Introduction to Rhetorical Communication

James C. McCroskey , West Virginia University

• Preface.I. GETTING STARTED. 1. A Rhetorical Tradition.2. The Nature of Rhetorical Communication.3. Stage Fright: A Normal Problem.II. BASIC THEORY. 4. The Nature of the Receiver: Attitude Formation and Change.5. Ethos: A Dominant Factor in Rhetorical Communication.6. The Nature of Persuasive Argument.7. Nonverbal Communication.8. Diversity and Culture.III. MESSAGE PREPARATION AND PRESENTATION. 9. Message Preparation: Preliminary Considerations.10. Informative Messages.11. Message Preparation: Invention.12. Message Preparation: Disposition.13. Message Preparation: Style.14. Introducing and Concluding Messages in Rhetorical Communication.15. Message Preparation: Oral Delivery.IV. RHETORICAL COMMUNICATION AND SOCIETY. 16. Ethics and Rhetorical Communication.Author Index.Subject Index.