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MikaelaMendozaCardenal
ProfessorLeslieWolcott
ENC3331
November15,2013
Action&Reaction:RhetoricalCitizenshipasDefinebyPoliticalActivism
RHETORIC
Rhetoriciscommunicationwithintentionandambition,whispersintendedtoflatter
andmanipulate,orhandmadesignswrittentoinciteandagitate.Rhetoriccanbea
sophisticatedandintricatedinnerconversationbetweenforeignambassadorsitcanbe
theimpatientscoldingsofatiredmothertohertoddleranditcanbethehoarseyellingofa
tortillerasellingherwaresinafleamarket.Whetherwellintentionedorantagonistic,the
divisionwhererhetoricsplitsofffromgeneralcommunicationisintheideathatrhetoricis,
ofcourse,persuasion.
Masteringrhetoricissomethingpoliticians,CEOs,teachers,parents,andsales
associatesallstrivefor.Failedrhetoriccanpassthroughanaudiencesears,oritcaneven
convincethemoftheopposingside.Ateachertryingtojustifyastudentspunishmentcan
justaseasilyangerthestudentastheycanprovidealearningexperience.Iveseen
representativesandsenatorsstumbleoverdifficultquestionsorcontroversialideas,and
felttheenergyofoncestaunchsupportersbegintoshiftagainstthem.Themasteryof
rhetoricmeansmasteringtheabilitytocontrolotherseithertheirspendinghabits,their
behavior,orthewaytheycasttheirballot.
Leithwrites,[Rhetoric]isawayinwhichoursharedassumptionsand

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understandingsareappliedtonewsituations,andthelanguageofhistoryischan
neled,
revitalized,andgivenfreshpowerineachsuccessiveage.(6)Rhetoricisnotonlyforthe
speaker.Inordertobeaneffectiverhetor,thespeakermustbeabletorecognizethese
sharedassumptionsandmoldthemtoachievetheirgoal.Thismeansthattheaudience
isalsoalargecomponentinrhetoric,albeitamorecomplacentcharacter.Theaudience
receives,processes,andabsorbs(ordoesntabsorb)themessage.Ifwearethe
audience,ouronlydutyistosiftthroughtheinformationpresentedusandmakeachoice:
willwevoteNoon3orYeson3?arewegoingtositdownquietlyfortherestoftheclass?
willwebuytheoverpricedleatherjacketbecausethesalesassociateswearsitwilllast
years?
Rhetoricisacomplexconversationbetweenadesireandaresistance.Inthe
microcosmofa45secondcommercialslot,itistheunderlyingdesperationofthecar
salesmanimploringastrugglingfamilytotakeoutanointerestloan.Thisbattleofwills
separatesrhetoricfromallotherformsofcommunication,andcontributestothegravityof
itsstudyandfarreachinginfluenceofitsmastery.

CITIZENSHIP
Citizenshipisaninterestingsocialconstructthat,unlikeotherconceptssuchas
genderandrace,hasalegal,social,andmoraldefinition.Theseinterpretationsrangefrom
anexperienceofidentitytonationalist,activeparticipation.(Wan34)Duetothese
disparities,itisextremelyimportanttocontextualizetheword.
WhatdoesitmeantobeacitizeninArizonain2011?Whatdoesitmeantobea

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citizenin1500sVirginia?Whatdoesitmeantobeacitizeninthe!Kungbandof
Botswana?AnAmericanpassportorU.S.birthcertificate,workingtoensureastruggling
communitythrives,ormakingsureeverybandmemberisfedareaspectsofcitizenshipfor
eachrespectiveculture.
IgrewupinMiamiduringtheearly2000s.Inanareawitha67%Hispanic
populationandstrongimmigrantdemographics,ourdefinitionofcitizenshiprestedonyour
votingrights.Itrestedonhowfaralongyourpaperswere,andhowmuchmoneydidyou
needtofinishtheprocess.Itrestedonthenaturalizedstatusofsomeonesspouseor
relative,anditrestedonwhetheryousharedtheexperienceofwalkingoutofacourtroom,
clutchingyourSocialSecuritycardtightlytoyourchestaftermonthsoryearsof
bureaucracy.Citizenshipisdefinedinthelegalsenseofthewordbecausethosearethe
strugglesthatwehavefaced,andwhenagroupofpeopleisconfrontedwithanobstacle,
definitionsandmeaningsaretransfiguredtorefereasilytotheirpresentsocialsituation.
However,sinceIbecamemorepoliticallyactivethroughschoolclubs,Ihavesince
revisedmypersonaldefinitionofcitizenship.Themostimportantwaymyorganization,
CollegeDemocrats,engagesstudentsinthepoliticalprocessisthroughvoterregistration.
Weregisterstudentstovoteateveryfreshmanorientationinthesummerwearepresent
ateveryhousingmoveinweorganizeclassrapsandwetablethreedaysaweek.Ive
beenignored,snappedat,andarguedwithIvegottensunburns,mosquitobites,and
caughtinthunderstorms,butitissocrucialforstudentstohaveeasyaccesstoavoter
registrationform.ByOctober9,2012(thevoterregistrationdeadline),wehadregistered
almost11,000studentstovote.

