Blog 2: neo-Aristotelian criticism

1. Neo-Aristotelian criticism is presented in the book as a form of analyzing rhetoric mainly focusing on the outcomes of the evaluations instead of the process. It consists of many factors including the canons of rhetoric. It takes into consideration the older philosophies of men such as Aristotle as a basis. Herbert Wichelns also largely contributed to the original creation of the Neo-Aristotelian criticism, wanting to make a distinct separation from the field of literature.

2. The textbook lists the three basic steps of analyzing an artifact as "(1) reconstructing the context in which the artifact occured, (2) application of the five canons to the artifact, and (3) assessing the impact of the artifact on the audience." It is important that a thorough investigation is given in order to present the facts found in a structured fashion. The audience needs to be persuaded in a thoughtful and charismatic manner. The aftermath of the presentation should also be analyzed to gain an understanding of the full impact achieved. Analyzing an artifact is a crucial and critical process which will inevitably help the progression of the artifact at hand.

3. The textbook lists the five canons of rhetoric as "(1) invention, the location and creation of ideas and materials for the speech, (2) organization, the structure or arrangement of the speech, (3) style, the language of the speech, (4) memory, mastery of the subject matter, which may include the actual memorizing of the speech,and (5) delivery, management of the voice and gestures in the presentation of the speech." The organization of the speech is just as important as the delivery in order for the audience to remember the key points. The creation of the speech must be done keeping in mind that enticing the audience in the main goal. All of these canons must be incorporated in an innovative and creative way in order to produce a successful speech.