RESEARCH
OVERVIEW
My scholarship explores the intersections of rhetoric, writing, and professional communication with pedagogy, digital media, cultural studies, and women’s issues. I’m especially interested in bringing attention to rhetorical traditions that are often overlooked and considering how they speak to the challenges we face today.
My scholarship explores the intersections of rhetoric, writing, and professional communication with pedagogy, digital media, cultural studies, and women’s issues. I’m especially interested in bringing attention to rhetorical traditions that are often overlooked and considering how they speak to the challenges we face today.
Rhetoric may be defined as the faculty of observing in any given case the available means of persuasion. This is not a function of any other art. Every other art can instruct or persuade about its own particular subject-matter; for instance, medicine about what is healthy and unhealthy, geometry about the properties of magnitudes, arithmetic about numbers, and [so on]. But rhetoric we look upon as the power of observing the means of persuasion on almost any subject presented to us.
~ Aristotle, Rhetoric, Book I - Part II
My work has appeared in journals such as The Journal for the History of Rhetoric and Studies in Popular Culture, where one of my articles received a Best Article Award. I’ve also contributed to major collections like Global Rhetorical Traditions and The Routledge Handbook of Comparative World Rhetorics, and co-edited a book on online writing pedagogy that has helped educators adapt to digital learning spaces. Right now, I’m working on a monograph, Rhetoric at the Crossroads of Civilizations, for a leading university press.
Embracing a globally inclusive approach to rhetorical studies enables us to transcend conventional paradigms and welcome a variety of cultural communication practices. Only then can we genuinely cultivate respect and advocate for equality across races, religions, and nationalities.
~ Hazel E. Guler
Over the years, I’ve shared my work at the conferences of major organizations like The Rhetoric Society of America
and Conference on College Composition and Communication, where I’ve enjoyed leading sessions and workshops that spark new ideas and conversations. From 2021 to 2024, I also served as Chair of the Global and Non-Western Rhetorics Standing Group, where I focused on creating spaces for collaboration, organizing events, and connecting scholars who are passionate about global approaches to rhetoric.
and Conference on College Composition and Communication, where I’ve enjoyed leading sessions and workshops that spark new ideas and conversations. From 2021 to 2024, I also served as Chair of the Global and Non-Western Rhetorics Standing Group, where I focused on creating spaces for collaboration, organizing events, and connecting scholars who are passionate about global approaches to rhetoric.
How my scholarship informs my work as a Consultant and Educator in Rhetoric, Writing & Communication:
- Audience-Centered Communication: My work on global and non-Western rhetorics emphasizes the importance of understanding cultural differences when crafting messages for diverse audiences.
- Content Strategy & Messaging: Publications on historical texts and gendered rhetoric showcase my expertise in creating meaningful, contextually relevant content that resonates with specific audiences.
- Public Diplomacy & Leadership Communication: By studying political rhetorics and leadership speeches, my work ties directly into how communication strategies can influence public opinion, foster social change, and promote leadership, all vital aspects of strategic communication.
Areas of research: civic & professional communication, global & non-Western rhetorics, identity construction, popular culture, rhetorical criticism, speech analysis, Turkic/Turkish rhetorical traditions, women’s studies, visual rhetoric, and writing pedagogy.
PUBLICATIONS
"International Political Rhetorics Across Borders" (with Stephen Dadugblor et al.). Constellations: A Cultural Rhetorics Publishing Space, Issue 6, 2024.
"Exploring the Rhetorical Perspectives in Yusuf Has Hacib's Kutadgu Bilig." Global Rhetorical Traditions, ed. by Tarez Graban and Hui Wu, Parlor Press, October 2022.
"Prefatory Introduction: Turkish Rhetorics." Global Rhetorical Traditions, ed. by Tarez Graban and Hui Wu, Parlor Press, October 2022.
"An Annotated Bibliography of Global and Non-Western Rhetorics," ed. by Anne Melfi, Nicole Khoury, and Tarez Graban). Present Tense: A Journal of Rhetoric in Society, vol. 9, 2020. *Included in the Best of the Journals in Rhetoric and Composition.
"An Overview of Kut and Töre as the Pillars of the Turkish Rhetorical Tradition." The Routledge Handbook of Comparative World Rhetorics: Studies in the History, Application, and Teaching of Rhetoric Beyond Traditional Greco-Roman Contexts (ed. by Keith Lloyd). New York: Routledge, 2020, pp. 106-115.
“Turkish Rhetoric at the Intersections of Three Seminal Texts.” Diversifying the Teaching of the History of Rhetoric Series - The American Society for the History of Rhetoric (2019). <https://ashr.org/teaching-resources/diversifying-teaching/turkish-rhetoric-three-formative-texts>
“Understanding Turkish Rhetoric in the Intertextuality of Two Seminal Texts: The Orkhon Inscriptions and Ataturk’s Nutuk” (with I. Goksel). The Journal for the History of Rhetoric, vol. 22 no. 2, 2019. 194-207.
“The Symbolic Restoration of Women’s Place in Turkey’s Resurrection.” Studies in Popular Culture, vol. 40, no. 2, 2018. 95-113. *Best Article Award Winner (Popular Culture Association in the South)
“Teaching a Non-Western Text for Global Rhetoric and Civic Action in the U.S. Writing Classroom” (with I. Goksel). Reflections - A Journal of Community Engaged Writing and Rhetoric, vol. 17, no. 2, 2017. 69-94. 🎼 Listen to my podcast on this study!
Foundational Practices in Online Writing Instruction [book] (Assoc. Editor with Beth Hewett and Kevin DePew). Anderson, SC: Parlor Press, 2015.
