General requirements: Every Discussion Board post must be at least 500 words minimum. The post needs to include one to two questions for further thought.

Discussion Board Forum 1 Prompt:
Allowing for introductions within the first week of class is fairly common in the online environment as well as the first class for any setting, and you are already completing the typical introduction in a different forum post; however, let’s coordinate the typical pleasantries within the context of this class: rhetoric. Your introduction is rhetorical in nature as it is the manner in which you construct and communicate your identity to the class. 
As you provide your information in the post, be sure to include ALL the following:
1) How you define/understand rhetoric. 
a. Be sure to give any background regarding where you may have learned about rhetoric or where the definition comes from for you. This requires both a definition AND the origination of the definition.
2) How you perceive this class contributing to your current and/or desired profession.
a. Try to give specific examples/situations where you feel rhetoric applies. 
3) After you complete the assigned reading for the week, consider this passage from Kennedy’s history: 
“Finally, linguistic, philosophical, and critical studies in the twentieth century have pointed to the conclusion that there is no such a thing as nonrhetorical discourse; even ostensibly objective scientific and philosophical writing contains social and political assumptions that may be questioned and uses rhetorical techniques that carry ethical and emotional connotations to argue its case” (p.10).
Paul is an excellent example of someone spreading the Gospel through rhetorical strategies; however, if “non rhetorical discourse” does not exist as Kennedy notes, how should Christians interpret their role in ministry, spreading the Gospel (Absolute Truth), through rhetorical practice that “contain social and political assumptions that may be questioned?” 
4) You must reference specific passage(s) from the assigned reading using APA format. You may quote or summarize, but specific page numbers must be provided.
5) One or two questions you have about the assigned readings for this week (Use specific pages numbers as you reference parts of the reading).
By including all of the above, you will be defining who you are in relation to the content of this course. Your classmates and instructor will now know more about your background (the regular introductory post) as well as your initial perceptions of the course (this discussion board). Many students will have different approaches in class, and understanding this can alleviate undue pressure students sometimes feel when they hear classmates’ describe different topics or interests throughout the term. At the graduate level, it is expected that you have unique interests and research, so enjoy the diversity rather than becoming overly anxious about what your statements look like compared to others.
Review the Discussion Board Grading Rubric before submitting. Your post must be at least 500 words, include 1-2 questions for further thought, and reference the assigned readings using APA format.