2/10 Blog Post 7: What Writing Does and How It Does It - Activity 1a, p. 337

Features, Functions, and Student Activity of Ancient Rhetorics for Contemporary Student

Features: Many of the features of the book are present in most textbooks, regardless of genre. These include a table of contents, a preface/introduction with acknowledgments, a glossary, an index, review questions at the end of each chapter, and different sections or units to differentiate the book's contents. From a genre analysis standpoint, these features are typical of textbooks in liberal arts fields.

Functions: The first and most obvious function of the book as a whole is to inform the reader. In many cases, the book's function will actually serve as a supplement to lectures or classroom activities. More specifically, the book's different features also serve individual functions. The sections, table of contents, and the index typically function as reference points for the reader when he or she is looking for a certain item or section in the book. A glossary functions as a volume-specific dictionary, giving definitions based on the contents of the text. The preface/introduction usually gives the author's viewpoint on the creation and uses of the book, and is a forum for acknowledging contributors. Lastly, the review questions at the end of each chapter function as a study and review aid for readers, which brings me to the student activity portion of the textbook.

Student Activity: The student activities in the book appear in two forms--Rhetorical Activities and Progymnasmata. The rhetorical activities are structured so that students can use resources other than the book to develop a better understanding of rhetoric. They are also exercises in applying the rhetorical concepts learned throughout each chapter. The Progymnasmata, a term taken from ancient Greek rhetorical study, are intended to further develop the reader's familiarity with rhetoric. They are usually longer than the rhetorical activities, and are aimed at building upon the knowledge from preceding chapters.