The Rhetoric Companion

For thousands of years, rhetoric—the art of a good man speaking well—was one of the pillars of Western Civilization, and we need it now more than ever.

This package includes:

• The Rhetoric Companion: A Student's Guide to Power in Persuasion
• The Rhetoric Companion Answer Key: A Student's Guide to Power and Persuasion

Look Inside the Student's Guide

Look Inside the Answer Key

The Wilsons have written a Christian rhetoric textbook accessible to any high school student, or to the parents who never learned much about the subject themselves. For the Christian student of rhetoric, manipulative sophistry is clearly out of bounds. But putting careful thought into what constitutes eloquent speech and persuasive argument is not. What many people dismiss as a bunch of rhetoric is simply poor rhetoric. There is a Christian approach to the craft of memorable and effective expression, and it is the task of this book to lay out that approach.

Arranged in 31 lively and practical lessons, The Rhetoric Companion covers the following material and more:

• A critical appreciation of the essential ancient rhetoric texts
• The Pauline view of presentation and persuasion
• How to develop copiousness and leave an audience wanting more
• The concept of "stasis theory" and how to grasp the crux of an argument
• How successful proof obligates an audience to believe
• Composition exercises with each lesson

Suggested reading material for each lesson from Artistotle's Rhetoric, the Rhetorica Ad Herennium, or Quintilian's Institutio Oratoria

Organized by lesson, the answer key contains the answer to every "lesson review" question in The Rhetoric Companion. It's a valuable resource for a teacher who quickly needs the definition for pathos, the last canon of rhetoric, a quick discussion of ad baculum, or perhaps a couple examples of dactylic words.

What People Are Saying:

"As the classical movement matures, teachers and parents need more resources to carry us through rhetoric toward the quadrivium. The Wilsons provide an easy overview for those trying to gain access to rhetorical skills and a great review for those of us already digging in." -Leigh Bortins CEO, Classical Conversations and author of The Core: Teaching Your Child the Foundations of Classical Education

"Rhetoric, the capstone of a classical education, is well-explained and well-taught herein. It is not necessary that a teacher who writes be able to "do" what he teaches—but it is routinely much better if he can. In this text we have authors who have learned, in fact, mastered their subject and then share the wisdom, tools, and techniques they have learned." -Marlin Detweiler President, Veritas Press