Rhetoric & Citizenship: The Complexities of Definitions

Rhetoric is the foundation of everything in our society. It is the art of expressing

knowledge through words or even symbols. It is how we express our culture, politics and how
we address issues, persuade people, and what we use to make the changes in the world that we
want to see. If you open up a textbook to read the most basic definition of rhetoric, it might say it
is a symbolic action used to share ideas, enabling them to work together to make decisions
about matters of common concern (Palczewski 5). Rhetoric is so much more than one matter. If
you were to ask 100 people to define rhetoric in their own terms youd receive 100 different
definitions. Some may address similar topics and some may not. The term rhetoric can be bent
and twisted into so many different shapes to fit a variety situations; it is hard to assign it one
definition at all. Patricia Bizzell, a Professor and chairperson of the English Department at the
College of the Holy Cross, defined rhetoric as the study of the personal, social, and historical
elements in human discourse (Bizzell 1992). She then goes on to discuss how with these
elements, we use rhetoric in order to recognize them, interpret them, and act on them, in terms
both of situation context and verbal style (Bizzell 1992). Right away you can see that rhetoric is
something that covers a vast amount of elements. It involves not only personal, social, and
historical elements, but so much more; that alone isnt enough. In another definition by Patricia
Bizzell and Bruce Herzberg, an English professor at Bentley University, they express the density
of the term rhetoric by saying it has a number of overlapping meanings (Bizzell & Herzberg
2001). They then go on to state that rhetoric is a complex discipline with a long history: it has
less helpful to try to define it once and for all than to look at the many definitions it has
accumulated over the years (Bizzell & Herzberg 2001). The quote does a fantastic job at
explaining how complex it is to define such a word. Every definition is just as important as the

next. I believe makes the term rhetoric so essential is that it can be applied to almost everything.
It is such an essential term in our everyday life, however few people take the time to consider
what exactly it is. As stated by English Author of Words like Loaded Pistols, explaining rhetoric
to a human is like explaining water to a fish (Leith 8). Explaining something that one is
surrounded with constantly is not as easy as you think it would be.
To better understand rhetoric, one cannot simply just know a definition. You must be able
to apply it, analyze it, and fully make meaning of it. In terms of language, Leith states that we
dont use language to pass on information flatly and to no purpose. We exchange information
because it is either useful or delightful (Leith 9). By using rhetoric as language, this quote
shows that it is important. We use it for a reason. Aristotle stated that rhetoric is directed at a
practical goal; it is means to an end (Leith 2). In other words, rhetoric is teachable and
extremely important in our society. Another aspect that is mean to be understood when
explaining rhetoric is the concept that words have power. In the quote involving why we use
language, we use it to pass on information. We use it to get things that we want or to get a task
accomplished. Leith at one point in his article discusses law to be the way in which we give
words formal strength. How we use rhetoric is very impactful on the outcome that we are trying
to achieve. Rhetoric can be a good thing or an evil thing depending on how you use it. For
example, politicians often rely on their rhetoric to express their desires to the public. Barack
Obama, current president of the United States, during his election spoke with such poise and
fluency in his speeches. However, he was under attack for not the issues he brought up, but for
his ability to express himself in such a clear and moving way. This is an example of the hostility
that may come from rhetoric; rhetoric isnt just a friendly way to express ourselves. It is much
more than that. Words have power over so many things, whether it be a small opinion or an entire

election. Knowledge, it has been said, is power. And rhetoric is what gives words power (Leith
15) meaning that knowledge isnt enough alone, it is rhetoric that gives these expressions power.
Citizenship is another important term that is a daunting task to define. Everyone has
heard it thousands of times that they need to be a good citizen. There is the firm legal definition
of what it means to be have citizenship that being membership in a particular nation-state (Wan
33). Though that is a foundation for a definition, it only scratches the surface of what it actually
means to have citizenship. A quote by Amy Wan, an Assistant Professor and co-director of first
year writing at Queens College, states While citizenship has become a super-term, one that can
encompass many definitions, the lack of specificity that often accompanies it allows us to elide
critical concerns about the access, impact, and exercise of citizenship (Wan 29). This hints at the
idea that citizenship is not simply a legal term used but also is directed at other issues as well. It
is another term that can be bent into a shape to fit so many different situations much like rhetoric.
Being a citizen can be so much more than having a legal identity in a particular nation state.
There are fundamental rights that are awarded but also activity engagement that is necessary.
Shklar, a political theorist, defined being a good citizen through political participation as a
political agent who takes part regularly in politics locally and nationally, not just on primary and
election day (Wan 36). By stating all of these definitions, it is an expression on how being a
citizen means different things to everyone. However, there is a difference between simply being
a citizen and a good citizen. A good citizen is someone who isnt afraid to voice their opinion and
take part in the government around them to help make a change. Perhaps someone who actively
participates and volunteers. Someone who puts themselves out there to benefit the world around
them.

