Learning - if you do not know much about rhetoric, our page of resources has links that will help you learn more about the subject generally. You can find these links in the books and websites sections.
Researching - if you are doing a project or paper about a topic of rhetoric and need to research to find sources, our list of databases, journals, and books will help you.
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Definitions
Have you ever tried to communicate a point to an audience? Whether you were giving a speech, writing an essay, or simply talking to a friend, you were engaging in practices of rhetoric.
To put it one way, rhetoric is:
However, since so many people engage in and study rhetoric, it can be approached in a variety of angles by scholars. Here are a few more definitions, which have been taken from websites that you can find in the resources section of this LibGuide.
Rhetoric, according to Aristotle, is the art of seeing the available means of persuasion. Today we apply it to any form of communication (TedEd Blog).
In brief, “rhetoric” is any communication used to modify the perspectives of others (Purdue Owl).
Rhetoric is the study of effective speaking and writing. And the art of persuasion. And many other things (BYU).
As these definitions allude to, rhetoric is a broad concept that takes time to understand fully. Our guide provides resource so that you are able to learn about or research rhetoric in depth.
Finding Research
For your variety of research and learning needs, this Guide provides an array of rhetoric resources:
If you are looking for books, you can either click on any title in the scrolling widget above or use the search box below to see what we have in our collection.
Butler Libraries' Catalog
The search below is WorldCat Discovery. Here's what you need to know:
When you see search results, it will tell you what type of material the item is (book, ebook, evideo, etc). It will also will tell you whether it is held by Butler University Libraries. If you see something other than Butler listed (WorldCat Libraries or PALNI), this means we don't actually own a copy here - but we can likely get it for you! Learn more about our PALShare and Interlibrary Loan options.
PHYSICAL CONTENT (Books, DVD/CDs, Musical Scores, etc.)
After you make sure that the item is held by Butler University Libraries, you should be able to see whether it's currently available and where it is located. The students and staff at the Information Commons Desk are happy to help you find items on the shelves. Learn more about our collection locations and borrowing policies.
ONLINE CONTENT (Articles, eBooks, eVideo, etc.)
On the search page you may notice some blue buttons to "View eBook" or "View full text." If the item is held by Butler Libraries, this button should connect you with the content online. If it does not:
Databases
JOURNALS
Websites
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