Proposal for Topic and Hypothesis of Final Paper

An idea for a topic for my paper is based of prompt number one. I would like to argue my own definition of Rhetoric that I have been creating all semester. My hypothesis would be that rhetoric is anything that’s primary function is to send a message. Things that do not attempt to send a message are not considered rhetorical in my eyes. It can be found anywhere and in anything.

I would need some help finding source material but I know Charles Bazerman has said “The study of how people use language and other symbols to realize human goals and carry out human activities…ultimately a practical study offering people great control over their symbolic activity.” Which speaks to the idea that rhetoric is goal and message oriented, i.e there is an end in mind whether conscious or subconscious when rhetoric is performed.