The Art of Persuasion Essay Paper
single-spaced), in which you explain what the phrase, “the art of persuasion” meant to the classical Greeks. Since the time of the classical Greeks, one of the most common definitions for rhetoric is that it concerns “the art of persuasion.” For the Greeks, a technē (the word usually translated as “art”) included three things: “some theoretical understanding, some practical skill at carrying it out, and some experience with particulars to guide its application” (Sachs 30n1).
Sophists claimed that they taught the “art” of words, or the “art” of rhetoric. Plato, on the other hand, dismissed what they taught as an “experience,” a part of “pandering.” according to this definition, do you think that there is an “art” to persuasion? Why or why not?
Writing strategies: Be sure to develop a clear thesis for your essay. Often, you will not be able to clearly frame the thesis until after you have begun (or even concluded) a draft of your essay, so be sure to leave time for revision.
Revision is especially important when you are writing a short but dense essay. Be sure to support your claims by referring to the course materials. Be sure also to write in academic voice that is neither pompous and formal nor conversational and chatty.
Do not write in the second person (addressing your readers as “you”). Be very careful to document accurately and correctly. If you are referring to assigned course readings, you need only provide the author or title and page or line number (e.g. Kennedy 62; or Gorgias 464b2-d9). You should provide a reference for any other sources you choose to cite. Classical sources have a different citation form, which you can find here: