This edited volume fills a void in the literature concerning the purpose, practice, and pedagogy associated with performing rhetorical criticism. Literature regarding these issues-predominantly purpose-exists primarily as scattered journal articles and as sections within chapters of textbooks on rhetorical criticism. This book brings together 15 established rhetorical critics, each of whom offers well thought out and argued opinion pieces that stress the more personal nature of criticism. The purpose of this book is to serve as a disciplinary resource, and as a teaching and learning aid.Accessibility across areas of expertise and experience is stressed in this book. Critics range from junior faculty to emeritus, and represent a broad spectrum of views on criticism. In this sense the book offers a snapshot of the views of a wide swath of successfully practicing, contemporary rhetorical critics.

Chapter 1: On Objectivity and Politics in CriticismEdwin BlackChapter 2: Paddling the Rhetorical River, Revisiting the Social Actor: Rhetorical Criticism as Both Appreciation and InterventionJason Edward BlackChapter 3: Rhetorical Criticism for UnderdogsDana L. CloudChapter 4: How Should Our Rhetoric Make Us Feel?Celeste M. ConditChapter 5: Rhetorical and Civic Literacy in the Twenty-First Century: A Neo-Classical Rhetoric for the Digital AgeJ. Michael HoganChapter 6: The Wilderness Years of Rhetorical Criticism: Our Obsession with PowerlessnessAndrew A. KingChapter 7: Artistry, Purpose, and Academic Constraints in Rhetorical CriticismJim A. KuypersChapter 8: Endless Talk: The Purpose, Practice, and Pedagogy of the Rhetorical ConversationRyan Erik McGeoughChapter 9: The Critical ImpulseRaymie McKerrowChapter 10: Rhetorical Criticism as Textual InterpretationMartin J. MedhurstChapter 11: The Moral Critic: An Act in Several HistoriesNed O'GormanChapter 12: Practicing RhetoricSamantha M. Senda-CookChapter 13: Rhetorical Criticism and Citizenship EducationRobert E. TerrillChapter 14: The Glory of Rhetorical Analysis: Communication as a Process Of Social InfluenceKathleen J. TurnerChapter 15: The Accidental RhetoricianMarilyn J. Young