RHETORICAL PROCESS EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (VERIFIED
AND UPDATED)
How do Keith and Lundberg define rhetoric? - ANS The study of producing discourses and
interpreting how, when, and why discourses are persuasive
Who were the Sophists and why were they important? - ANS Sicilians who taught Athenians
how to speak persuasively with the goal of navigating the courts and senate;
"Wisdom";Consultants for winning legal cases
What was Plato's criticism of rhetoric? - ANS Claimed rhetoric was dangerous because it did
not have the rigor of a scientific enterprise or the critical quality of a philosophical endeavor.
Thought it was a group of random techniques that helped those in the wrong win support for
their cause.
What are Aristotle's three types of speeches? What do they do? - ANS Forensic: trial
Speech that is given in a public forum
Justice- to determine what happened in the past, such as arguing for guilt or innocence
Epideictic: funeral
Speech that displays the qualities of something
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,Honor- to say how people should feel in the present, and to assign praise or blame
Deliberative: senate
speech that argues for a course of action
Utility- to make a case for what people should or should not do in the future, such as avoiding
harmful things and doing good
What are the three types of rhetorical appeals or proofs? - ANS Logos (logic), Ethos
(credibility of the speaker), and Pathos (emotional appeal)
What three basic points did Aristotle argue about rhetoric? - ANS Rhetoric gives us important
insight about the world in identity and power, visual and material symbols, and the public and
democracy
How do Keith and Lundberg define identity? - ANS The set of labels, patterns of behavior, and
ways of representing yourself that make up your public persona.
What two senses of the term 'rhetoric' do these authors recognize? - ANS 1) An action
humans perform (use symbols to communicate with one another)
2) Perspective humans take (Focusing on symbolic processes)
What two things do we do when we engage in rhetorical action? - ANS Make a conscious
decision to communicate and make conscious choices about the strategies we will employ
Considering rhetoric as a perspective that humans take, what are the two key terms? -
ANS Process and symbolism
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, When do we focus on the process of symbolism rather than the content? - ANS When we
analyze how symbols work rather than what the symbols communicate (ex: understand how a
world view is created by the communication strategies or an anti-abortion group)
What two ways can we focus on the process of symbolism? - ANS 1) By analyzing how people
perform rhetorical action
2) By analyzing how people interpret symbols
What was Aristotle's definition of rhetoric? - ANS the ability in each particular case to see the
available means of persuasion
What was Kenneth Burke's definition of rhetoric? - ANS the use of language as a symbolic
means of inducing cooperation in beings that by nature respond to symbols
What are the four characteristics of rhetoric? - ANS 1. Rhetoric is symbolic
2. Rhetoric involves an audience
3. Rhetoric establishes what is probably true
4. Rhetorical theory is inventive and analytic
If we view communication from a rhetorical perspective, which is more important, the intent of
the rhetor or the influence on the audience? - ANS The influence that rhetoric has on an
audience
What are the two most significant influences on the practice of modern rhetoric? -
ANS Culture and communication technologies
Define: metaphor - ANS a usually indirect comparison used to describe something with a
word or phrase that is not meant literally, but that, by means of vivid comparison, expresses
something about it (Joe is a deer) and in which qualities of one are transferred by implication to
the other
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (VERIFIED
AND UPDATED)
How do Keith and Lundberg define rhetoric? - ANS The study of producing discourses and
interpreting how, when, and why discourses are persuasive
Who were the Sophists and why were they important? - ANS Sicilians who taught Athenians
how to speak persuasively with the goal of navigating the courts and senate;
"Wisdom";Consultants for winning legal cases
What was Plato's criticism of rhetoric? - ANS Claimed rhetoric was dangerous because it did
not have the rigor of a scientific enterprise or the critical quality of a philosophical endeavor.
Thought it was a group of random techniques that helped those in the wrong win support for
their cause.
What are Aristotle's three types of speeches? What do they do? - ANS Forensic: trial
Speech that is given in a public forum
Justice- to determine what happened in the past, such as arguing for guilt or innocence
Epideictic: funeral
Speech that displays the qualities of something
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,Honor- to say how people should feel in the present, and to assign praise or blame
Deliberative: senate
speech that argues for a course of action
Utility- to make a case for what people should or should not do in the future, such as avoiding
harmful things and doing good
What are the three types of rhetorical appeals or proofs? - ANS Logos (logic), Ethos
(credibility of the speaker), and Pathos (emotional appeal)
What three basic points did Aristotle argue about rhetoric? - ANS Rhetoric gives us important
insight about the world in identity and power, visual and material symbols, and the public and
democracy
How do Keith and Lundberg define identity? - ANS The set of labels, patterns of behavior, and
ways of representing yourself that make up your public persona.
What two senses of the term 'rhetoric' do these authors recognize? - ANS 1) An action
humans perform (use symbols to communicate with one another)
2) Perspective humans take (Focusing on symbolic processes)
What two things do we do when we engage in rhetorical action? - ANS Make a conscious
decision to communicate and make conscious choices about the strategies we will employ
Considering rhetoric as a perspective that humans take, what are the two key terms? -
ANS Process and symbolism
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, When do we focus on the process of symbolism rather than the content? - ANS When we
analyze how symbols work rather than what the symbols communicate (ex: understand how a
world view is created by the communication strategies or an anti-abortion group)
What two ways can we focus on the process of symbolism? - ANS 1) By analyzing how people
perform rhetorical action
2) By analyzing how people interpret symbols
What was Aristotle's definition of rhetoric? - ANS the ability in each particular case to see the
available means of persuasion
What was Kenneth Burke's definition of rhetoric? - ANS the use of language as a symbolic
means of inducing cooperation in beings that by nature respond to symbols
What are the four characteristics of rhetoric? - ANS 1. Rhetoric is symbolic
2. Rhetoric involves an audience
3. Rhetoric establishes what is probably true
4. Rhetorical theory is inventive and analytic
If we view communication from a rhetorical perspective, which is more important, the intent of
the rhetor or the influence on the audience? - ANS The influence that rhetoric has on an
audience
What are the two most significant influences on the practice of modern rhetoric? -
ANS Culture and communication technologies
Define: metaphor - ANS a usually indirect comparison used to describe something with a
word or phrase that is not meant literally, but that, by means of vivid comparison, expresses
something about it (Joe is a deer) and in which qualities of one are transferred by implication to
the other
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