Textualizing the Nation: The Sociopolitical Negotiation of Ataturk's "Nutuk" and Visions of National Identity in Contemporary Turkey. Old Dominion University, 2012.
“Blogs, Collaboration and Assessment” (with Carl Whithaus, et al). Collaborating, Literature and Composition: Essays for Teachers and Writers of English. Eds. Frank Gaughan and Peter Khost. Cresskill, NJ: Hampton Press, 2007. 173-190.
Selected Conference Presentations:
“Teaching Rhetorical Transcendence through Non-Western Texts.” The Conference on College Composition and Communication, Chicago, IL, February 2023.
“The Rhetoric of Genre in Ancient and Medieval Turkic Texts of Central Asia.” The 2022 Rhetoric Society of America Conference, Baltimore, MD, May 2022.
“Reconceptualizing Rhetoric through a Non-Western Heuristic based on Ancient and Medieval Turkic Texts.” The Conference on College Composition and Communication (virtual), March 2022.
"Tracing Turkic Rhetorical Traditions at the Crossroads of Civilizations." National Communication Association (virtual), November 2020.
"The Sultanate of Women: Portraying the Rhetoric of the Mighty Mother, Mahpeyker Kosem Sultan." Feminisms and Rhetoric Conference, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA, November 2019.
"Rhetoric for Divine Bliss." Arts and Humanities Conference, International Institute of Social and Economic Sciences, Copenhagen, Denmark, June 2019 (*Opening Session Chair)
"Recovering Turkish Principles of ‘How to Perform Rhetoric’ from Yusuf’s Wisdom of Royal Glory." The Conference on College Composition and Communication, Pittsburgh, PA, March 2019.
“The Rhetorical Understanding of Agency in The Wisdom of Royal Glory and its Implications for the Contemporary World.” The International Conference on Global Studies, Barcelona, Spain, July 2018.
“A Framework for Examining Non-Western Discursive Practices and Extracting Rhetorical Insights from The Turkish Rhetorical Tradition,” American Society for the History of Rhetoric Symposium, Minneapolis, MN, May 2018.
“What Yusuf Has Hacib’s Kutadgu Bilig Can Teach Us About Using Language for Unity.” The Rhetoric Society of Europe Conference, Norwich, UK, July 2017.
“Rhetoric as the Study of Finding Happiness.” Conference on College Composition and Communication, Portland, OR, March 2016.
“Baby Steps in the Hybrid: Negotiating the Risks of the Lack of Institutional Training in the Distance-Based Writing Classroom.” Conference on College Composition and Communication, Tampa, FL, March 2015.
“Eat, Travel, Practice Rhetoric: Improving Student Engagement in Rhetoric Courses.” The Rhetoric Society of America Conference, San Antonio, TX, May 2014.
“Rhetorical Identities: Reconstructing the Self and the Nation in Contemporary Turkish Political Discourse.” The Rhetoric Society of America Conference, San Antonio, TX, May 2014.
“Rhetorics of the Headscarf: Redefining Islamic Piety.” Stanford University, Stanford, CA, September 2013.
“Being the Student’s Voice and Encouraging by Example in the Distance Classroom.” Faculty Summer Institute on Teaching and Learning, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, 2013.
“Reformer or Distorter: The Personal-Communal Identity Gap as a Source of Conflict in a Public Controversy around Modern Turkish Identity.” The National Communication Association Conference, Orlando, FL, Nov. 2012.
“The Hidden Address: The Rhetorical Construction of Ataturk’s Nutuk as a Sacred Text in Contemporary Turkey.” The Rhetoric Society of America Conference, Philadelphia, PA, May 2012.
“The Social Negotiation of the ‘Kemalist Text’ and its Implications for ‘Modern’ Turkish Identity.” The Rhetoric Society of America Conference, Minneapolis, MN, May 2010.
“The Self of Nations: The Social Economy of Texts and Visions of National Identity in Contemporary Turkey.” The National Communication Association Conference, Chicago, IL, November 2009.
“Choosing to Veil and its Implications for Women’s Identities in Contemporary Turkey: A Communication Theory of Identity Approach.” The Southern States Communication Association Conference, Norfolk, VA, April 2009.
“Science and Reason in the Public Discourse of Kemalism: A Pentadic Analysis of Ataturk’s Speech on the 10th Anniversary of the Turkish Republic.” The Rhetoric Society of America Conference, Seattle, WA, May 2008. *Graduate Scholarly Paper Award Winner (The International English Honor Society).
“Literacy and Affordances in Different Writing Systems: The Transition of Turkish from the Arabic Script to the Latin Alphabet.” Intercultural Rhetoric Conference (Indiana Center for Intercultural Communication), The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, June 2007.
“Orientalist Rhetoric and its Paradoxical Role in Representing Turkey’s Identity (The Visual Rhetoric in Turkey’s Tourism Commercials, 2003)” (Self-Designed Academic Poster). Research Expo 2007, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, April 2007.
Invited Presentations:
Regular Speaker on "Professional Writing" as a field of English studies, Introduction to English Studies (multiple course sections), Longwood University, 2015-2022.
"Turkish Women," Intro to Women’s Studies, Longwood University, Oct 24, 2016.
"Turkish Culture and People", Cross-Cultural Psychology, Longwood U, Mar 2, 2016.
“Thinking about Careers,” National Association of Graduate Professional Students - Southeast Regional Conference, Norfolk, VA, March 2014.
“Career Development in the Writing Classroom,” teachFAIR: Sharing Success Stories and Innovation, Center for Learning and Teaching at ODU, Norfolk, VA, Oct 29, 2013.
“Rhetoric & Composition,” Introduction to English Studies, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, April 17, 2013.
“Translating Culture,” Discourse & Rhetoric Across Cultures, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, March 26, 2013.
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