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Thefirstquestionontheformasks,AreyouacitizenoftheUnitedStatesof
America?Wereyoubornhere,wereyounaturalized,areyouavoter?Canyouparticipate
inthepoliticalprocess?Doesyourvoicecount?
ThroughmypoliticalactivismIvemetafascinatingarrayofpeople.Fromthe
selfservingtickintheGovernorsMansiontoaneightyearoldblackgirlcollectingpetitions
duringaparade,themostinterestingpeopleIvemetarethenoncitizenswhoare
protestingforgenderequality,canvassingforthetaxcollector,phonebankingforcounty
sheriff.Theirparticipationembodiestheknowledgethatmanylegalcitizensseemtoforget:
nomatterwhoyouare,whatyourideologiesorbeliefs,thelawaffectseveryoneand
everyonehastheopportunitytoaffectlegislation.Theseactivistsarebettercitizensthan
passportholdingAmericansbecausewhenotherssimplywhineintotheiriPhoneona
radiotalkshowaboutwelfarequeens,theytakeactionandtheymakechange.Acitizenis
anactivecontributortothehealthandgrowthoftheircommunity.

RHETORICALCITIZENSHIP
Thequalitiesthatmakeastrongrhetoralsomakeastrongcitizen.Beingcapableof
recognizingweakarguments,havingadesiretopushanagenda,andpossessingthe
abilitytocommunicateeffectivelyallplayaroleinapoliticallyactivecitizenship.Beinga
rhetoricalcitizenmeansapplyingtheinquisitivemethodsandtrytochallengemementality
ofarhetortothewayweinteractwiththegovernment.Irecognizethatmycurrentinterests
placethegovernmentatthebeall,endallofsociety,butithasbecomecleartomethat
havingagoverningbodyrepresenttheinterestsofthepeopleistheonlywaytoachieve

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societalhappiness.However,powerisaverystrongdrugandcorruptionrunsdeepat
everylevel.Ascitizens,weneedtorecognizethisfactandchallengetheestablishment.
Rhetoricalcitizenshipisnotcomplacentwiththebuzzwordsandtalkingpointsthat
somanypoliticiansregurgitateintowellcraftedopedsandpremeditatedsoundbites(I
know,IgetJohnFalcicchiosmessagingemails,too).Ittakesanactiveroleintheprocess
anddemandsaccountabilityandresults.Rhetoricalcitizenshipcancomefrommany
placeslobbyistspushingformorelenientregulationsconcernedparentsaddressingtheir
schoolboardmembersorlocalbusinessownerssigningapetitiontobanpaidsickleave.
Onedoesnotneedtobealegalcitizeninordertoattainrhetoricalcitizenship,butthereis
astrongcorrelationbetweenbeingeducatedandbeingcivicallyengaged.The2011
FloridaCivicHealthIndexstatesthatin2010,theonlydemographicofyouth1829who
hadvisitedapublicofficialwerethosewhohadgraduatedcollegeorhadsomecollege
experience.Ofthatdemographic,only5%ofyouthhadactuallydoneso.(8)
RHETORICINBITHLO
Bithloisaveryinterestingplacetoanalyzerhetoricalcitizenship.Itisalowincome
areathathasbeenneglectedbyOrangeCountygovernmentwithhighteenpregnancy
rates,highdruguse,lowpolicepresence,andhighdropoutrates.MyexperienceatBithlo
hasbeenisolatedtoOrangeCountyAcademy,aprivateschoolsetupbyUnitedGlobal
Outreach,anNGO(nongovernmentalorganization)whostrivetoreshapethecommunity.
VolunteeringinBithlowouldbecategorizedundermydefinitionofrhetoricalcitizenship
becausetheeffortsbeingmadeinordertobetterBithloareadirecteffectofOrange
Countyrefusingtotakecareofanimpoverishedarea.

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UGOisveryconcernedwithrhetoric,particularlyattheschool,whichprovides
educationforkindergartenthrougheighthgrade.Theirideaisthatbyemployingan
empoweringvocabulary,thesechildren,whohavebeenshuffledthroughtheschoolsystem
andverytypicallyhaveadifficulthomelife,willfeelrespectedandmotivatedbyauthority
figures.ReferringtothekidsasVIPsandenforcingtheideathateveryoneisspecialare
waysthatOrangeCountyAcademypushestheirrhetoric.However,communicationisnot
alwaysverbal,andTimMcKinney(theCOOofUGO)hasusedhispersonalconnectionsto
takekidstoOrlandoMagicgames,LegoLand,andwaterparkstoshowthemOCAs
dedicationtothem,aswellastoencouragethekidstoenvisionalifebetterthanBithlo.
FrommyexperiencesatBithlo(tutoringtwiceaweekduringSpring2013andevery
otherweekinFall2013),thismessaginghasmixedresults.Forthemostpart,thekids
respondpositivelyandoftensayhowtheyareMr.Tims(theCOOofUGO)VIPs.Inthe
classroomsetting,however,theyareattimesobstinateanddisrespectful.Itseemsthat
repeatedmessagingalonecannotcombatwhateverhomesituationsomeofthemore
badlybehavedchildrenface.
TutoringatOCAwasnotatypicaltutoringexperience.ThefirstfewtimesIwent,I
wasstrictandteacherlike,tryingtogetthestudenttofocusonthebookinfrontofhim.I
wasshockedthat10yearoldswerereadingthirdgradebooks.WhenIwasten,Iwas
readingatacollegelevel,butsomeofthesekidswerehavingtroublewiththeword
frustration.Itriedtomakeitinterestingbybringingbooksfrommychildhoodcollection,
takingturnsreading,andallowingthekidstochoosetheirownbooks.ButitwasntuntilI
talkedtoTimaboutAmy(namechanged),oneofmystudents,thatIrealizedthatmyroleas

