Theatrical--scripted, attacks to the "enemy", questions prepared in advance, stock answers, expected outcomes to questions posed; real rhetoric--real
What is not rhetoric?
It can be made up of stigmas, meaning people believe that rhetoric is bad, simply because they conjure up images of politics and such.
What is debate?
Debate is arguing for the purpose of changing someone else's views on a subject. Occasionally, though, this branches over into the next question.
What is debate that is not really debate?
Debate is not really debate when people yell and fight about technicalities. Debate is to defend one's position; people get defensive and upset with one another.
Motivation--what is the motivation for this? Is it to get the truth out, or is it just to argue and debate? Interested in the solving of community's problem, or defending one's position. Benefits are for the audience; they can go away from hearing a debate and make decisions. But the people debating are not open to change one's opinion or even interested in listening to the other person. Crossfire--if one changes position, one is a loser. Stewart was enforcing the rhetoric idea, but Crossfire debated. Debate now is trying to unbalance your opponent, not to hear the other person's side. They only ask small-point questions, they need to ask questions that bring out detailed answers. Listening only to make their own points, or just to deflect from the ideas being spoken. "Communally beneficial" is not "everyone wins"; it's compromise.
How to tie this in to Professional Writing and Writers?
Worksheet!
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