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Rhetoric

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Submitted By Jastaine
Words 1250
Pages 5
John Staine
Heinrich Critical Book Review
2/13/14
LSTU 261

Rhetoric in its most simplistic form is language; more specifically rhetoric is persuasive language. Rhetoric is something that we use every day whether we know it or not, we are always using it. In Jay Heinrich’s strong argumentative book, “Thank you for Arguing,” he stresses the importance of rhetoric heavily. Heinrich argues that rhetoric is the key component to arguing and everyone can benefit from knowing how exactly to use rhetoric. His main intent is to show how rhetoric has shaped this country and how history is formed from its critical use. My view on this importance of rhetoric is at the same levels of Heinrich’s. I do believe that rhetoric is key to arguing and even beyond arguing, with getting by in the society in which we live in. I also agree with Heinrich’s idea on not arguing for a win but for a purpose, for a goal. Argument in the future tense will help bring strength to the situation itself. In the book Heinrich uses real life examples, ranging from his personal life, to television, to music, all the way through our history as a country. I noticed that Heinrich doesn’t really state the opposition of his argument, one could assume that if you do not use rhetoric effectively then you will not succeed in our society and that is it. I would also have like to see examples of rhetoric stripped down in a less complex form, for example someone using it that doesn’t really know the depth of it such as Homer Simpson but real life examples. He makes it seem so easy, but is it? Heinrich has been studying it for years and he did provide great facts and great history, but it is not that easy to do effectively unless you fully study and understand it would be my question. Heinrich talks a lot of the people that knew how to work others socially and did so very well, but what about those

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