View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. As explained by Aristotle in Book III, Chapter 10, how should effective prose express its important points?

2. In Book II, Chapter 26, how many common errors did Aristotle discuss?

3. As explained by Aristotle in Book III, Chapter 2, which type of words should a speech writer use?

4. What did Aristotle think orators should be careful of when writing their speeches?

5. What did Aristotle think the structure of a sentence should always be?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did Aristotle define a maxim?

2. What was the periodic form of prose, and why did Aristotle prefer it?

3. Based on Aristotle's discussion at the beginning of Book II, Chapter 12, which things could influence a person's feelings?

4. In Aristotle's opinion, why were non-logical ways necessary to convince certain audiences of a sound argument?

5. What clarification did Aristotle make about amplification, enthymemes, and the soundness of enthymemes at the end of the section?

6. Which example did Aristotle use to display the fallacious ways an enthymeme could be formed?

7. Which styles of political, forensic, and epideictic rhetoric were discussed at the end of Book III, Chapter 12?

8. How did Aristotle define the application of vivid descriptions in rhetoric?

9. What were the four ways that Aristotle listed about how objections could be raised?

10. What value could surprises have in a speech, and what were some of the forms they could take?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Besides sound argumentation, Aristotle thought that prose was very effective in rhetoric and speeches.

1) Describe the connection between prose and poetry and how prose was mainly used in rhetoric.

2) Explain the reasons why prose could be used in rhetoric, which audiences Aristotle thought would respond to it, and why.

3) Analyze the four common mistakes made in prose, examples of each mistake, and ways to avoid them.

Essay Topic 2

Argumentation was the basis for rhetoric and oration.

1) Describe the types of argumentation used in each main form of rhetoric.

2) Explain Aristotle's theory of possibility and impossibility, along with three examples of it.

3) Analyze which forms of rhetoric might use Aristotle's theory of possibility and impossibility the most and why.

Essay Topic 3

Define narration as it is used in rhetoric or in a speech, including an explanation of which forms of rhetoric were most likely to use narration and why, and the similarities and differences between narration in literature and narration in speaking.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 825 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample