Rhetoric in Writing

        "To use words (and images) in thoughtful and constructive ways as an alternative to violence and war."  This is Booth's goal for us as writers.  The text describes it as a way to push comfort levels, think critically, question our beliefs, and change how we think about the world.  For this goal to work, the text provides steps to succeed at this task.
        First, listening, and not just listening, but taking what others have to say and further questioning what their reasoning is and why they say such things.   This would include looking at topics in a broader context as well as examining them closer.
        Second, figuring out what you think and why.  By looking at things from different points of view, contexts, and voices, you can begin to formulate your own way of thinking, and perhaps think something you never thought you would.  This can only be done if you complete step three: doing your homework.  They emphasize the importance of knowing everything you can about your topic, not just scratching the surface.
        After that, you must give credit when needed and be as imaginative as possible.  The text explains that giving credit to those who's work you used will help to build your ethos and convey a clearer and more accepted view from the audience.  When combined with imagination, new ideas will be formed instead of creating work that is to formulated and mathematical.
        By combining these steps, what you should end up with is writing that is insightful, fresh, and engaging to the reader.  I like how easy they made this process to understand, and I want to try to think of rhetoric in my writing more.