After reading this book, I have a much better understanding of rhetoric and how to apply each of its properties to successfully persuade my audience. I am excited to start working on my paper and utilize Toye's text as a resource for mapping out my ideas.
I'm really glad he ended in pertaining rhetoric back to the modern day. Using examples of text and speeches helps put all the terms that he uses throughout the book back into words that I can understand. It also helps me better comprehend the rest of his book, even though it was a little rocky at the start.
On page 87, there is a cartoon by Stephen Collins that displays a radio in several drawings as it is playing a speech from its speaker. Below the cartoon is a short description that reads, "speeches cannot be understood separately from the technology that is used to deliver and comment on them."
This really resonated with me, because I have never thought of it that way, but it's very obvious. No matter what form of technology used to listen to a speech there are always specific attributes that arise from using it. The same goes for speeches given to a live audience. There is typically technology used to increase the volume of the speaker, such as a microphone and speaker system. Problems can always arise that would delay the speaker or interrupt his/her argument.
Do you think technological problems are something an orator should prepare for?
While the last words from Toye are to collect a rhetorical analysis of the book, I am much more excited to conduct an analysis on Instagram as a technology platform.
What do you think readers have touched on if they did a rhetorical analysis of the book?
Thursday, March 30, 2017
Thursday, March 23, 2017
Blog 12: The Three Branches
Finally!!! I understand rhetoric!
After class on Tuesday, I had a better understanding of the definition of rhetoric and a basis of the subjects within chapter 1. I was a little nervous about this book, granted it is small, because I didn't think I would get a grasp of the subject.
As I continued into chapter 2, I started to enjoy what I was reading. I was really glad that Toye used examples for a majority of the terms discussed, because it really helped me better understand how to apply it into a work. In this chapter he unfolds all parts of a speech, just as the scholars did, to get a in depth picture of the different language and techniques used. There were a lot of terms that I was unfamiliar with, but after the chapter I have gained a clear idea of the 'scaffolding of rhetoric'.
Do you agree, that discussing rhetoric in class helped you comprehend the reading and move into chapter 2 easily?
Into the scaffolding, kairos is the first step of an argument or speech. Without an opportune moment, a great speech can crumble to pieces. I agree with this statement, because not only you have to be ready but your audience does well. The purpose will get lost if there isn't a great connection from orator to listener.
Onto the three branches of oratory discussed, Toye does a great job of explaining forensic, epideictic, and deliberative. After understanding all three, I agree with Toye's statement that it's difficult to attach one branch to one speech. Most speeches utilize two if not all three at some point throughout their argument. I can related back to last semester in my speech class, although nobody was a scholar, I can pick out branches that were used for various speeches given.
Which branch would you associate with different speeches; can you give examples of famous speeches?
After class on Tuesday, I had a better understanding of the definition of rhetoric and a basis of the subjects within chapter 1. I was a little nervous about this book, granted it is small, because I didn't think I would get a grasp of the subject.
As I continued into chapter 2, I started to enjoy what I was reading. I was really glad that Toye used examples for a majority of the terms discussed, because it really helped me better understand how to apply it into a work. In this chapter he unfolds all parts of a speech, just as the scholars did, to get a in depth picture of the different language and techniques used. There were a lot of terms that I was unfamiliar with, but after the chapter I have gained a clear idea of the 'scaffolding of rhetoric'.
Do you agree, that discussing rhetoric in class helped you comprehend the reading and move into chapter 2 easily?
Into the scaffolding, kairos is the first step of an argument or speech. Without an opportune moment, a great speech can crumble to pieces. I agree with this statement, because not only you have to be ready but your audience does well. The purpose will get lost if there isn't a great connection from orator to listener.
Onto the three branches of oratory discussed, Toye does a great job of explaining forensic, epideictic, and deliberative. After understanding all three, I agree with Toye's statement that it's difficult to attach one branch to one speech. Most speeches utilize two if not all three at some point throughout their argument. I can related back to last semester in my speech class, although nobody was a scholar, I can pick out branches that were used for various speeches given.
Which branch would you associate with different speeches; can you give examples of famous speeches?
Thursday, March 16, 2017
Blog 11: Introduction to Rhetoric
Rhetoric is confusing, and it is a subject I've been expected to understand since starting college, but I've never been taught the basic understanding and the core of the idea. Rhetoric to me is a compilation of thoughts and ideas that are backed my historical writings and evidence to assist in persuading and audience.
From the introduction of Richard Toye's book, I have gained a slightly better understanding of rhetoric, but have become more confused by the first chapter where he goes into the history of rhetoric and where the world was established. Toye explains that that rhetoric has always been thought and explained through public conversation and argumentation, but he argues that it is also private in the way that everyone expresses themselves visually, verbally, and virtually. All arguments, no matter the subject of debate, are forms of rhetoric. He also explains that we receive our abilities to read and write from our peers and from examples that surround us, such as TV, newspapers, social media, etc.
Rhetoric not only allows for the expression of ideas, but also allows for the generation of ideas. I agree with this argument in that, when two people debate they are allowed to generate ideas off one another and it can form a whole new basis of argument that is different from the original topic.
