All 5 Uses of
rhetoric
in
Oryx and Crake
- Applied Rhetoric†
p. 185.0rhetoric = the use of (or study of using) words to make a point
- Depending on how well he did in his Problematics courses — Applied Logic, Applied Rhetoric, Medical Ethics and Terminology, Applied Semantics, Relativistics and Advanced Mischaracterization, Comparative Cultural Psychology, and the rest — he'd have a choice between well-paid window-dressing for a big Corp or flimsy cut-rate stuff for a borderline one.†
p. 188.6
- One of his term papers — for his Applied Rhetoric course was titled "Self-Help Books of the Twentieth Century: Exploiting Hope and Fear," and it supplied him with a great stand-up routine for use in the student pubs.†
p. 195.8
- One of the letters was from Jimmy's old dorm roommate, Bernice, who'd cranked her rhetorical volume up considerably.†
p. 244.8 *rhetorical = relating to the use of words to make a point
- "Sounds like Applied Rhetoric 101," said Jimmy.†
p. 303.5rhetoric = the use of (or study of using) words to make a point
Definition:
the use of (or study of using) words to make a point -- typically implying skillful use
Rhetoric is used with many connotations. "Effective rhetoric" has a positive connotation, If someone says something is "just rhetoric," they're implying that the words may make a good surface impression, but they are lacking in substance.