Communication and Persuasion in Elementary Education

Take a moment and remember the times when you would get a break from school to play on the playground, when you could sit on the carpet in a circle with your classmates, and when you could bring your animals in for show and tell.  This was the beginning of your educational process.  This is where you learned to read, write, and analyze – skills that you are using currently while reading this blogpost.  This is elementary education. 

An elementary teacher has the privilege to communicate on many levels.  One is given instructions and guidelines from political leaders and administrators, must communicate the needs of individual students, discuss the best ways to teach the necessary curriculum, help children to understand basic concepts and assist parents in the teaching of their children.  Believe it or not persuasion has everything to do with teaching.  Most communication is done face to face but emails can be passed on and phone calls to parents are common.

A teacher must be able to analyze his/her audience and adapt to effectively communicate.  When speaking in the community or with administrators the needs of the children should be the focus and how to improve on what is already being done in the classroom.  Colloquially language should be avoided.  When communicating with a child the teacher must take great care in teaching in a way that is comprehensible to every child in the classroom.  The children’s interests and backgrounds should be taken into consideration to provide better understanding.  When communicating with parents the teacher must show love for their child and his/her specific needs.  One must show sincere concern for each child and his/her home life. 

Most communication in the field of education is deliberative.  Usually there is a goal of changing something in education and promoting action.  This is seen in community forums with the politics of education, in teams of teachers for the best way to teach and even in parent-teacher conferences to encourage the progress of the student.  Teachers want to encourage children to progress, want to change how the community views education and want to inspire parents to help their children better learn. 

I found out most of this information by talking with those who are currently in the education field and teaching.  I first became interested in teaching when I was in Elementary School and saw the difference that an effective teacher had in my own life.  I want to have the same effect on my future students and help them to see their potential.

Helen Revisited

After rereading Gorgias’ Encomium of Helen with the new outlook of someone who has read Aristotle, I was able to pick up on things that I had missed before. For example, the Encomium is actually the perfect example of how to practice telling the difference between Antecedent/Consequence and Cause/Effect, both under the Relationship Topic of Invention, simply because there are so many examples of each.

Cause/Effect

              Helen was born of noble parentage SO she had godlike beauty

              Helen was young SO she could easily be overpowered or persuaded

              The above sayings are true SO I, Gorgias, have proven my point

Antecedent/Consequence

              IF the gods made her do it THEN she is innocent

              IF she was taken by force THEN she is the victim

              IF she was persuasively deceived THEN she should be acquitted

Testimony?

Under scrutiny, the Encomium becomes less of a concrete argument and more of an artistic proof because Gorgias rhetorically created the speech himself. He does not have any witnesses, authorities, or documents proving him correct. He does reference the gods, but only in attempt to expound on one of his antecedents. Some of his information is based on rumors, but since he addresses all of the stories people have said concerning Helen instead of using rumors as proof, I do not think that is enough of a testimony to take away from the artistic nature of his proof.

Katie also talked about the apparent lack of testimony in her blog and I think that this topic lends itself to a discussion on kairos. Since Gorgias wasn’t actually trying to defend Helen, who had long since died, the question becomes what was his intended audience and purpose? If he is truly just trying to show off his rhetorical skills as a form of personal advertisement, maybe his lack of testimony was calculated. His audience didn’t want a lecture as much as they wanted a show of rhetorical finesse.

The Cradle of Humanism

The Inspiration for the European Renaissance

While reading the funeral oration as delivered by Peracles I couldn't also help but think of the leaders of the American revolution, I imagined them reading similar works and being influenced by them. For, as addressed sufficiently by Macey, James, and Ryan, many ideas mentioned exactly reflect the "American Dream" and the guiding thoughts that created modern democracy. But then my thoughts turned to the European renaissance when society began to adopt greater humanistic ideas; these ideas emerged because people began reading works similar to this oration. The ancient Greeks clearly placed value on the individual working to better him/herself so that they could actively contribute to society. Freedom was emphasized, they took great pride in the fact that they were splitting from the norm. 

Audience and Pathos

I'm always fascinated by how an audience influences one giving a speech and how it changes the rhetorical devices and forms used. I completely agree with what James posted about the kairos of Peracles' speech, and what he briefly mentioned about how Peracles personified Athens. I feel that Peracles knew his audience, and accordingly formed his speech to inspire within them ideals to benefit the community. His speech is replete with humanist ideas that he presents with great pathos in order to inspire the community. 

