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

Short Answer Questions

1. What did the paean avoid in order to gain Aristotle's endorsement as the ideal rhythm for prose?

2. Which of the following examples best demonstrates Aristotle's theory of possibility in Book II, Chapter 19?

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

4. Based on Aristotle's explanation of the wealthy, how did wealthy people view the opinions of others about money?

5. Based on Aristotle's views, how should any good speech be appropriate?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. How did Aristotle define a maxim?

4. What were some of the characteristics of a refutative enthymeme?

5. Which rules for poetry and prose did Aristotle outline in Book III, Chapter 2?

6. As the second type of example, what were the two forms of the invented facts?

7. What would the a fortiori argument refer to in rhetoric?

8. What was the benefit of using actual facts, the first type of example?

9. In what way did Aristotle describe the differences between written prose and spoken prose in Book III, Chapter 12?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the book, Aristotle discussed the three characterizations of sayings in prose.

1) Explain how antithesis sayings are used in rhetoric and provide three examples of them.

2) Describe how metaphors are used in rhetoric and provide three examples of them.

3) Explain how vivid descriptions are used in rhetoric and provide three examples of them.

4) Analyze when antithesis sayings, metaphors, and vivid descriptions would be the most effective in rhetoric or oratory.

Essay Topic 2

Legal rhetoric was a main form of speech for courts and trials in Aristotle's time.

1) Describe the similarities and differences between the two types of law: the special and the general.

2) Explain Aristotle's definition of wrongdoing.

3) Analyze how both laws applied to wrongdoing and legal rhetoric.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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