Keywords

applied rhetoric, praxis, disciplinarity, identity

Abstract

: This chapter argues that many of the existing names and boundaries in use around professional communication create artificial separations among research, pedagogy, theory, and action related to the practice of rhetoric in contemporary society. Scholars working in this area teach and conduct research across a variety of disciplines, but we share a rhetorical foundation and a concern for the practical application of that theory. This combination of classical rhetoric and public action provides a way to move our work beyond the confines of the academy and actively engage in rhetorical work within the communities where we work, live, and research. We argue that applied rhetoric is an overarching term that more accurately describes the interdisciplinary work used by scholars, teachers, and practitioners in diverse areas of communication who work to clarify ideas that help people accomplish goals, to explicitly connect research to teaching, and to be a force for good in the world.

Original Publication Citation

Patriarca, Ashley, Rebecca Pope-Ruark, Jacob D. Rawlins, Matthew R. Sharp, and Jennifer R. Veltsos. “Applied Rhetoric as Disciplinary Umbrella: Community, Connections, and Identity,” in Foundational Knowledge and Innovative Practices in Technical and Professional Communication, Joanna Schreiber and Lisa Melonçon, eds. Forthcoming 2020.