Hello, all! I'm Dr. Bobby, "The Best Assistant Professor Who Never Was" and I created this brief preview because changes are coming to the show. Thank you for leaving comments and providing feedback!

Welcome back! I’m Dr. Bobby, "The Best Assistant Professor Who Never Was," and today we begin a brand-new series diving into Aristotle’s On Rhetoric — a cornerstone text in the history of rhetoric and communication studies. 📚 In this video, we explore Aristotle’s foundational ideas about rhetoric as the counterpart to dialectic, the crucial roles of persuasion, the concepts of enthymeme and syllogism, and how rhetoric relates to audience awareness and emotional appeal. We’ll also look at how Aristotle’s systematic style shapes his understanding of persuasion, art, and instruction, and we’ll make connections to modern media like comics, films, and gaming! Whether you're a student, teacher, or lifelong learner, this series will help you understand why rhetoric matters — not just in arguments, but in every part of communication today. ✨ Topics Covered: What is rhetoric according to Aristotle? Enthymeme vs. syllogism (and why it matters) Audience as an active partner in persuasion The relationship between truth, justice, and rhetoric Why rhetoric is both flexible and systematic How rhetorical theory connects to comics, film, and more 🔔 Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell so you don’t miss Part 2, where we’ll dig even deeper into Aristotle’s rhetorical methods! #Aristotle #Rhetoric #OnRhetoric #Philosophy #RhetoricalTradition #Education #CommunicationStudies #EnglishStudies

Plato’s Gorgias Part 4 | Rhetorical Tradition (3rd Ed.)

Welcome back to our deep dive into Plato’s Gorgias! I’m Dr. Bobby, “The Best Assistant Professor Who Never Was,” and today we’re continuing our analysis of Socrates’ rhetorical sparring with Callicles.

In this episode, we explore how Socrates challenges Callicles on his shifting definitions of superiority, the role of rhetoric in public discourse, and the importance of specialization in shaping virtuous individuals. We also connect these ancient ideas to modern rhetoric and composition studies—particularly the evolution of process over product in writing instruction.

🔹 Topics Covered: ✔️ Socrates’ rhetorical strategy and the Socratic Method ✔️ The debate on nature vs. convention ✔️ The intersection of rhetoric, poetry, and public speaking ✔️ How these ideas relate to modern education and composition studies

If you’re into philosophy, rhetoric, or just love a good intellectual showdown, be sure to like, subscribe, and hit that notification bell for future episodes!

📚 Want to keep learning? Stay tuned for future discussions, including Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics and the impact of technology on rhetoric and composition.

💬 What do you think? Drop a comment below—how do you see Socratic questioning at play in today’s world?

Thanks for watching, and I’ll see you next time!

#Plato #Gorgias #Rhetoric #Philosophy #Socrates #Education #Writing #Composition #CriticalThinking

📖 Plato’s Gorgias Part 3 | The Rhetorical Tradition (3rd Ed.) 🎤

Hello, friends! Dr. Bobby here—“The Best Assistant Professor Who Never Was”—and today, we’re diving deeper into Plato’s Gorgias as we continue exploring rhetoric, persuasion, and citizenship through Socrates' legendary debates.

💬 What’s in this episode?

• Socrates challenges us to think about desire, action, and choice in persuasion.
• The connection between rhetoric and citizenship—what makes a "good citizen"?
• The power of choice and motive when considering ethical persuasion.
• A breakdown of the Rhetorical Situation and its evolution from Plato to Kenneth Burke.
• Callicles vs. Socrates—a rhetorical showdown between convention and nature!

Socrates' dialogues may seem wordy, but they’re packed with timeless lessons about rhetoric’s role in our lives, from politics to philosophy and even everyday communication.

🔔 Like, subscribe, and hit the bell so you don’t miss the next episode in our deep dive into classical rhetoric!

💬 What do you think? Drop a comment below—how do you see rhetoric influencing citizenship today?

📚 Recommended Reading:

• The Rhetorical Tradition (3rd Ed.)
• Plato’s Gorgias

🎭 Follow for more insights into classical rhetoric and philosophy!

#Plato #Gorgias #Rhetoric #Socrates #Philosophy #Persuasion #ClassicalRhetoric #TheRhetoricalTradition

🔹 Plato’s Gorgias – Part 2: Rhetoric, Power, and Persuasion 🔹 Welcome back! “I’m Dr. Bobby, the Best Assistant Professor Who Never Was,” and today, we’re continuing our deep dive into Plato’s Gorgias! In this episode, we examine the complex role of rhetoric, its influence on civic life, and the ongoing battle of persuasion between Socrates, Gorgias, and Polus. 📌 What You’ll Learn in This Video: ✅ How orators influence civic and political decisions ✅ The power of rhetoric and its ethical implications ✅ Differences between rhetoric & composition vs. literature studies ✅ Socrates’ argument strategies and counterargument techniques ✅ The blurred lines between persuasion, free will, and determinism We also explore the ways rhetoric extends beyond ancient philosophy and continues to shape modern academia, persuasion, and cultural discourse. Is rhetoric truly an art, or is it merely a knack? Join the discussion and decide for yourself! 💬 Join the Discussion! What do you think—does rhetoric give true power, or is it just a tool used by those in control? Drop your thoughts in the comments! 🔥 Don’t Forget to Like & Subscribe! 🔥 If you enjoyed this video, make sure to hit that 👍 LIKE button and SUBSCRIBE for more deep dives into rhetoric, philosophy, and English studies. 🔔 Turn on notifications so you never miss an upload! #Plato #Gorgias #Rhetoric #Philosophy #Socrates #RhetoricAndComposition #EnglishStudies #DrBobby

