“Rhetoric is Synonymous with Empty Speech” and “The Rhetorical Situation”

First is “Rhetoric is Synonymous with Empty Speech” by Patricia Roberts-Miller. The primary audience for this text is her fellow co-workers or just anyone who is confused on the topic of rhetoric. She starts off saying that rhetoric is just extra details that we add to a sentence. Then Plato is brought up. Plato said that rhetoric does not work in large crowds when trying to get to the truth. Although, it is fine for a speech. If you want to use rhetoric to find out what is true then you need to argue with someone else so you can bounce ideas off of each other. Next she brings us Aristotle, who thinks that you can get to the truth by using rhetoric in a large crowd. He says this because he views rhetoric as a skill that helps you figure out and see how you can persuade others. She then goes on to say that rhetoric is a way of thinking. I think that the main message of this text is to show how rhetoric is misinterpreted and to further explain what rhetoric truly is.

Second is “The Rhetorical Situation” by Lloyd F. Bitzer. The primary audience for this text is for writers, public speakers or students. This text was presented as a public lecture at the University of Wisconsin, Cornell University, and the University of Washington. It was also read at the Central States Speech Association. He says that rhetoric is used to alter reality. It is when the speaker or the writer can talk or write so well that the audience just follows what is going on without question. It is very persuasive. Controlling a situation or a group conversation is very rhetorical activity. I think that the main argument of this text is similar to the argument in “Rhetoric is Synonymous with Empty Speech” by Patricia Roberts-Miller. They both have their views on what rhetoric is and that are trying to get the reader to understand their point of view and agree with them.