Moral Absolution 

I felt some form of moral force govern the thoughts Pericles used. He presented the ideals of Athens as morally the most correct of ideals. That being said, I don't feel I agree completely with Ryan and Macey's analysis that he was following the Sophist order of things. I feel that it was a bit more Socratic because it seems to me that he genuinely felt the things he was addressing were a question of morality. I don't think that he was pragmatic, he certainly didn't claim that he didn't have absolute knowledge; on the contrary he spoke with absolution guided by beliefs that seemed to be deeply planted within him. Perhaps in the sense that he used public speaking as a way to get his point across he was in line with the Sophists, but the philosophies behind his ideas felt far more Socratic. 

I killed Mufasa...

I can always look back and remember times when I’ve heard “So I have this friend…”  We all know that this “friend” is really an easy way of not admitting something embarrassing of oneself.  It’s how we can talk about the undiscussed.  We can try to understand the topics that are not quite open for much understanding.  It is one way that we deal with the irrational.  And I may or may not have used this one unsuccessfully in my own life.

There are many irrational elements in the play Bakkhai.  But Euripides knew that the opportune moment for discussing these irrational passions was in the rational, comfortable and respected stage of the theatre.  He knew that he would have a large audience and could bring up these issues to the minds of many.   He knew that his audience respected the gods and would side with the chorus but at the same time he plays on their emotions.  Through the use of pathos the audience begins to pity Agaue.  Without realizing, she had killed her only son.  This stirs up a mixture of emotions.  Should the audience be happy because Dionysus showed his power as a god or should they be upset because a family had to pay the price through murder?  Euripides uses opposites to display that what is considered to be rational may not be all that rational in the end.

Speaking of irrational, the god Dionysus may not be the most rational of the greek gods. What kind of a god would trick women into becoming senseless killers?  In our culture we consider women to be daughters of the Most High God and to be respected.  Euripides turns things around completely by having an irrational, unforgiving, and ill-tempered god put women into a haze and use them as tools without agency to show his power.  Also family members killing other family members doesn't seem too godlike, yet it always reminds me of The Lion King.

I AM SO LIVID RIGHT NOW!!!!

“I am so livid and angry right now.” 

Now, looking back, I could have calmly made that statement jokingly, with a smile on my face or I could have yelled it with fury as I simultaneously punched my neighbor in the arm. What both Elder Bednar and Socrates understand is that the way one communicates his or herself is crucial. I cannot help but grin as I imagine Gorgias trying to be clever and rhetorical, yet getting circles ran around him by Socrates who knows how to use rhetoric to prove that rhetoric isn’t everything! It’s pure irony and the key is that Socrates knows how to communicate himself. He points at the little things that Gorgias gets tripped up on and exploits them. He is a powerful rhetorician. It’s incredible the way he uses that and ironically enough, it seems to me, he is building ethos there. He is proving himself to be a worthy source who knows what he’s talking about. I would even consider the fact that he is demonstrating kairos because of his impeccable timing and sense of the “when” to communicate himself as he breaks down certain concepts, similar to what Mindee Sharp said. 

Elder Bednar is extremely similar in multiple ways. First, this is a terrific example of epideictic rhetoric as he stands before millions of viewers. One of the first things he says is “I pray that the Holy Ghost will teach and edify us…” as if he is literally calling down the powers of heaven. I believe that this statement has multiple rhetorical appeals, however I think more than anything he understands the setting which is a form of kairos. Also, right off the bat he breaks his speech down to simple concepts which demonstrates logos. He is an overall powerful speaker and though it’s already been said in past posts, I too think that if Elder Bednar and Socrates teamed up, they would be explosive. 

Our World: Shaped by Rhetoric Found in the Iliad

Many things have been said about the rhetorical devices used in book 2 of the Iliad in the previous posts. I particularly enjoyed the posts discussing the power of language and how language and rhetoric moved people to action, as well as the societal and cultural influences on the behavior  and responses of the characters in the Epic.