In your experience with rhetoric, have you found it more personal or public?
As Toye continues in his brief overview of the history of rhetoric, I found his writing style very dry and boring. I found myself drifting in and out of the context, so I feel like I didn't get a great understanding of the historical context that he presented.
Do you feel that he presents his analysis clearly and effectively?
I hope in class we will go over this reading more in depth and my classmates will help with my understanding of rhetoric.
From the introduction of Richard Toye's book, I have gained a slightly better understanding of rhetoric, but have become more confused by the first chapter where he goes into the history of rhetoric and where the world was established. Toye explains that that rhetoric has always been thought and explained through public conversation and argumentation, but he argues that it is also private in the way that everyone expresses themselves visually, verbally, and virtually. All arguments, no matter the subject of debate, are forms of rhetoric. He also explains that we receive our abilities to read and write from our peers and from examples that surround us, such as TV, newspapers, social media, etc.
Rhetoric not only allows for the expression of ideas, but also allows for the generation of ideas. I agree with this argument in that, when two people debate they are allowed to generate ideas off one another and it can form a whole new basis of argument that is different from the original topic.
In your experience with rhetoric, have you found it more personal or public?
As Toye continues in his brief overview of the history of rhetoric, I found his writing style very dry and boring. I found myself drifting in and out of the context, so I feel like I didn't get a great understanding of the historical context that he presented.
Do you feel that he presents his analysis clearly and effectively?
I hope in class we will go over this reading more in depth and my classmates will help with my understanding of rhetoric.
Sunday, March 5, 2017
Blog 10: BONUS BLOG- LATIS Lab
This past Thursday, the class all met in the LATIS Labs in Anderson Hall on West Bank. This is was such a fun on-campus field trip to get out of the classroom and explores the technologies that we have been discussing in class and reading about their histories through our assignments. I had a great time trying the various technologies and discussing their utilities and how they can be used beyond their main applications. My favorites were the 3D printer, HTC Vive, and Amazon Echo with Alexa.
In discussion about the similarities among the technologies we explored, Google Cardboard and the HTC Vive were very similar in their technologies, but very different in their complexity and abilities. The Google Cardboard was very simple in that your strapped your phone around a box and looked through of pair of lenses to see a zoomed in image that seemed 'virtual'. The HTC Vive was much more complex and had a larger array of possibilities and capabilities. The most obvious difference between the two were the resolution differences between the images. The HTC was much more realistic while the Cardboard was more animated.
With the technologies always brings challenges. The selection button on the Google Cardboard didn't work, so I couldn't click anything. If I spend a lot of time using VR, I start to get motion sick. Alexa wouldn't always respond to the questions we asked and would get stuck when using certain tools. The Ricoh camera wouldn't connect to wifi through my phone, so I wasn't able to take any 360 degree pictures. New technologies have a lot of complex guidelines too which make it hard for a first time user.
On to gender specific technologies, it seems like a lot of voice activated systems are gendered as female. I also believe certain technologies are marketed to genders differently. Understanding products such as color, structure, etc can display gender distinctions.
Out of all the technologies we explored Alexa was the most interesting. She reminded me a lot of Apple's Siri, but was much more responsive. Alexa was black and tubular. She was a little less than a foot tall and on top of the machine was a blue ring and a power and mute button. When you ask her demands or questions the blue ring illuminates. She can make daily life easier by accessing a full network and the internet rather than using a phone. She is mostly found in households to make daily life easier. She simplifies daily tasks and allows to hand free access. The data saving abilities could be used in some business applications.
In discussion about the similarities among the technologies we explored, Google Cardboard and the HTC Vive were very similar in their technologies, but very different in their complexity and abilities. The Google Cardboard was very simple in that your strapped your phone around a box and looked through of pair of lenses to see a zoomed in image that seemed 'virtual'. The HTC Vive was much more complex and had a larger array of possibilities and capabilities. The most obvious difference between the two were the resolution differences between the images. The HTC was much more realistic while the Cardboard was more animated.
With the technologies always brings challenges. The selection button on the Google Cardboard didn't work, so I couldn't click anything. If I spend a lot of time using VR, I start to get motion sick. Alexa wouldn't always respond to the questions we asked and would get stuck when using certain tools. The Ricoh camera wouldn't connect to wifi through my phone, so I wasn't able to take any 360 degree pictures. New technologies have a lot of complex guidelines too which make it hard for a first time user.
On to gender specific technologies, it seems like a lot of voice activated systems are gendered as female. I also believe certain technologies are marketed to genders differently. Understanding products such as color, structure, etc can display gender distinctions.
Out of all the technologies we explored Alexa was the most interesting. She reminded me a lot of Apple's Siri, but was much more responsive. Alexa was black and tubular. She was a little less than a foot tall and on top of the machine was a blue ring and a power and mute button. When you ask her demands or questions the blue ring illuminates. She can make daily life easier by accessing a full network and the internet rather than using a phone. She is mostly found in households to make daily life easier. She simplifies daily tasks and allows to hand free access. The data saving abilities could be used in some business applications.
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