The Office of Assertion

Of Crider's three suggestions for improving diction, which one are you likely to follow? Explain.

"If you must use a thesaurus, use it with a dictionary"; mostly because I use thesauri a lot LOL

List at least 5 key points made in section 3.14 that might prove useful later on.

1. A paragraph must represent one thing coherently. 2. Repeat important terms 3. Employ unambiguous pronoun references 4. Join clauses with subordinate conjunctions and conjunctive adverbs

According to Crider, what four rules should guide the choice of diction? Briefly explain each.

1. Appropriate: determined by audience 2. Precise: synonymous words should not be confused 3. Concise: wordiness should be avoided 4. Vivid: select verbs that replace 'to be' verbs

On top of content and style, what must you do to produce "professional" essays? List three things, and be specific!

1. Edit it until it is letter-perfect 2. Format it correctly 3. Printed clearly/darkly on good paper

List the first 3 parts of classical oration, and briefly describe/explain each part.

1. Introduction: establishes subject and draws readers in 2. Statement of Circumstance: background info the reader needs to understand the argument 3. Outline: lets the reader know the shape of the essay before diving in

List the second 3 parts of classical oration, and briefly describe/explain each part.

4. Proof: demonstrates truth of an argument 5. Refutation: presupposes a counter-argument and argues it to make case stronger 6. Conclusion: leads reader out of the essay

What must a thesis be?

A clear proposition that gives the essay coherency

What's the difference between a dictionary definition and a "stipulative" definition?

A dictionary def. is fact and objectively true, while a stipulative definition is true subjectively, and based on what the rhetor wants the reader to think

Explain the meaning of a "language citizen."

A person empowered by his/her use of rhetoric

What are the advantages and disadvantages of "trying to write it right the first time"?

Advantages: quickly, less uncertainty Disadvantages: more pressure on things running smoothly; need to get it right prevents actual thought processes

Crider says that "arguments presuppose __." Why do students have a hard time accepting this assertion?

Counter-arguments; they believe that encountering arguments against their own will weaken their argument

Briefly define the three types of syllogisms.

Definition: two parts- the genus the object falls within and the second is the differentiae that distinguish the object from other different objects that fall into the same genus Comparison: share a genus but do not share all of the same differentiae Relationship: relates X and Y casually

In your own words, explain what it means to write in the "Middle Style."

High style ideas but written more lucidly

Even beyond the academic essay, what is the benefit of understanding the art of rhetoric?

Higher intellectual power and freedom from one's own ignorances

Complete the following sentences: __ is WHAT you argue __ is what ORDER you argue __ is HOW you argue

Invention, Organization, Style

According to Crider, why is the academic essay worthy of a student's serious contemplation?

It is one of the most intellectual, emotional, and spiritual experiences shared between teacher and student

Why is testimony so important to academic writing?

It persuades the reader to believe one's proposition about the text under investigation by persuading the reader that the proposition accords with the work

Using the passage from the Declaration of Independence (p. 24), write the major and minor premises as well as the conclusion.

Major: all men are created equal Minor: we are men Conclusion: we are equal

Complete the following sentence, then paraphrase: "The sentence through its __ of __ is a force adding itself to the world, and therefore, the man clever with his sentences... was regarded with that __ we feel in the presence of __."

Office, Assertion, Uneasiness, Power; A man who uses his words wisely is powerful and therefore makes others shifty.

In your own words, explain Crider's claim that "one does not always argue in the same way regardless of circumstances."

One must accommodate variables

What does Crider say about spelling?

One should be able to, or at least use spell check/dictionary

What do fresh, original metaphors do for rhetoric, according to Crider?

Propose something in a new light to the reader

What does Crider say about in-class essays?

Read, outline, write, then edit if there is time

What is the difference between revising and editing?

Revising is doing the work itself while editing is cleaning up after major work is done

Crider would have us think of rhetors in a new and more elevated light. In 30 words or less, summarize him.

Rhetoric educates others in the liberty of helping shape the world

What is the difference between "rhetoric" and "sophistry"?

Rhetoric is persuasion and sophism is persuading one to believe a fallacy

Why must an academic paper contain synthesis as well as analysis?

So that the reader understands the information is true globally; the argument makes sense in its totality

What is wrong with the standard 5 paragraph essay?

The rules are results of thought, so not much reflection is required

In your own words, explain the meaning of "immanent design."

The shape of the argument that best fits the situation

What does the conclusion allow for that is seldom allowed elsewhere?

The writer may express an opinion without proving i

How is the map analogy helpful in the understanding of focus in an essay assignment?

They both require focus and accuracy ????

According to Crider, in what respect are teachers "far too lenient"?

They separate punctuation and ideas; give credit to ideas and not punctuation

What rules govern summaries as conclusions?

They should be accurate and brief.

Crider asserts that "students write better when..." Why do you think this is probably true?

They write about difficult and important texts; more developed literature leads to more developed ideas

Socrates said that "the unexamined life is not worth living." How does rhetoric cause us to examine our lives?

We have to look for reasons to believe things rather than immediately believe what we hear

In your own words, what is the meaning of "rhetoric" and how has its meaning in modern culture been misconstrued?

Writing with a true persuasive purpose; it is any writing at all

What is "ethos" according to Crider?

Your personality through rhetoric

What rhetorical technique does Crider use to explain analysis and synthesis? How is this technique helpful to you, the reader?

articulate point; quote a passage; relate passage and point

Crider asserts that "subordination allows for greater possibilities of meaning than coordination." Explain, in your own words, why this is so.

it elaborates on the independent clause

What is an "elliptical syllogism" or "enthymeme"?

leaves out a premise that is typically general knowledge or already known to the reader

Complete the sentence, then explain what Crider means: "A rhetor who attends to __ and __ will be a better leader of souls toward any subject at hand because grammar discloses something constitutive of the world itself: everything has __, __, and/or __."

nouns, verbs, being, motion, relation; the more attention one pays to nouns and verbs, the more powerful sentences can be

What is the best way to cultivate your "public individuality"?

the classical rhetorical tradition

When Crider uses the term "period", he is speaking of more than a mark of punctuation. To what does "period" also refer?

the formatting of a sentence to emphasize and assertion