6 Part Oration

Exordium

• the introduction of an essay or speech meant to draw the audience into the speech. Think of the exordium as a spider's web - the audience as a bug - the exordium draws the reader into the argument - it makes the reader want to stick around.

Refutatio (Refutation)

• the part of an essay or speech in which the speaker or writer anticipates objections to the points raised and counters them. The refutation considers what objections people might raise, then it explains how these objections can either be accommodated or dismissed.

Confirmatio (Confirmation)

• the part of an essay or speech in which the speaker or writer offers proof or demonstration of the central idea. The confirmation gives all of the arguments/reasoning/evidence the writer can offer in support of the central claim. Supporting evidence should follow the ICE model.

Narratio (Narration)

• the part of an essay or speech in which the speaker provides important background information on the topic. The narration provides a brief background on the topic; in argumentation, think of the narration as a reporting of the status-quo-thinking (sqt), what the "word on the street" is - what people generally think about the topic.

Partito/Divisio (Partition/Division)

• the part of an essay or speech where the speaker divides the main topic into parts. Here the rhetor considers all of the things he could talk about, but narrows to his specific focus - what he really wants to talk about.

Peroratio (Peroration)

• the part of speech in which the speaker or writer draws together the entire argument and includes material designed to compel the audience to think or act in a way consonant with the central argument. The peroration is a conclusion - it needs 1) to sound like a conclusion and 2) to answer the questions: "so what? How are we all better for having considered this?" and 3) to present a "call to action" if appropriate.