Bio

What is the Role of Rhetoric in the Real World?

I have been a Lecturer in the Program in Writing and Rhetoric (PWR) at Stanford since 1997. PWR is an integral part of the Stanford Introductory Studies curriculum, which is housed in the Office of the Vice-Provost for Undergraduate Education. Prior to Stanford, I was Assistant Professor in the Departments of English at Santa Clara University and Rhetoric, Communications, and Journalism at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan. My academic career began as Lecturer in the English Department at Wayne State University while I was completing graduate studies in English Language and Literature at The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

My PWR classes address the question posed above (What is the Role of Rhetoric in the Real World?) in a variety of philosophical and pragmatic ways as a means of situating the role of rhetoric within the digital age. Students in PWR provide lively engagement with the question as well as a startling variety of real-world responses through their writing and projects. My recent class themes include "Supreme Court Rhetoric," "Political Photography," and "Calling All Astronauts: The World of R. Buckminster Fuller." Please see Publications for a glimpse into my research inquiries on composition theory and practice as well as the history of rhetoric.

Research Interests: Rhetoric of Law, Policy, Politics; Political Photography;
Communication Theory and Practice; Imagination and Innovation.

Academic Appointments

  • Lecturer, Stanford Introductory Studies - Program in Writing and Rhetoric

Administrative Appointments

  • Co-Chair, Curriculum Committee, Program in Writing and Rhetoric (2015 - 2016)

Honors & Awards

  • Program in Writing and Rhetoric Research Grant(s), Stanford University (2012; 2011)
  • ACLS Research Travel Grant, American Council of Learned Societies (1995)
  • SCU Faculty Research Grant, Santa Clara University (1995)
  • SCU Faculty Teaching Grant, Santa Clara University (1993)
  • NEH Summer Seminar(s) Participant, National Endowment for the Humanities (1993; 1988; 1981)
  • SCU Presidential Research Award(s), Santa Clara University (1991; 1990)
  • NEH Travel to Collections Grant, National Endowment for the Humanities (1990)
  • Project Scottish Enlightenment Fellow (IPSE), Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities, University of Edinburgh (1986)
  • NEH Summer Stipend, National Endowment for the Humanities (1986)

Contact

  • pbator@stanford.edu
    University - Academic staff Department: Program in Writing and Rhetoric Position: Lecturer
    • Sweet Hall 328A
    • PWR 3rd floor Office
    • Stanford,  California  94305-2087 
    (650) 723-0631 (fax)

Current Research and Scholarly Interests

SPECIALIZATION: Rhetoric of Law; Policy; Politics; Political Photography; Communication Theory and Practice; Imagination and Innovation

All Publications

  • "The Entrance of the Novel into the Scottish Universities" The Scottish Invention of English Literature Bator, P. G. edited by Crawford, R. Cambridge University Press. 1998: 89–102
  • "The D. [avid] B.[aynes] Horn Collection: Unpublished Papers on the History of the University of Edinburgh." Rhetoric Society Quarterly Bator, P. G. 1996; 26: 69-83
  • "The University of Edinburgh Belles Lettres Society (1759-64) and the Rhetoric of the Novel" Rhetoric Review Bator, P. G. 1996; 14: 280-98
  • Rhetoric and then novel in the 18th-century British university curriculum EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY STUDIES BATOR, P. G. 1996; 30 (2): 173-195

    View details for Web of Science ID A1996WE48900004

  • THE UNPUBLISHED RHETORIC LECTURES OF WATSON,ROBERT, PROFESSOR OF LOGIC, RHETORIC AND METAPHYSICS AT THE UNIVERSITY-OF-ST-ANDREWS, 1756-1778 RHETORICA-A JOURNAL OF THE HISTORY OF RHETORIC BATOR, P. G. 1994; 12 (1): 67-113

    View details for Web of Science ID A1994PD07100003

  • “Carl Rogers and the Teaching of Composition and Rhetoric" Rogerian Perspectives: Collaborative Rhetoric for Oral and Written Communication Bator, P. G. edited by Teich, N. Ablex, Norwood, NJ. 1992: 219–35
  • THE FORMATION OF THE REGIUS CHAIR OF RHETORIC AND BELLES LETTRES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF SPEECH BATOR, P. G. 1989; 75 (1): 40-64

    View details for Web of Science ID A1989T494300003

  • THE GOOD REASONS MOVEMENT, A CONFOUNDING OF DIALECTIC AND RHETORIC PHILOSOPHY AND RHETORIC BATOR, P. G. 1988; 21 (1): 38-47

    View details for Web of Science ID A1988M248900003

  • THE PRINCIPLE OF SYMPATHY IN CAMPBELL PHILOSOPHY OF RHETORIC QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF SPEECH BATOR, P. G. 1982; 68 (4): 418-424

    View details for Web of Science ID A1982PS80900005

  • "Aristotelian and Rogerian Rhetoric" College Composition and Communication Bator, P. G. 1980; 31: 427-432
  • "The Rhetoric of Robert Watson, St. Andrews University" Eighteenth Century British and American Rhetorical Theory Bator, P. G. edited by Moran, M. G. Greenwood Press, Westport CT. 1994: 245–59
  • “A Comment on ‘Young, Becker and Pike’s Rogerian Rhetoric: A Twenty-year Reassessment’” College English Bator, P. 1992; 54: 85-87