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atutorencompassedmuchmorethansimplyteaching.
Amyhashadadifficultlifeforatenyearold.Shelivesthestereotypicalwhitetrash
liferaisedbyhergrandmotherbecausehermotherisadrugaddict,andherfatherhas
neverbeeninthepicture.Shesoftenreticent,andcovershermouthwhenshelaughs.
Duringourtutoringsessions,shewaseasilydiscouragedandwouldbecomeantagonistic,
throwingthebooktothegroundandrefusingtospeak.IapproachedTimabouther
behavior,wonderingifhehadsomeinsightintoherbehavior.
Hetoldmeaboutherhomelife,andsuggestedthatthenexttimeIcomevolunteer,I
takeheroutforicecreaminstead.WeendedupgoingtoMcDonaldsandwhenIdropped
heroff,shegavemeahugandsaid,Thatwasalotoffun.Thankyou.
Amydidnotneedatutor.Shehadplentyofteachersandadultslookingoverher
shoulderathergrades.Sheneededasilentspacetofillwithherownthoughts,anda
receptivepersontoallowherwordstoencasethem.Whilewewerehavinglunch,shetold
meaboutherlittlebrotherwhodied,thefightsherneighborshadlateintothenight,andthe
wayhertrailerleakedraininthroughthewindowsthatdidntshutquiteright.Shetalked
abouthowhergrandmavotedforPresidentObama(asurprisetome,too),andhowshe
hatesthatshestallerthaneveryoneelse.
Animportantfunctionofrhetoricistolistentoyouraudience.Knowtheirmood,learn
whatdrivesthem,anduseittoeitherachieveoradjustyourgoal.Inthiscase,myinitial
goalwastomakethestudentsfeelcomfortablewithabookintheirhands.However,after
listeningtoAmyandapplyingthatsamelisteningstrategytotheotherkids,IrealizedthatI
wouldmakeastrongerimpactifIsetthebookasidefor10minutesandaskthemabout

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theirday,iftheiroldersistermovedbackhome,orwhethertheyhadtroubleontheirmath
homeworkagain,therestofthesessionwentmuchsmoother.
CONCLUSION
Rhetoricalcitizenshipisaboutinteractionandengagementwithyourcommunity.It
requiresonetobequietandtomakenoiseatthesametime.Itmeanstousethe
knowledgeyougaintobetteracommunity.InBithlo,rhetoricalcitizenshipisbeingenforced
throughtheschool.Manyoftheadultsaretrappedintheircurrenteconomic,social,and
mentalstate.Theywanttobettertheircommunity,buttheyaretrappedbythehegemony
thatdictatestheboundariesoftheirsuccess.OrangeCountyAcademyattacksthis
structurebycontinuallyreinforcingthestudentswithdemonstrationsoflove.Rhetorical
citizenship,althoughitcanbeattained,isawayofthinkingthatneedstobeencouraged.
Isocratessaid,Idothinkthatthestudyofpoliticaldiscoursecanhelpmorethanany
otherthingtostimulateandform[sobrietyandjustice].Itismyopinionthatengagement
withpoliticsatanylevelisthefoundationtorhetoricalcitizenship.Rhetoricalcitizenship
requirespeopletopayattention,toanalyze,andtoreact.Thewaysinwhichpeoplechoose
toreactvaryfromapeacefuldemonstrationtoastronglywordedlettertoa
passiveaggressiveFacebookstatus.Communicationiskeytorhetoricalcitizenship
becausethedisseminationofnewideasiscrucialincreatingchange.Anylevelof
engagementissufficientraisingvoicesoneatatimewilleventuallybecomedeafening.

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WorksCited
Isocrates.IsocratesI.Trans.DavidC.MirhadyandYunLeeToo.Austin:UofTexasP,
2000.

Leith,Sam.WordsLikeLoadedPistols:RhetoricfromAristotletoObama.NewYork:
BasicBooks,2012.Print.

Wan,AmyJ.IntheNameofCitizenship:TheWritingClassroomandthePromiseof
Citizenship.CollegeEnglish74.1(2011):2849

NationalConferenceonCitizenship.(2011).2011FloridaCivicHealthIndex.