Rethoric and Argumentation

Ficha de unidade curricular - Ano letivo 2020/2021

Teaching language

Portuguese

Intended learning outcomes (Knowledges, skills and competencies to be developed by the students)

At the end of the course unit the student should be able to:

 Define what rhetoric is and understand its attributes and characteristics.
 Know the history of rhetoric and its evolution from classical Greece to technological (post) modernity.
 Understand the rhetorical system and the argumentative ways to evaluate the strength and the fallacy of arguments and to use them in written or spoken communication.
 Master the main concepts of current rhetoric and apply them in several areas: media, visual, advertising and digital context.
 Perform rhetorical analysis of written or spoken communications.

Syllabus

 What is rhetoric.
 Fundamentals of rhetoric: attributes and characteristics
 Brief history of rhetoric.
 The rhetorical system: dynamics, genres, artistic proofs (logos, ethos and pathos) and rhetorical canons
 Argumentative forms.
 Rhetoric, communication and technology: media rhetoric, visual rhetoric, rhetoric advertising, digital rhetoric.
 Rhetorical analysis: main analytical elements and how to do it.

Teaching methodologies

The sessions are centered on the presentation of concepts, face-to-face debates and practical exercises. Students are invited to participate in activities in all classes and regularly present the results of the work they do.

Assessment methodologies and evidences

The work developed will be subject to continuous and summative assessment implying:
a) Test: 40%
b) Group work: 40%
c) Participation activities: 20%

The assessment can also be done by exam.

Bibliography

Eyman, Douglas (2015). Digital Rhetoric: Theory, Method, Practice. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press.
Aristóteles (1998). Retórica. Lisboa: INCM.
Breton, Phillipe (1998). A Argumentação na Comunicação. Lisboa: Publicações Dom Quixote.
Grácio, Rui Alexandre (1998). Consequências da Retórica – para uma revalorização do múltiplo e do controverso. Coimbra: Pé de Página Editores.
Mateus, Samuel (2018). Introdução à Retórica no Século XXI. Covilhã: Livros Labcom.
Meyer, Michel (1998). Questões de Retórica: linguagem, razão e sedução. Lisboa: Edições 70.
Mulholland, Joan (2005). Handbook of persuasive tactics - A practical language guide. London and New York: Routledge.
Serra, Joaquim Paulo & Ferreira, Ivone (2008). Retórica e Mediatização - da Escrita à Internet. Covilhã: Livros Labcom.
Swatridge, Colin (2014). The Oxford Guide to Effective Argument and Critical Thinking. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Bibliographical Notes