Blair describes rhetoric as a way in which individuals would use language of any type as a means to “produce good men who will speak (and write) well in the service of the community, whether it be for the pulpit, the bar, or the halls of legislature. Blair accentuates the need for rhetoric to be connected with “reason, human nature, the need to cultivate taste, and moral improvement,” “as a means to preserve classical goals amid changing social conditions and new developments in knowledge.”

Blair supports such assertions of rhetoric through lectures in which he states ”  we are prompted, by the strongest motives to study how we may communicate our thoughts to one another with most advantage.” To do so, Blair requires of orators, 5 things that he believes would enhance the effectiveness of his/her speech. Good character, knowledge of the subject, industriousness, good models, practice, and the study of rhetorical theory, according to Blair are essential to have and perfect in order to be an effective orator.

I believe Blair to be correct in his assertions that individuals do need such things to be effective. Such is still relevant today. When individuals display bad character, no knowledge of their subject matter, and aren’t well versed throughout their rhetoric, it essentially becomes ineffective. With much thought, of course their would be things to add to such essentials, but for now, I believe his ideas still hold true today.