Rhetoric

Written and verbal communication are arguably the most important skills for a human to learn.  Man is a species with a penchant for language. Mastery of language enriches one's life quantitatively and qualitatively. Quantitatively the world grows wider as one's vocabulary improves. The ability to name things brings them into focus. Qualitatively language adds beauty and detail to an ever expanding viewpoint. 

​

The practice of writing is one of the best ways to develop critical thinking skills. In the most basic sense, writing is the organization of ideas. Form and style are important as elegance and above all clarity permit the effective transmission of thought. 

​

Writing consists of two parts: reason and language. Once the ideas are formulated, the task becomes which words will best communicate those ideas. Word usage is what is usually referred to as the "craft" of writing. Often, the ideation stage is ambiguous. The author has a general idea of what he wants to say and in the process of composition (outline, draft, edit) his initial idea is clarified and enriched. The synthesis of reason and language harmonize into the art of writing. 

​

Rhetoric is the liberal art of persuasive communication. The subject consists of writing and speaking. The five cannons of classical rhetoric are: invention, arrangement, style, memory, and delivery. At Renaissance Tutor we teach a robust rhetoric course with lessons like Shakespearean Drama and How To Interview Well.  Writing skills are honed improving school, job, and college essays. In an age of low academic standards and degraded forms of communication, Rhetoric is perhaps the easiest way to stand out from the crowd. The utility it provides in the modern market and the blessing it gives a man by enriching his life cannot be calculated. ​​