Students in Dr. Nicole Pfannenstiel’s summer 2025 writing seminar crafted blog posts exploring Rhetoric & Composition. Over the next several weeks, we will share their work in this space to bring visibility to their posts and offer a variety of perspectives on pertinent topics within Rhetoric & Composition. These posts are written by graduate students currently in the MA and M.Ed. English programs.
The Art of Rhetoric and Its Implications for a New Digital Age
By: Carolann Odi
I define rhetoric as the art of crafting an effective, persuasive argument through the utilization of a fundamental, cross-cultural understanding of an audience, linguistic skill, and multimodality.
Habinek argued that talking and writing about our state is also inherently political (47). Therefore, those who participate in discussions about the state of our world on social media are engaging in rhetoric. This positions civic discourse – even a tweet – as a political act. This form of rhetoric is suited to the contemporary needs of our world.
The first part of my definition — “the utilization of a fundamental, cross-cultural
understanding of an audience” — focuses on culture and is crucial in a digital context. Social media ushered in an era of accessibility and connection unheard of prior to the 21st century. We now have instant access to people, media, and ideas from across the country and around the globe. As a result, public discourse needs to account for cultural nuance, linguistic diversity, and global experiences. Therefore, a cross-cultural understanding is a pivotal skill to utilize when communicating with others. I’d argue that it is essential to the persuasive nature of an argument. Why should someone acknowledge what you have to say over the thousands of other voices available to them? Why should they care? Understanding what impacts or appeals to them may bring more eyes to your post.
Moreover, social media thrives upon a multimodal format. On platforms like X, users can write messages, edit and upload videos, and create audio spaces — each a rhetorical choice. A user may not want to read your 1000-character post about immigration, but they may stop scrolling to look at a meme or watch a 15-second clip. With the advent of technology, rhetoric is no longer confined to the boundary of written word.
However, there are ethical implications for the contemporary use of rhetoric on social media. Deepfakes and AI have accelerated the spread of information, regardless of its accuracy or verifiability. Although platforms have moderation policies and terms of use, automated bots are prevalent in our digital landscape, and anyone can contribute to and influence discourse.
Ultimately, I am arguing for a definition of rhetoric that recognizes the rhetorical
responsibility writers hold. As participants in online spaces, we are all rhetoricians. Our words, thoughts, images, and videos carry weight. They create meaning and shape public discourse. They formulate new relationships and facilitate the emergence of new public spheres. This demonstrates that there are far-reaching implications to our actions. Therefore, we must approach rhetorical spaces with care and consideration. By acknowledging the ecological nature of discursive spaces, we can move beyond outdated, linear views of rhetoric and toward public orientations that prioritize intentionality and rhetorical awareness.
Works Cited/Additional Resources
● Andrews, Richard. “Rhetoric and Composition.” A Theory of Contemporary
Rhetoric, by Richard Andrews, 2013, pp. 64–78.
● Aristotle. Rhetoric. Indianapolis; Cambridge, Hackett Publishing Company, Inc., 2018.
● Cushman, Donald P., and Phillip K Tompkins. “A Theory of Rhetoric for
Contemporary Society.” Philosophy and Rhetoric, vol. 13, no. 1, 1 Jan. 1980, pp.
43–67. Accessed 21 June 2025.
● Caballero Mengibar, Ana. “Critical Discourse Analysis in the Study of
Representation, Identity Politics and Power Relations: A Multi-Method Approach.”
Communication & Society, vol. 28, no. 2, 2015, pp. 39–54,
https://doi.org/10.15581/003.28.2.39-54.
● Huang, Jimmy, et al. “Reconceptualizing Rhetorical Practices in Organizations:
The Impact of Social Media on Internal Communications.” Information &
Management, vol. 50, no. 2-3, Mar. 2013, pp. 112–124,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.im.2012.11.003.
● Junco, Reynol, and Arthur W. Chickering. “Civil Discourse in the Age of Social
Media.” About Campus, vol. 15, no. 4, Sept. 2010, pp. 12–18,
https://doi.org/10.1002/abc.20030