In our societies, we often consider citizenship as not only the legality of the matter but in
additional actions as well. Some ways may include participation much like Bosniak who
referenced engaging into their culture fully. Now, what does engaging in a culture mean? In our
culture that may include voting, paying taxes, participating in volunteer work, and working a job
to help the community. However, a study was done about the involvement of those under 30
(Millennials) and those above 30 in Florida involving civic life and the results were
overwhelming against the idea of participation in the society. In this study, only 21% of
millennials voted and only 44% of those 30+ voted (Civic life in America 2010). This points at
the concept that not even half of each group were participating in election, assuming they are still
considered citizens. This points at the concept that you do not necessarily need to be an active
participating person in order to be considered a citizen, though you may not be considered a
good one. Another concept raised involving citizenship is if it is our responsibility to teach
citizenship. I believe that it is important to teach citizenship in a classroom based my own
personal experience. In high school, we were heavily encouraged to get involved and complete
community service hours. Now in college I am part of a service sorority, however if could be
argued that I would even consider volunteer if it wasnt already made part of my life at a young
age. Christian Weisser, a professor of English at Penn State Berks, stated that he wants to help
his students become active citizens who are capable of using language to defend themselves,
voice their opinions and take part in the public debates (Wan 31). This is an issue see with many
generations in that they wont get involved because they believe they are ill-equipped to voice
their opinions. Though, if you begin preparing them in a classroom you can help them gain skills
that they will carry with them forever.

Although the definitions of rhetoric and citizenship are heavily open ended, it truly
depends on how you decide to apply them. In this rhetoric and civil engagement class, I worked
on a project that involved building a foundation for a Peace and Justice Club at the University of
Central Florida. The point of the club is to help bring awareness to different groups of people and
to help promote equality. With this project, both rhetoric and citizenship can be applied, though it
depends on the definition of each that is referenced. For rhetoric, I would define it as using
language and symbols in order to express certain ideas or concepts to different audience. It is
what we use to change the world or issues around us and make decisions. With that being said, in
my project we decided to make a Facebook page to put all of the documents we have gathered
that are necessary to start a club including a proposal form discussing information about the
potential club, a How To list on where to go from our final point to continue a club, and a
constitution check list. We chose a Facebook page because we believe it would be an ideal to
reach out to our desired audience which would be college students of our age. It is not
necessarily always about what you say, but how you present the information which is why we
believe that using social media is the best way to reach out and present our points.
The next aspect to consider is citizenship which as previously presented isnt the easiest
to define either. However, I would define citizenship as not only a legal standpoint through
membership, but also through participation in a community. Another aspect that I believe is
necessary in order to be a good citizen is to be aware in what is going around the communitywhether that be on a large scale or a small scale. For the Peace and Justice project, we had to
consider why we believed this club would be important. We decided that it is an important club
because it will help bring awareness to issues around us and to help promote equality among
groups of people. With this club, members will be able to participate in different activities

including service and informative ones to help the community become aware of different issues.
This is heavily expressed in our mission statement which states "All people, all voices, all
matter: making a difference by intentionally engaging in practices & principles that explore,
advocate, and honor the dignity of self, others and the earth". With this club we hope to use all of
our recourses to help the community become more aware in matters such as equality and making
sure every voice is heard. Sometimes it is difficult, as stated earlier, to get everyone involved
because they many not feel they are educated enough to speak out and by having this club it will
make it easier. By offering the resources needed to promote participation, it is how to help create
good citizenship throughout the community.
With this, it is apparent how heavily rhetoric and citizenship go hand in hand, especially
with the project I was given the opportunity to work on this semester. Without rhetoric, my group
members and I wouldnt be able to express our needs for the club and all the purposes we wish
for it to serve. In regards to citizenship, the point of the club is to better the community around
us. With these two actions hand in hand, it is how we will create a successful project and
potential club- both equally as important.

Works Cited
Civic Life in America: Millennials of Florida. Washington DC. National Conference on
Citizenship. 2012. PDF
Kinny, Thomas J. (compiled by). Books of Quotations on Rhetoric.2007.
Leith, Sam, and Sam Leith. Words like Loaded Pistols: Rhetoric from Aristotle to Obama. New
York: Basic, 2012. 3-71. Print.
Palczewski, Catherine Hellen., Richard Ice, and John Fritch. Rhetoric in Civic Life. State
College, PA: Strata Pub., 2012. Print
Wan, A. (2011). In the Name of Citizenship: The Writing Classroom and the Promise of
Citizenship. College English, 74(1), 28-49. Print.