Product Description

Now in a new edition, this standard work in its field discusses the three vital parts of classical rhetoric--argument, arrangement, and style--bringing these elements to life and demonstrating through numerous examples their effective application in yesterday's and today's writing. This new edition features a new chapter on progymnasta (classical composition exercises), an updated survey of the history of rhetoric, and an updated section on "External Aids to Invention".

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #82262 in Books
• Published on: 1998-08-06
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 562 pages

Review
"A definitive, highly usable, rigorous text--I have used it with great success for many years. The new material in the 4th edition is marvelous. Exactly the kind of work needed to prepare teachers."--Mitzi Brunsdale, Mayville State University

"An indispensable and lucid guide to rhetoric that will make students proficient writers and acute interpreters of texts ranging from contemporary advertisements to Homer."--Corinne E. Blackmen, Southern Connecticut State University

"Interesting and well written. I particularly like the selected readings by Homer, Socrates, Madison, Thoreau, and the others. A very comprehensive study."--Wendy Stackable, Covenant Christian Academy

Praise for the previous edition (1st 3 quotes): "Remains the single best, most comprehensive, most readable, most useful, most usable text for both introductory and advanced classes in rhetoric/composition."--Vivian Thomlinson, Cameron University

"A classic in the field of composition studies, a work that has shaped the disciplone. Sorts out the often confusing writings of classical rhetoric and shows how the ancient art can help contemporary students negotiate the realm of persuasive discourse."--Gary Layne Hatch, Brigham Young University

"The definitive rhetorical handbook for contemporary students."--William Sewell, Southwest Missouri State University

"My students appreciate the clear and complete explanations of rhetorical principles in this text."--Jody D. Brown, Ferrum College

"An excellent text for Advanced Composition and Rhetoric because it allows you to pace the course according to the level of your classes."--Mark Craver, George Mason University

About the Author
Edward P.J. Corbett is at Ohio State University (Emeritus). Robert J. Connors is at University of New Hampshire.

Customer Reviews

Great book
In spite of the fact that I have a bachelor's degree, I never learned how to write until after college. This book opened up a whole new world to me that I didn't know existed. This book could have been a little better if the author included commentary along with some of the very long essays he used for examples.

A pedagogical tour de force
This book is a must-have for all those who wish and need to grasp the essentials of rhetoric and logic. Corbett and Connors allied erudition and teaching experience to guide readers through the maze of terminology and concepts that would elude even the most hard-working, self-taught students. But they practice what they preach: they are clear, simple, thorough and convincing, and they provide you with exercises as well. Now I think I will go back to Sister Miriam Joseph's The Trivium better equiped to understand what she was talking about. Enjoy!

Great introductory text on Rhetoric
I'm writing this review as a high schooler who wanted to learn more about this fascinating topic, but was not given the opportunity in school to learn it. I studied rhetoric using a dozen or so books on the topic, with this book as my main staple. The book is 'comprehensive', meaning it covers the basics and the theory, but not the actual application, although a few sections within this book intends to do just that. So if your English teacher is doing a great job on making your essay sound better, you might not want to trouble yourself with 80% of this book's content, although the section on exemplary works and figures of speech may be a great boon to your writing style. Certainly the best way to learn rhetoric is to read exemplary works by many different authors and learn from their different styles. However, if you want to learn rhetoric, but don't know where to begin, I would strongly recomment this book.