Rhetorical Heritage

When Dr. Souder first mentioned the Rhetorical family tree project, I was excited. I have always been interested and liked looking into my family history, but I never thought about considering heritage from the stand point of who has influenced me intellectually. This project may prove to be another exciting examination of who we are, how have arrived where we are, and in this case why we study what we study.

This project has also helped to encourage me to communicate with scholars beyond simply reading their books or articles. I have enjoyed learning about the people who have influenced the professors who are influencing me. The rhetorical family tree also shows us that we should build on what has been done, as well as remembering what has been done. The presentations have catered directly to the rhetorical family tree because many of the rhetoricians had direct influence on each other, and each presentation attempted to find a link between a major rhetorician and a composition theorist.

Johanna, Jo and I interviewed Dr. Frank and I was delighted to discover the many different influences she has had in every different aspect of her expertise. I also found it interesting that her major influences began when she was a middle school student. I enjoyed interviewing her and learning the names all of the people who have influenced her and how.

I have noticed that many of the people that are connected on the rhetorical family tree are spread all across the content, and as Dr. Souder predicted, quickly went outside of it.

Many of the ideas that have been mentioned for the presentation of the rhetorical family sound very interesting. I liked the ripples in a pond idea that I think Emily mentioned because it could represent different directions and ideas while still presenting the bigger connection. I also liked the more traditional idea of using an actual tree, especially it we added the roots as well. Using something similar to constellations also seemed like something that might work well and be appealing.