Randolph-Macon College English and Communication Studies Professor Ted Sheckels Jr. is the author of Rhetorical Criticism: Empowering the Exploration of “Texts” (Cognella Academic Publishing, 2018).

The book encourages students to analyze texts of various sorts—speeches, advertisements, memory sites, and more—to gain an understanding of what the text has to say and how it persuades or otherwise affects its audience. It also helps students build the skills required to easily and effectively practice rhetorical criticism.

“The book demonstrates how theory-based rhetorical criticism can be exciting and emphasizes that there are many diverse lenses through which to illuminate texts,” explains Sheckels, who also coaches RMC’s Franklin Debating Society. “It also explores different types of rhetorical criticism, including classical, The Chicago School, Burkean, fantasy theme, narrative, and constitutive.”

Ted Sheckels Jr.
Sheckels, who joined the RMC faculty in 1980, earned his B.S. from Duquesne University and his M.A. and Ph.D. from The Pennsylvania State University. Sheckels was the A.G. Ingram Professor of English from 2008-2011, and from 1987-2006 he served as director of the Summer Session. In May 2018 he was named the Charles J. Potts Professor in Social Science.

He has contributed numerous articles and book chapters to publications within his field and has published six books. His research interests include the political dimensions of Margaret Atwood’s fiction, presidential debates, and lesser-known political communicators from the 20th Century.