Envision Chapter One

This chapter is mainly about the very foundation of this English course. It talks about analyzing texts rhetorically and composing an argument about the text. It explains that rhetoric has been around for a very long time and is used in almost every bit of advertising made nowadays. That is the interesting part for me. I never realized how complex advertising could be. I just thought the companies would try to convince you their product was great in order to get you to buy it, but there is a lot more to it than that.

According to this chapter, rhetoric is a strategy used in almost everything. It is used in billboards with upcoming events, tv shows, political cartoons, posters, and even in presentations from students in our class. The slightest detail can change the aura of the piece. That little change can make someone's mind up about how they feel about the piece. I think rhetoric is interesting because it breaks down something so far, such as how to make someone's mind about that thing, and its process can be very complex.

Envision Chapter Two

This chapter expands on what I found interesting about the first chapter. It explains how advertisments implement rhetoric strategies. There are many strategies listed in this chapter, and it explains how all of them effect people looking at the advertisments. Even something as simple as the definition is considered a rhetorical strategy. Just clarifying what you are advertising can make the difference in whether or not someone decides to buy your product or not.
Even though there are a lot of different strategies, they can all be catagorized into three different groups. These groups, Pathos, Logos, and Ethos, are related to every kind of rhetorical strategy. Every strategy tries to appeal to the viewer somehow and these three groups represent how to reach someone in different ways including: emotionally, logically, or through reason. It is astounding how the millions of ads in the world can all have their strategies placed in a few mere catagories.

Envision Chapter Three

Invention, arrangement, style, memory, delivery. These ideas are the basis for chapter three. The five catagories, also known as the canons of rhetoric, are all used when composing an argument. An argument is like advertising because you are trying to convince someone of something. If all the canons are used throughout the argument successfully, then the argument is likely to be very convincing.
This chapter goes on to explain each of the canons individually, but the part about the canons that I found most interesting is that they have been used since Ancient Greece. That means that the canons have been used for over two thousand years! If those people could produce a compelling argument with their limited resources, then it should be fairly easy for people to do so today. Maybe that is one of the reasons why there are so many divorces today.
I also found it interesing that the canon style, which describes how someone expresses their ideas to their audience, could effect writing as much as a presentation. In fact, I have found that using style while writing your argument can be a very effective tool.

Envison Chapter Nine

This whole chapter is dedicated to explaining how to produce and how to deliver presentations. I absolutely hate giving speeches in front of people. No matter how many presentations I have already given in my life, I still dread them from the time I am given the task until I am done. However, I do think that I have improved upon my presentation skills, and I think that the ideas from this chapter will allow me to improve further.

There are a lot of examples of well-known speakers throughout this chapter. I do not think I will ever become even close to their level of expertise, but I can take a couple ideas from each of them and hopefully implement them in my own presentations.

The other part of this chapter that I find useful is its ideas on how to transform research into a speech or presentation. I have had to do this from time to time but this chapter could help me do it more effectively.