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Rhetorical Citizenship and My Sponsers By: Laura Lubin Defining Rhetoric What is rhetoric? The word is thrown around all the time. However we never really stop to think where it comes from. In history, rhetoric has been referred to as the art of persuasion. For example, when someone asks a question, only to cut off your response with that was a rhetorical question what they are truthfully saying is the question was there to persuade you, and that it really required no answer. The definition of rhetoric has changed throughout history. Even rhetoricians and philosophers argue different meanings of the word. The study of rhetoric dates as far back as almost 500BC. In ancient times rhetoric was used for public debates, to resolve disputes, and mediate public discussion on central issues. Aristotle, one of the most famous philosophers to study rhetoric, defined it as the power of finding the available arguments suited to a given situation. Rhetoric was used as a tool, if you will, to help people choose the best course of action when they disagreed about important concerns like politics, religion, or society. It was a cleaver method to control chaos and hostility with the members of the community. Arguments and debates will be around as long as people have opinions and a way to voice or express them. Rhetoricians say that they invented it so that they would have a way of critiquing and judging whose beliefs and outlooks were most truthful , practical, or valuable. In the writings of Crowley and Hawhee they state If people didnt argue then rhetoric wouldnt be necessary. But they do, and it is. If there was no arguing then there would be no passion for anything. Can you imagine political elections without debate?

Politician A: Vote for me. Politician B: Vote for me. We need to know WHY we should choose one from the other. Arguing is just a way of life it is inevitable. Another example would be advertising. When youre at a store and youre down the deodorant isle choosing which one to buy, you read the labels to see which one is going to be the best choice for you. Do you need the one for antiperspirant or anti-odor? Do you need the one with both? Or do you just see the one that says NEW! And go for that one? Then there are times when rhetoric doesnt even necessarily need words for an argument. It can also persuade you visually. For example, youre back at the deodorant isle. This time you dont even read the labels. You choose one because you are attracted and drawn to the brand with the pretty colorful designs. But youre not done choosing one just yet, because its time for the smell test. After smelling them all at least three times and then the last two runner ups another nine times, one has finally won you over. And the purchase goes to Secrets, Asian Pear! Sometimes you dont even realize it but you dont always pick the brand because in actuality the brand has already picked you. It was designed, tested, and created just for you. Advertisers are the masters of silent persuasion. So, rhetoric is the art to persuade, influence, convince, motivate, or communicate an idea. Rhetoric can be written, or oral. It can be visual, like advertising or fashion. It can also be non-verbal like hand gestures, body language, even refusing to talk is conveying a message. Wayne Booth stated that rhetoric held entire domination over all verbal pursuits. Logic, dialectic, grammar, philosophy, history, poetry, all are rhetoric.

Defining Citizenship

When I think of the citizenship these are the words that come to mind; social, community, politics,public service, volunteering. However The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching defines citizenship as, The participation in political or community affairs, regardless of the participants legal status. While reading Higher Education: Civic Mission and Civic Effects, I realized that there were two words that were continuously said, civic and participants. Its obvious that this essay has a lot to do with community participation. They believe that colleges and universities need to educate their students more on citizenship and the importance of it. They state Colleges and universities have a civic mission one being that they be good institutional citizens that serve their communities. Citizenship education is not a new matter. It came about between the 1880 and 1945. American universities participated in a broader cultural movement. They were called modernist. These modernist supported choice, individualism, critical distance, and scientific research. Then, from 1945-1960 critics deemed the concern with citizenship in schools to be normative and unscientific. In the early 1960s the civic mission resurfaced and student campus protests led to service-learning, which combined community-service with academic learning. Writers like Amy J. Wan stress the importance of volunteering among college students. These civic courses help students in many ways. They become concerned with environmental responsibilities, racial understanding, and even politics. These researchers are looking towards the future of civic engagement as well. Much research will be made to ensure that progress is being made. The education of citizenship in colleges and universities is essential if we want to continue to promote equality and the freedom of speech. Rhetorical Citizenship

After defining both rhetoric and citizenship I realized that both are correlated with one another. Rhetoric and citizenship go hand in hand. If you are an active member of your community, then youre always arguing and voicing your concerns. Rhetoric is about using persuasion to convey a message and citizenship requires those methods when trying to advocate something to the community. Examples of these associations would be things like rallys, petitions, voting, protesting. Just about every day on my campus at University of Central Florida, there are all different kinds of protesting and petitioning going on. When I have time, I will always stop and listen to what the students are arguing and see if there is something I can do to help out. Rhetorical citizenship is reliable for the changes we have made throughout time. Without it there would be no revolutionizing or adjustments is society. Sponsors My first sponsor would have to be Lisa Kunkle. She is a neurologists at the Dan Marino childrens hospital in South Florida. After being diagnosed with epilepsy (seizure disorder), I was sent to Dr.Kunkle. She was my neurologists for two years until I turned 18. After having my second seizure I went through a very rough time. I had my license revoked for 6 months, I couldnt stay out late with my friends, I couldnt even go swimming without supervision. Basically, at a time in life when youre finally allowed to be independent I had the complete opposite happen. On top of it all, I was put on a seizure medication that completely changed my personality. I felt alone and misunderstood. After expressing to Kunkle how I felt, she first changed my medication, and then thought it was a good idea to get me involved with other people who knew what I was going through. She gave me all the names of people, websites, scholarships, and programs that I should contact. I joined a club called Women With Epilepsy. We would have workshops once a month where we would listen to aspiring stories told by women who have it, or women who are affected by someone they know who has it. I also joined the Epilepsy Foundation of Florida, where I helped by raising $300 for the Walk For Epilepsy fundraiser they hold

once a year. She helped me so much by connecting me with a community of people who I could learn from and connect with. My second sponsor is my mom. She has inspired and motivated me my whole life to be a better person and citizen. My mom is a huge animal person, and ever since I can remember she has always taken me to animal shelters or animal rehabilitation centers to help the animals in any way. From her teachings, I never leave an animal shelter without donating at least $5. My mother has also been the one to always update me on everything that is happening in our community. She works for the Broward County School District, so she is very active and educated about anything that is going on concerning the changes to the school board. She was also president of the Broward County Teachers Union, which is a program run by county lawyers that protects the educators and employees of schools from getting fired. She also is not afraid to contact state politicians if she has a concern. For example, when my grandmother applied to live in a local nursing home, they said there was no more room and she had to wait. After waiting almost six months my mother contacted the states governor with her concern and within two weeks my grandmother was living in the home. My mom always tells me to speak up if I ever feel it is necessary to. She is definitely a role model when it comes to civic engagement and citizenship. Conclusion If it wasnt for rhetoric then there would never be a united citizenship. Rhetorical citizenship has protected us on a small and large scale. From helping out or communities to making sure there is justice in the national government . Change is never a bad thing and in order to keep those changes managed and agreeable then we will continue to all be participants in civic engagement.