Cozza 1 Lauren Cozza ENC3331 Dr.

Blake Scott 7 February 2012 Discovering the Elation of Rhetorical Citizenship Many Americans have trouble appropriately defining the word rhetoric. Instantly, individuals think of mendacious and deceitful language used by morally corrupt lawyers or politicians. Looking deeper into the history of rhetoric, you will come to find that it isnt what the majority of Americans have preconceived. When you peel back the layers and undress the term, you discover that it is not a type of language that deserves negative association, but a powerful, yet articulate, mean of persuasion. To fully understand the concept and complexity of rhetoric, you must be knowledgeable of the terms history. Herrick begins her article, The Origins and Early History of Rhetoric, with a quote from Richard Leo Enos in which he states, Rhetoric did not originate at a single moment in history (32). Rhetorics origin cannot be traced because humans have been using rhetoric to express themselves for as long as they have been communicating. However, the study of rhetoric for educational purposes is said to have originated in Sicily around 467 B.C. Subsequently, rhetorical study became an almost necessary acquisition in Ancient Greece and Rome. Public speakers were expected to persuade and use language that was flawless and eloquent. This is why rhetoric was such an essential and vital part of early education. Aristotle, an early educator of rhetoric, has been credited with the most famous and useful working definition of the term rhetoric- the power of finding the available arguments suited to a given situation. Nowhere in the definition of rhetoric are the words untruthful, lies, or deceitfulness used.

Cozza 2 The reason being is because rhetoric is not a form of trickery or manipulation, but is used to prove a point, state facts, persuade, and solve disputes. Crowley and Hawhee simply make the point that if people didnt disagree, rhetoric wouldnt be necessary (2). Rhetorical language is essential in everyday life for politicians, lawyers, doctors, and even everyday people who need to persuade an audience, prove a point, or debate a topic using factual and honest information. Citizenship, like rhetoric, is another fuzzy term that many individuals believe they have a clear definition of. Webster online vaguely defines the term citizenship as the status of being a citizen. But what does the word citizen entail? Is being a resident of a certain location enough to claim the right of citizenship? While many individuals think residing in the United States grants them this right, many others disagree that residency does not assure this. Citizenship can be more thoroughly defined as actively engaging in the community, whether it be through community service projects, voting in elections, protesting, or signing a petition. In Amy Wans article, she looks to political theorists and sociologists in order to define citizenship beyond a legal status. In her piece she states that political theorist Shklar argues for moving beyond the idea of citizenship as purely legal standing, defining it as nationality, as active participation or good citizenship, and finally, ideal republican citizenship (34). In essence, many theorists, educators, and citizens alike agree with this statement and role. Citizenship is more than a status; it is participation for a greater good. When synthesizing the two previously discussed terms, we come to another indistinguishable term that evokes many different definitions and perspectives. In my own words, rhetorical citizenship is the practice of actively supporting and contributing ideas, actions, language, or visuals that enrich the

Cozza 3 community or society as a whole. Rhetorical citizenship involves brining the persuasive language of rhetoric and combining it with the role of a citizen. The enrichment that an individual brings using rhetorical language betters the community by improvement and advancements that residents will find beneficial. These benefits may be the result of an influential letter to the editor, a public speech, or community service from a benevolent citizen. In areas across the globe, many people take their own initiative and actively participate for the betterment of their communities. Even so, there are others who need that extra push to get them involved and contributing. Deborah Brandt has used the term sponsor to describe any agents, local or distant, concrete or abstract, who enable, support, teach, model, as well as recruit, regulate, suppress, or withhold literacy (166). This definition provokes me to look deeper into my own sponsors of rhetorical citizenship and life events that have shaped me into the citizen that I am today. The first sponsor that comes to mind, first and foremost, would be my Nana. In 2003, my Nana was diagnosed with a form of Guillain-Barre syndrome. However, the doctors were not quite sure what the root of her situation was or why her body was quickly self-destructing. The disease took control over her very rapidly and after a short matter of months, she was transferred back home and under the care of hospice. During her last few weeks at home, I spent an immense amount of time with her. Over that period of time, we talked about memories, life, and recited the Lords Prayer nightly. These conversations are easily recollected in my memory, but there is one thing she said to me that is engraved not only in my mind, but in my heart as well. One evening, while conversing over a cup of hot tea, my Nana told that there is one important trait that she had hoped to instill in all of her children and grandchildren. More than anything on this Earth, she wanted them to have compassion for others. I will never forget her telling me that compassion is the most important trait that anyone can obtain. For me, personally, this single

Cozza 4 discussion has been a huge sponsor of rhetorical citizenship. While I had already considered myself to be a very selfless person, I wanted to make her proud and enthusiastically contribute to the well-being of others. Following her passing, I volunteered at beach clean-ups and elementary schools. I looked for every way to better my community and the residents that belonged there. I wanted to show the world my compassion for others, the way that my Nana had taught me. I knew that by doing this, I would make her wish come true and it fulfilled my desire to get active. My oldest Uncle hiked the entire Appalachian Trail, fueled by raising money and awareness for GBS. I would love to do something to that extent in the future and promote awareness of the disease, not only for the sake of my grandmother but for the many other individuals who suffer from the life-threatening illness. Another sponsor that has promoted my rhetorical citizenship derives from a course that I took during my first semester in college. I was eighteen years old and fresh out of high school when I began my college career. Quite frankly, I had not a single clue regarding the path that I wanted to take in life. Consequently, I enrolled in a class entitled Success Strategies for College. I figured the class would help guide me and be a solid foundation for the rest of my higher education. On the first day of class, our teacher had announced that we would be keeping a journal and be partaking in a service learning project. As my fellow classmates heard the words service learning, groans were let out around the classroom and mumbling between students could be heard. I, on the other hand, was silently overjoyed. Immediately, I looked over a large book that had listed all of the places available for volunteers. Ultimately, I decided to spend some of my hours at the local elementary school. I spent a majority of my time working with children in the library, where my mother was the media assistant. After my courses, I would drive over each and every day to read to these children and

Cozza 5 assist them with any problems they faced. As I fell in love with these children, I found that volunteering was the highlight of my day. I did not want to share this elation alone and persuaded a friend to participate with me. Using rhetoric, I was able to convince a friend that taking part in service learning was not only an enlightening journey, but a self-fulfilling experience. Rhetorical citizenship maintains a strong and powerful place in my heart. By actively contributing to communities, you not only better society, but you enhance yourself. While at first glance, one may think that rhetorical citizenship is only about helping individuals or communities, this is generally not this case. Once you truly engage and participate, you will discover that happiness is contagious. There is a quote by the Dalai Lama that speaks measures-If you want to be happy, practice compassion. If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. Finding compassion from within to contribute to rhetorical citizenship has been monumental in my life thus far.

Cozza 6 Works Cited Brandt, Deborah. Sponsors of Literacy. College Composition and Communication 49.2 (1998): 166. Crowley, Sharon, and Debra Hawhee. Ancient Rhetorics for Contemporary Students. 4th Ed New York: Pearson, 2009: 2. Wan, Amy J. In the Name of Citizenship: The Writing Classroom and the Promise of Citizenship. College English 1st ed Vol 1 (2011):34.