ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on two pressing issues facing scholars of apologetic rhetoric-what we talk about and what we do not talk about. I begin this chapter by providing an overview of apologetic rhetoric research, including two diverging approaches-apologia theory as a means of image repair and apologies as part of reconciliation and healing. In the second part of this chapter, I explore what we do not talk about-that is, the gaps and limitations of our current understanding of apologetic rhetoric. In doing so, I argue that we lack research focused on female non-Western apologists, as well as delivery methods such as new media and business or technical documents. Finally, I offer suggestions for future studies of apologia, image repair strategies, and reconciliatory apologies.
