Roderick P. Hart holds the Shivers Chair in Communication and is Professor of Government at the University of Texas at Austin. Former dean of the Moody College of Communication and founding director of the Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Life, Hart is the author or editor of fifteen books, the most recent of which is Political Tone: What Leaders Say and Why (2013). Suzanne Daughton has taught Rhetorical Criticism for nearly three decades at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. She has published in such places as the Quarterly Journal of Speech, Critical Studies in Mass Communication, Text and Performance Quarterly, and Women’s Studies in Communication. Rebecca LaVally is a professor of Rhetorical Criticism and Persuasion at California State University, Sacramento. She is a coauthor of Game Changers: Twelve Elections That Transformed California and winner of the 2014 California Historical Society Book Award.

Modern Rhetorical Criticism takes a fresh approach to the time-honored study of rhetorical criticism, merging the study of rhetorical tradition and change. The 4th edition provides breadth and concision, covering critical perspectives from the wide-angle (focus on culture) to the microscopic (focus on words) in an engaging and accessible style. -Shawn J. Parry-Giles, University of Maryland, USA

• PrefaceUnit IINTRODUCTION TO CRITICISMChapter 1: THE RHETORICAL PERSPECTIVEThe Arts of RhetoricThe Range of RhetoricThe Functions of RhetoricConclusionChapter 2: THE CRITICAL PERSPECTIVEThe Purposes of CriticismQualities of the Ideal CriticThe Reasons for CriticismThe Standards of CriticismConclusionUnit IIGENERAL FORMS OF CRITICISMChapter 3: ANALYZING SITUATIONSThe Meanings of Speech-ActsThe Functions of Speech-ActsThe Components of Speech-ActsConclusion Additional ReadingChapter 4: ANALYZING IDEASThe Study of IdeasGuidelines for Creating an AnalysisA Topical Approach to IdeasConclusionAdditional ReadingChapter 5: ANALYZING ARGUMENTThe Logic of PersuasionEvidence and ReasoningNarrative and ReasoningToulmin and ReasoningConclusionAdditional ReadingChapter 6: ANALYZING FORMStructure and Form in RhetoricGeneric Studies of FormConclusionAdditional ReadingChapter 7: ANALYZING SYNTAX AND IMAGERYExamining SyntaxExamining ImageryConclusionAdditional ReadingChapter 8: ANALYZING WORD CHOICEExamining Group LexiconsExamining Individual LexiconsConclusionAdditional ReadingChapter 9: ANALYZING MEDIARhetoric and Mass MediaThe Rhetoric of NewsThe Enduring Influence of TelevisionThe Multiplying Influences of Digital RhetoricExploring Visual SymbolsThe Rhetoric of EntertainmentConclusionAdditional ReadingUnit IIISPECIALIZED FORMS OF CRITICISMChapter 10: Analyzing Persona and RoleThe Emergence of RoleThe Management of RoleThe Assessment of Role in Rhetor-Centered DiscourseConclusionAdditional ReadingChapter 11: CULTURAL CRITICISMValues: The Beginnings of CultureMyths: The Substance of CultureFantasy Themes: The Grassroots of Culture Conclusion Additional ReadingChapter 12: DRAMATISTIC CRITICISMThe Principles of DramatismThe Methods of DramatismConclusionAdditional ReadingChapter 13: IDENTITY CRITICISMPrinciples of Identity CriticismPracticing Identity CriticismPolicy CritiqueRepresentational CritiquePerformative CritiqueConclusion Additional ReadingChapter 14: IDEOLOGICAL CRITICISMDeconstructionist CritiqueMarxist CritiquePostcolonial CritiqueConclusion Additional Reading