Communication Criticism Vol. 2 : Developing Your Critical Powers

by Jodi R. Cohen

• ISBN13: 9780761906308
• ISBN10: 0761906304
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1998-02-03
• Publisher: SAGE Publications, Inc

Summary

This book demonstrates how an understanding of the fundamental principles of communication will help in evaluating the effects, effectiveness, truthfulness and ethics of every kind of communication from traditional 'soapbox' speeches to reading a magazine, talking to a friend, watching court proceedings or television news. Jodi R Cohen's informally written, critical guide introduces classical theories of rhetoric at the beginning of each chapter, then expands the discussion with contemporary postmodern theories, and concerns such as aesthetics and cultural bias. There are question- and-answer sections in each chapter as well as many examples.

Table of Contents

Series Editor's Introduction	ix	(2)
Preface: Author's Notes on the Philosophy and Design of the Book	xi
UNIT I: AN INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNICATION AND CRITICISM	1	(32)
1. The Need to Think Critically About Communication	3	(12)
2. How to Think Critically about Communication	15	(18)
UNIT II: CRITICAL CONCEPTS THAT FOCUS ON LANGUAGE	33	(30)
3. Language as Style	35	(9)
4. Language as Sign Systems	44	(10)
5. Language as Metaphor	54	(9)
UNIT III: CRITICAL CONCEPTS THAT FOCUS ON STRUCTURE	63	(42)
6. Structure as Organization	67	(11)
7. Structure as Editing Images	78	(10)
8. Structure as Narrative	88	(5)
9. Structure as Drama	93	(12)
UNIT IV: CRITICAL CONCEPTS THAT FOCUS ON REASONING	105	(46)
10. Reasoning as Rhetorical Argument	109	(21)
11. Reasoning as Field-Dependent Argument	130	(10)
12. Reasoning as Narrative	140	(11)
UNIT V: CRITICAL CONCEPTS THAT FOCUS ON CHARACTER	151	(20)
13. Character as Ethos	153	(6)
14. Character as the Second Persona	159	(5)
15. Character as Identification	164	(7)
UNIT VI: CRITICAL CONCEPTS THAT FOCUS ON EMOTION	171	(22)
16. Emotion as Pathos	173	(8)
17. Emotion as Desire	181	(12)
UNIT VII: DEVELOPING CRITICAL POWERS	193	(14)
18. Critical Powers Over Who We Are, What We Know, and What We Do	195	(12)
Glossary of Key Concepts	207	(8)
Index	215	(6)
About the Author	221