This text investigates the fundamental principles of rhetoric as a functional tool for effective persuasion in public and private discourse. Albert R. Kitzhaber, a noted scholar in composition and communication studies, utilizes his background in pedagogical theory to analyze how language structures influence audience reception. The book presents a framework for understanding the mechanics of argument, emphasizing the relationship between speaker intent and listener interpretation.

Experts in the field of communication studies identify this work as a foundational text for understanding the mechanics of persuasive speech. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which serves as a rigorous introduction to the discipline of rhetoric.