Classical Rhetoric

	The Agora A Place for Rhetoric and Sophistry
Classical Rhetoric Ancient Irish Rhetoric Technical Communication Writing Proposals and Grants Editing Science and Nature Writing Purdue ICaP Program Teaching Introductory Composition About Professor Johnson-Sheehan	At Purdue, I teach the graduate course in Classical Rhetoric, under the number English 622. Being a sophist myself, I like to contrast Plato and Aristotle against Gorgias, Protagoras, Antiphon, and Isocrates. The figure of Socrates is certainly enigmatic. He clearly argues as a sophist, and yet Plato turns him into a crusader against them. Cicero is also a favorite of mine. His masterpiece, De Oratore, is clearly one of the finest works on rhetoric. I must admit that after Cicero, it's hard to see other classical authors on rhetoric as offering more than glosses. Nevertheless, I enjoy teaching St. Augustine because of his blend of Roman rhetorical practices with Christianity. Here are my policies and syllabus (PDF): English 622: Issues in Composition Studies: Classical Period to Renaissance
This website is designed for no particular purpose. If you have comments, please send them to Professor Johnson-Sheehan. If you have complaints, keep them to yourself. He's just not in the mood. And, if you have read this far, you really need to get something more important to do.

The Agora

A Place for Rhetoric and Sophistry

Classical Rhetoric

Ancient Irish Rhetoric

Technical Communication

Writing Proposals and Grants

Editing

Science and Nature Writing

Purdue ICaP Program

Teaching Introductory Composition

About Professor Johnson-Sheehan

At Purdue, I teach the graduate course in Classical Rhetoric, under the number English 622. Being a sophist myself, I like to contrast Plato and Aristotle against Gorgias, Protagoras, Antiphon, and Isocrates. The figure of Socrates is certainly enigmatic. He clearly argues as a sophist, and yet Plato turns him into a crusader against them.

Cicero is also a favorite of mine. His masterpiece, De Oratore, is clearly one of the finest works on rhetoric. I must admit that after Cicero, it's hard to see other classical authors on rhetoric as offering more than glosses. Nevertheless, I enjoy teaching St. Augustine because of his blend of Roman rhetorical practices with Christianity.

Here are my policies and syllabus (PDF):

English 622: Issues in Composition Studies: Classical Period to Renaissance

This website is designed for no particular purpose. If you have comments, please send them to Professor Johnson-Sheehan. If you have complaints, keep them to yourself. He's just not in the mood. And, if you have read this far, you really need to get something more important to do.