Rhetoric: A User's Guide

by John D. Ramage

This book for advanced composition courses focuses on the theories of Kenneth Burke (rhetoric as “equipment for living”) in order to help students move beyond a mere accumulation of knowledge about the field of rhetoric and move toward a genuine ability to think rhetorically. Presenting rhetorical theory as an invaluable tool for construing and constructing everything from personal identity to political speeches to cell phone usage, John Ramage’s new guide stresses the real world applications of rhetoric and offers a focused, coherent treatment of the subject.

240 pages, Paperback

First published October 28, 2005

Reviews

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is actually really great. You'll learn a lot about language and identity- and so much more. Could certaintly be helpful to everyone! And it's actually pretty funny.

[Joseph Gary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ramage gives the basics of rhetoric and does a good job here. If there is a shortcoming: he tries to provide an analysis of the rhetoric of war (via President George W. Bush's state of the union speech), but he's missing a fundamental understanding of the complexities on the subject that makes his analysis fall short.

[Kendra Richards Ohmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great, accessible, book on rhetoric. It's a good introduction to rhetoric, but is also a great source for more advanced scholarly works, to apply some basic rhetorical theories to new scholarship. A great read for anyone interested in rhetoric or writing about it.

[Ashley Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't enjoy textbooks that use sarcasm and/or try to hook their readers by treating them like they know nothing, and this is one of those textbooks. Although, I will admit that it could be useful for those interested in rhetoric but not in reading theory.