Second Rhetoric Exam

Diagramming arguments

·        You should be able to describe the general process of diagramming (indicator words, numbering the statements, sort into premises and conclusions, link with arrows in a diagram)

·        Independent and linked support

Categorical Statements

·        Form of the statements

·        Testing validity with Venn diagrams

·        Categorical syllogisms

Inductive generalizations

·        Factors that determine strength of inductive generalizations

·        Sample size (absolute and relative)

·        Sample representativeness

·        Random sampling

·        Margin of error

·        Opinion polls

·        Evaluating arguments from analogy

·        Truth, relevance, number, diversity, disanalogy

Probability

·        Epistemic

·        Relative frequency

·        A priori

Language

·        John Locke and language as a social agreement

·        General Disputes vs. Merely Verbal Disputes vs. Apparently Verbal Disputes

·        Language problems, including vagueness, over generalities, ambiguity

·        Definitions: Lexical, Stipulative, Precising , Theoretical, Persuasive

·        Extension vs. Intension and Denotative and Connotative Definitions (genus and differences)

Levels of analysis

·        Author (including actual and implied)

·        Intention (author and textual)

·        Deliberation vs. bargaining

·        Audience (actual, intended, implied)

Aristotle’s methods of persuasion

·        Ethos

·        Pathos

·        Logos (including cognitive dissonance)

Political rhetoric

·        Difficulties for analysis