Essays on Classical Rhetoric and Modern Discourse

Eighteen essays by leading scholars in English, speech communication, education, and philosophy explore the vitality of the classical rhetorical tradition and its influence on both contemporary discourse studies and the teaching of writing. Some of the essays investigate the­oretical and historical issues. Others show the bearing of classical rhetoric on contemporary problems in composition.

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Eighteen essays by leading scholars in English, speech communication, educa­tion, and philosophy explore the vitality of the classical rhetorical tradition and its influence on both contemporary dis­course studies and the teaching of writing. Some of the essays investigate the­oretical and historical issues. Others show the bearing of classical rhetoric on contemporary problems in composition, thus blending theory and practice. Com­mon to the varied approaches and view­points expressed in this volume is one central theme: the 20th-century revival of rhetoric entails a recovery of the clas­sical tradition, with its marriage of a rich and fully articulated theory with an equally efficacious practice. A preface demonstrates the contribution of Ed­ward P. J. Corbett to the 20th-century re­vival, and a last chapter includes a bibli­ography of his works.