But I have a question, to what end are all of these rhetorical devices used? The Illiad is, after all, a fictional work. Most likely none of the script is historically what was said. Thus were my thoughts as I read through the book, what was Homer or whomever it may have been at any of the given times this epic was told trying to inspire within the listener? It is likely that most of the people who heard these epics were unaware of rhetorical devices (as far as I know, which is very little, so feel free to correct me), yet they were still impacted (yet again, as far as I know) so much so by this work that it was and continues to be one of the most famous and well known works of all ancient Greek epic poetry. The themes of hierarchy and pride, as discussed in the excellent post prior to this one, and previous posts concerning pathos, audience, and kairos are all present within the work. But how did the use of rhetoric influence the audience it was intended for?

Ancient Greek society functioned in a certain way, they found success in they way that their society functioned. It is so clear in the Illiad that rhetorical devices were used to steer the societal norms. Their society and civilization was made up of individuals who were influenced by an oral tradition that used rhetoric. It's powerful to see how rhetoric shaped a culture that in some way has shaped the entire western world.

Speeches and Persuasion—The Greeks Get Convinced

Hello all!  I hope you are having a fantastic Friday! Homer’s Iliad is chock-full of intriguing examples of successful and unsuccessful rhetoric.  In the second book, gods and mortals alike use both rhetoric and figurative language to convince people of their own opinions.  For example Zeus (or Jove) sends a deceitful dream to Agamemnon to get the Achaeans to fight Troy.  The messenger is Nestor, a close friend of Agamemnon.  Thus, knowing that Agamemnon trusts Nestor, Zeus considers the audience of his dream, Agamemnon, when sending his false, persuasive dream.  Another successful use of audience, as well as kairos, comes when Agamemnon convinces his men to return home despite the false dream.  This brings up a question that maybe one of you could answer: why, if Agamemnon and Nestor trusted the dream, did Agamemnon want to send the men home?  However, Agamemnon does want to send the men home and cunningly mentions the men’s wives and children who are anxiously awaiting their return.  Kairos is thus implemented in this case because the Achaeans have been away from their families for nine long years without much success.  If Agamemnon attempted to use the “family card” in the first month of the voyage, for example, the men would not care as much and it would not be the opportune moment that kairos is.  


Agamemnon also speaks with great Greek decorum as he does not accuse the men, which would be rude, but rather speaks holding his “imperishable staff” and talks of pride and bravery, important aspects of Greek tradition and custom.  Homer uses fantastic figurative language to describe the common soldiers who flocked to hear Agamemnon speak.  Homer writes that “the people swarmed like bees that sally from some hollow cave and flit in countless among the spring flowers” in order to create an intriguing image in the minds of the people listening to the oratory.  Not only do the readers/listeners understand that Agamemnon was a great orator because of the flocking, but also that the people worked in a community as bees work in a community.  Furthermore, once the people are convinced to return home, “they surged to and fro like the waves of the Icarian Sea with loud cries towards the ships.”  This simile thus keeps listeners interested because they can picture the swarms of people gathering at the ships and the great, chaotic happiness of the people to return home.

Odysseus is also as successful a persuader as Agamemnon when Athena and Hera tell him to convince the others to fight against Troy despite Agamemnon’s commands.  Odysseus is most successful in his use of decorum and audience.  He speaks to the chiefs and the kings with great respect but consistent pushing toward the fight—“the flight is cowardly…we do not know Agamemnon’s mind.”  He thus maintains respect and control over the kings’ minds.  However, to the common soldier he is much more brusque and rude.  He tells them to “hold your peace” and “you are a coward and no soldier.”  Because of his knowledge of decorum and audience, Odysseus convinces all, even Agamemnon, to sack Troy. 

Homer also gives an example of someone who does not know the basic rules of rhetoric, kind of like how I don’t really know the rules of rhetoric yet.  Thersites rudely accuses Agamemnon of loving gold and women and having more treasure than the others.  However, Homer convinces us that Thersites should not be listened to by describing him as having “a glib tongue,” a shrill, squeaky voice, and being the ugliest man in the army.  Greeks prized beauty, so a man who was extremely ugly would also, by Greek customs, be extremely inappropriate and not worth listening to.  He broke decorum so much that Odysseus beat him up.  Thersites is a clear example of the problems with not knowing how to argue.

This blog post went well over 300 words, but the Iliad and especially book two, have so many intriguing examples of successful and unsuccessful rhetoric aided by figurative language that I felt I could not squeeze in most of it in only 300 words.  I would love to hear all of your thoughts, especially if you think that it was fair for Thersites to be beaten for his opinion and if you know the reason why Agamemnon wanted to go home after Zeus promised him, however falsely, victory against the Trojans.

-Katie Johnson