Exam tips for masters (2nd Year) Tas Rhetorical analysis of the text (scheme)

Combination-In a longer text, the writer/speaker may employ both strategies.

Division and Classification –Classification separates items into major categories and details the characteristics of each group and why each member of that group is placed within the category. The author divides a whole into parts or sort s related items into categories.

Causal Analysis (Cause/Effect) - Analyzes why something happens and describes the consequences of a string of events. It establishes a relationship: B is the result of A. It can emphasize the causes, the effects, or both.  It can detail a single cause with many effects, or several causes with a single effect, or any combination.  Depending on his or her purpose, the writer can choose to present the most important idea in the beginning, middle, or the end. In some cases, the successful writer of a cause and effect essay anticipates and addresses reader objections and/or questions.

Argumentation (Mode of Discourse)-Convincing others through reasoning. Is the writer trying to explain aspects of a particular subject, or is he/she trying to advocate a specific opinion on this subject or issue in the essay? Type of writing in which the author argues a position on a particular issue. Takes a position on an issue and defends it.

Argumentation strategies: argument from analogy; thought experiments; argument from absurdity; inference to the best explanation.
According to Gray, there are various argument strategies used in writing. He describes four of these and gives examples found within philosophical literature.

Argument from analogy

This strategy compares two different things to emphasize their relevant similarities. For instance, the actions of kicking and punching could be described as analogous – similar violent physical attacks on another person, even though one is using feet, the other fists.

Thought experiments

These are imagined situations that can be used to illustrate a point, perhaps to prove a theory to be inconsistent. An example of such a thought experiment was when Aristotle mistakenly assumed that heavier objects would fall faster than lighter ones, and thinking so, concluded that it must therefore be true. The point of this example is that it might seem logical to have that belief, but we know that it is not true.

Argument from absurdity

This strategy is used either to provide evidence to disprove a belief or argument, or to prove the truth of something when to deny it would be absurd. An example might be if someone were to argue that if all humans are mammals and all humans are animals, then all animals are mammals. Whilst the two ideas are correct, the conclusion isn’t.

Inference to the best explanation

In this strategy, all viable explanations are considered and contrasted to determine the most likely to be true. Strengths and weaknesses of each may be considered to see which is best. However, merely inferring which explanation is the best is insufficient proof, because it may be that other explanations are plausible. Nonetheless, an inference to the best explanation could be helpful even so. An example of inference to the best explanation is the view that germs cause disease. Even though in the days before germs could be seen by using microscopes, they were thought to exist and to be the cause, so doctors routinely sterilized instruments and washed their hands, going some way to proving the hypothesis.