Competitive Communication: A Rhetoric for Modern Business / Edition 1

by Barry Eckhouse

Overview

Competitive Communication offers the first full-length treatment of the classical art of rhetoric with applications to the day-to-day needs of modern managers. Based on the belief that clearly reasoned persuasion is indispensable to professionals who must convince others of their points of view, this text reveals implicit, competitive dimensions of communication to those familiar with contemporary business practices. Concentrating on argumentation—which is viewed both as a process of inquiry and as an act of persuasion—the author reviews principles of reasoning that were central to an age generally credited with having developed the first complete treatment of the art of communication.
With Aristotle as guide, Eckhouse demonstrates how the enthymeme, a logical device central to Greek theories of persuasion, is also of powerful relevance to the modern business world. Complementing this discussion is an examination of classical ethos, or credibility, as it is created in language and used to strengthen core arguments modern managers must make. Also offered is an extensive examination of classical fallacies—common pitfalls of argument and debate—which provide early warning signals for those about to enter argumentative danger zones.
Ideal for undergraduate and graduate business students, as well as the working professional, Competitive Communication offers an invaluable guide to what is probably the most important ability working professionals can develop in today's business world.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780195115901
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	12/31/1998
Edition description:	3RD
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	9.16(w) x 7.49(h) x 0.57(d)
Lexile:	1340L (what's this?)

About the Author

Saint Mary's College of California

Table of Contents

PrefaceIntroduction1. Rhetoric and Competitive Advantage2. Disposition and the Competitive Message3. Classical Argument and Modern Business4. Refutation: Argument as Inquiry5. Strategic Disposition: Presenting the Case6. Ethics in Argument: Classical Fallacies7. Managing Ethos: Argument and Credibility8. Managing Ethos: Conciseness9. Managing Ethos: Word Choice10. Managing Ethos: Syntax11. Managing Ethos: Punctuation12. Managing Ethos: Grammar13. Electronic Ethos: Computer RevisionAppendix A. Documents: Principled OrganizationAppendix B. Documents: ArgumentationAppendix C. Documents: Revision