Monday, February 20, 2012

Chapter 7: Structuring Arguments

In chapter 7, the the author discusses how to structure arguments just as the chapter is titled. As we read we are introduced to two different types of reasoning both inductive and deductive but are the main types and usually work well together. As we reach "The Classical Oration" section, we find out that elements of the classical oration still influence our attitudes toward persuasion because the oration taught speakers and writers to think of arguments as debates that have winners and losers.
The Six parts of The Oration:
Exordium: The speaker tries to win the attention and goodwill of an audience while introducing a subject or problem.
Narratio: The speaker presents the facts of the case, explaining what happened when, who is involved and so on.
Partitio: The speaker divides up the subject explaining what the claim is, what the key issues are and in what order the subject will be treated.
Confirmatio: The speaker offers detailed support for the claim using both logical reasoning and factual evidence.
Refutatio: The speaker acknowledges and then refutes opposing claims or evidence
Peroratio: The speaker summarizes the case and moves the audience to action.

Inductive Reasoning: the process of generalization on the basis of a number of specific examples.
Deductive Reasoning: Reaching a conclusion by assuming a general principle and then applying that principle to a specific case.

In this chapter something that caught my attention was the two types of reasoning. After reading their definitions I was definitely able to relate to both types of reasoning and no wonder why the book says they work hand in hand. First we have to inductively assume a general idea in order to deductively use it in other situations just as the book example shows us. After reading the examples, it only makes sense that we will generalize based on a number of examples and then apply that to a case to which it applies to because we have learned from before and if that generalization applies then we will of course use it. 

Example (Inductive)
"I get hives after eating crawdads
My mouth swells up when I eat clams.
Shrimp triggers my asthma" 
So in general we can say that shellfish makes me ill. 

Example (Deductive)

"Shellfish makes me ill.
Lobster is a type of shellfish."

Therefore I will be ill if I eat lobster.