Fitting Words: Classical Rhetoric for the Christian Student (textbook)

Rhetoric: The classical art of persuasive speech What is rhetoric and why do we need to learn it? The Roman orator Cicero said the goal of rhetoric is to teach, to move and to delight, a three-fold goal that aligns well with truth, goodness and beauty. Christians are people of the Word, so we should learn this art that our words may be informative, powerful, and elegant: teaching men truth, moving them to goodness, and delighting them with verbal beauty. FITTING WORDS instructs students in the classical art of formal rhetoric, providing them with tools for speaking that will equip them for life. Intended for high-school aged students and above, Fitting Words is a complete, robust rhetoric curriculum. Drawing from Aristotle, Quintilian, Augustine, and others, and using examples of the greatest speeches from history and scripture, this curriculum guides Christian students in the theory, imitation, and practice of persuasive speech. "Not only should this curriculum become the standard rhetoric curriculum in our Christian schools, it should become standard reading for all upper level faculty...balanced in all the important areas: biblical wisdom, appropriate and enjoyable exercises, and a strong tether to the classical texts." - Brian Daigle, headmaster of Sequitur Classical Academy, author of Street-Fighting Logic