General Description:

Martin Cothran's Classical Rhetoric with Aristotle is a guided tour through the first part of the greatest single book on communication ever written: Aristotle's Rhetoric. With questions that will help the student unlock every important aspect of the book, along with fill-in-the-blank charts and analyses of great speeches, this companion text to Aristotle's great work will send the student on a voyage of discovery from which he will return with a competent knowledge of the basic classical principles of speech and writing.

     To the ancients, rhetoric was the crowning intellectual discipline. It took the knowledge the student had gained over the course of his years of schooling and the understanding of logical principles gained from the study of traditional logic and molded them into powerful tools of persuasion. To Aristotle, the art of rhetoric was the chief weapon in the service of truth.

     Unlike much of modern communication theory, Aristotle did not overemphasize technique. He understood that, although the construction and delivery of a speech or a piece of writing are important, there is a certain body of knowledge a person must have at his disposal in order to communicate effectively. That is why Classical Rhetoric is more than just a course in English or public speaking. It is those things, but it is much more. It involves a study of the fundamental principles of political philosophy, ethics, and traditional psychology. A student learns not only how to give a political speech, but also the elements of good character; not only how to give a legal speech, but also the seven reasons people do things; not only how to give a ceremonial speech, but what incites specific emotions under different circumstances.

     Classical Rhetoric also familiarizes students with three model speeches as examples of the three branches of classical oratory: The "Appeal of the Envoys to Achilles," from Homer's Iliad; the "Apology of Socrates," from the dialogue of Plato; and Abraham Lincoln's "Gettysburg Address." Students will also be asked to analyze Marc Antony's "Funeral Oration" from William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar as an example of a great speech that defies categorization.

     Like Traditional Logic, Books I and II, Classical Rhetoric, by Martin Cothran, was developed at Mars Hill, Lexington, a cottage school for home schoolers in Lexington, Kentucky. It has the same easy-to-use features, such as step-by-step daily assignments, giving students explicit instructions at every level. Like all the books in Memoria Press's "Classical Trivium Core Series," it is designed to make classical Christian learning accessible to all members of the Christian education community, at home and in the classroom.

Related Material (see related items on the right of the screen)
The Rhetoric & Poetics of Aristotle is required for this course. 

How to Read A Book is a recommended text.

Frequently Asked Questions

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What age should I begin Classical Rhetoric? Classical Rhetoric is recommended for grades 9 & up. If your students are younger, you may consider completing Martin Cothran's Traditional Logic course. Does my student have to finish Traditional Logic before beginning Classical Rhetoric? Traditional Logic, like Latin, is helpful but not required. Classical Rhetoric includes Logic review sections, but these may be skipped if your student has not studied logic. What level of Latin does my student need to begin Rhetoric? A. Latin is helpful but not required. Classical Rhetoric includes Latin review sections but these may be skipped if your student does not have a background in Latin.

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