🎙️ Plato’s Gorgias: A Rhetorical Cage Match 🎙️

Hello, everyone! I’m Dr. Bobby, the Best Assistant Professor Who Never Was, and today we’re diving into Plato’s Gorgias! 🏛️

Plato—NOT to be confused with Play-Doh—was a Greek philosopher whose writings shaped philosophy and rhetoric, even though his student, Aristotle, would later surpass him. But here’s the twist: whenever Plato wrote, he did so through Socrates! 🤯

In Gorgias, Socrates goes head-to-head with Gorgias, Callicles, Chaerephon, and Polus in a battle of wit and persuasion. What is rhetoric? What is its purpose? Is it an art, a craft, or something else entirely? As Socrates challenges Gorgias' definition of rhetoric, we explore the complexities of persuasion, argumentation, and philosophy itself.

Join me as we break down this ancient intellectual showdown, visualizing it as a philosophical cage match 🎤💥 (with a little help from Spider-Man and Bill & Ted along the way)!

📖 Key Topics in This Video: ✔️ Who was Plato, and why did he write as Socrates? ✔️ The significance of Gorgias in rhetorical tradition ✔️ Socrates’ argument strategies & the Socratic Method ✔️ The challenge of defining rhetoric—then and now ✔️ Ancient Greek oral culture vs. modern communication

🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit that notification bell so you don’t miss the next deep dive into rhetoric and philosophy!

💬 Question of the Day: What do YOU think rhetoric is? A persuasive tool? A form of art? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!

#Plato #Gorgias #Rhetoric #Philosophy #Socrates #AncientGreece #SocraticMethod #Persuasion #DrBobby

What is a Sophist? How does Isocrates critique them, and what does that mean for education today? 🤔📖 In this episode, Dr. Bobby, The Best Assistant Professor Who Never Was, unpacks Isocrates’ Against the Sophists from The Rhetorical Tradition (3rd Ed.) and explores its implications for rhetoric, pedagogy, and the role of educators in shaping knowledge.

📌 In this video, we explore: ✅ How Isocrates defines and criticizes Sophists ✅ The differences between Sophists, philosophers, and rhetoricians ✅ Modern parallels—what ranks exist for today’s professors? ✅ The importance of modeling, originality, and ability in education ✅ Why we should reconsider who we listen to in academia

Isocrates saw education as more than just earning a degree—it was about learning how to discover and think critically. But should we still be Against the Sophists today? Or is there room for those who challenge the norm? 🤨

Let’s talk rhetoric! Like, subscribe, and hit the bell 🔔 for more deep dives into rhetorical history, writing, and education.

#Rhetoric #Isocrates #AgainstTheSophists #Education #Philosophy #DrBobby

Research isn’t about finding what we expect—it’s about discovering what we didn’t know we needed. 🧐📚 In this episode, Dr. Bobby, The Best Assistant Professor Who Never Was, dives into the research process, using Spaceballs (1987) to highlight how knowledge builds upon itself in surprising ways! 🚀🎬

📌 In this video, we explore: ✅ Why no idea is truly original ✅ How research connects what’s known with what we want to know ✅ What happens when research leads us somewhere unexpected ✅ Why flexibility is key to discovery

Like a meta-scene in Spaceballs, research can feel like watching now happen in real-time! But embracing the journey—wherever it leads—is what makes it so exciting.

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell 🔔 for more fun and insightful writing lessons with Dr. Bobby!

#Research #WritingTips #Spaceballs #Rhetoric #DrBobby #CriticalThinking

Revision isn’t just fixing typos—it’s about seeing our work with fresh eyes and making meaningful changes. 📝🔍 In this episode, Dr. Bobby, the best Assistant Professor Who Never Was, breaks down the revision process using the multiple endings of Clue (1985)! 🎭🔪

📌 In this video, we cover: ✅ What revision really means in writing ✅ How Clue (1985) demonstrates different outcomes while keeping core elements intact ✅ Why revision is about refining ideas, not starting over from scratch

By examining how Clue’s three endings alter details while preserving key elements, we can better understand how to revise our own work without losing what makes it strong.

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell 🔔 for more insightful writing lessons with Dr. Bobby!

#WritingTips #Revision #ClueMovie #Rhetoric #DrBobby #EssayWriting

Ever wondered how a strong counterargument works? In this episode, Dr. Bobby, “the best Assistant Professor Who Never Was,” breaks down counterarguments using Return of the Jedi! 🌌✨

📌 In this video, we cover: ✅ What makes a counterargument effective ✅ How Obi-Wan Kenobi responds to Luke’s challenge about Darth Vader ✅ Why anticipation, addressing objections, and overcoming them are key

🎬 Featuring the iconic scene where Obi-Wan explains “a certain point of view,” this lesson dives into how counterarguments work and why Audience Awareness is essential in persuasion.

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell 🔔 for more engaging rhetoric lessons with Dr. Bobby!

#StarWars #Counterargument #ReturnOfTheJedi #Rhetoric #Persuasion #DrBobby