - II-17
How does Aristotle characterize the young? List several characteristics, highlighting those you percieve to be most important. Does this insight seem valid today?
Does it concur with a Biblical viewpoint?
How does he describe the character of the elderly? Can you distill these comments to just one characteristic?
How might Aristotle's view of those in the prime of life influence a speech or persuasive attempt to them?
Besides age, Aristotle also delineates the characters of men by their circumstances. Describe these divisions. Do they seem valid to current day situations?
II.22
What is an enthymeme?
Why does Aristotle say that the uneducated are often more persuasive?
What is the first thing we must remember when arguing?
What are the two types of enthymemes?
What are the differences between them?