Communication Center Journal 121 - Vol. 7, No. 1, 2021 - How Burke’s Terministic Screen Theory can Impact Peer Education Praxis in the Communication Center

Oct 15, 2026

Explores how Kenneth Burke’s terministic screen theory shapes peer education practices in communication center consultations. Frames terministic screens as rhetorical lenses formed through experience and language acquisition, influencing perception, bias, and the effectiveness of consultation dialogue. Uses peer education scholarship to argue that shared community membership strengthens rapport, while awareness of jargon and potential misunderstanding reduces barriers. Concludes that training and deliberate communication strategies help consultants foster cooperation, clarify terminology, and support learning outcomes.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages3

Reading Time8 min

AccessFree to download

How Terministic Screens Shape Peer Education

Terministic Screens as a Rhetorical Lens

Peer Education and Consultation Relationships

Bias, Jargon Barriers, and Miscommunication

Clarification Strategies and Training for Consultants

Communication Center Journal 121 Vol. 7, No. 1, 2021 How Burke’s Terministic Screen Theory can Impact Peer Education Praxis in the Communication Center Olivia King University of North Carolina-Greensboro Literary theorist and poet Kenneth Burke defines terministic screens as a rhetorical device that influences how individuals perceive and respond to a situation. In his book Language as Symbolic Action: Essays on Life, Literature, and Method, Burke (1966) provides an analogy about two photographs to explain this device: “They were different photographs of the same objects, the difference being that they were made with different color filters” (p. 45) . He goes on to explain that, with the different filters, different aspects of the object, such as texture and form, could be viewed (p. 45) . Terministic screens are a lens through which each individual looks at life, and are created through a person’s experiences and language acquisition. The language used for one group may not be the same for another. Each word has a symbolic meaning to a person and might mean something different to another person. For example, the medical jargon used by doctors with other doctors is not what should be used when they are conveying information to patients. As a consultant we need to use the language that best conveys our feedback to the speakers. Terministic screens interact in a Communication Center through the setbacks and benefits of peer education. Students are all influenced by terministic screens, and consultants must implement policies including them to do their job well and keep an open mind. Topping (1996) defines peer education, also referred to as peer tutoring, as “people from similar social groupings who are not professional teachers helping each other to learn and learning themselves by teaching”(p. 322) . This is the basis of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro’s University Speaking Center, for this practice allows for a stronger connection between the consultant and the speaker because both are a part of the same community and have similar experiences. Peer education has become a valuable tool in higher education; understanding how terministic screens operate within this system enables Speaking Centers faculty and consultants to strengthen how consultations are conducted. Within peer education, peers in the teaching role can be “less intimidating than professors, and students will share concerns with a peer educator more willingly than with a faculty member” (Latino & Unite, 2012, p. 33) . Despite this connection occurring between the consultant and the speaker, the consultant needs to be aware of their terministic screens because they create a foundation for bias. Everyone is biased and these biases occur because of a person’s experiences and environment. Burke (1966) asserts that “much that we take as observations about‘reality’may be but the spinning out of possibilities implicit in our particular choice of terms”(p. 46) . Essentially, Burke argues that the language we use Communication Center Journal 122 Vol. 7, No. 1, 2021 (crafted by our own experiences) shapeshow we perceive life and what goes on around us. In consultations, this could cause miscommunication and create a boundary between the consultant and the speaker. The language used by a consultant may not be perceived by the speaker the way that it was intended, and vice versa. Asking for clarification and approaching each consultation with an open mind helps decrease the possibility of establishing a boundary between the consultant and speaker. For example, to decrease the likelihood of a jargon barrier, consultants should provide the speaker with an explanation of terms that are being used, such as defining an attention getter or verbal fillers. Thoughthe use of jargon cultivated by terministic screens can provide much needed ethos for the consultant, Shook and Keup (2012) state that students need “positive peer influence in aca

FAQs

What are terministic screens in Burke’s theory?

They are rhetorical devices that shape how individuals perceive and respond to situations. They arise from a person’s experiences and language acquisition.

How do terministic screens affect communication center peer consultations?

Different language choices can be perceived differently by speakers and consultants, creating bias and potential miscommunication. Clarification and open-minded approaches help reduce these barriers.

Why does peer education improve consultation relationships?

Peer educators are often less intimidating than professors, and shared community membership helps speakers connect more readily. This supports clearer learning and stronger consultant-speaker rapport.

Oct 15, 2026

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