Research in Rhetoric: A Glance at our Recent Past, Present, and Potential Future

Abstract

The purpose of this essay is to cite theorists and articles that have marked significant directions in rhetorical scholarship. This essay treats rhetoric writ large without making clear distinctions between rhetorical criticism, argumentative theory, or focus on rhetorical setting. It seeks to recall our history, our rhetorical scholarly history. A key reason for this review is that a failure to recall our history—to keep our past close to us—may well result in either repeating errors or in failing to give credit where it is due. We are, all of us, “always already interpellated” (Althusser, 1971, p. 164) into a scholarly conversation that is not always of our own making, recognizing that conversation—and exploring its roots—is an ongoing obligation.