Burkean Rhetoric

Burke receives an entire discussion board here not merely because he is often difficult to understand at times, but because of how much he expands rhetoric to include far more than just oratory and composition.  His dramatistic pentad and identification apply to nearly any context, and his ideas have significantly influenced the work of other modern and postmodern rhetors.  Yet, to best understand his views, let’s attempt to apply them.

As you craft your post, be sure to include all the following:

• Using any current event or situation, illustrate THREE of the pentadic ratios (i.e. actor to purpose; scene to agency; act to scene). 
  • Identify which you are illustrating AND explain that illustration.
• Burke’s theories present plenty of opportunities as well as ambiguity in language.  How might Burkean thought challenge or confirm Christian “thinking?” 
  • The term “thinking” is intentional here as it creates more interpretations that might be useful for your answer.
  • Be sure to pull directly from his works as a reference to what sections could be challenging or confirming.
• You must reference specific passage(s) from the primary sources assigned for reading using APA format.  You may quote or summarize, but specific page numbers must be provided.
• One or two questions you have about the assigned readings for this week (Use specific pages numbers as you reference parts of the reading).