Definitional Arguments
The literal meaning of the word without a lot of subjectivity or context
What is denotation?
What is exemplification?
A work of non-fiction that provides key background information, definitions, and major sources
What is a reference work?
Revision based on argument style and sophistication, engagement with sources, ethical use of sources and citations, clear sense of audience and purpose, logical argument, genre
What are higher-order concerns?
A visual used to synthesize research and present it in a clear, accessible format for an audience
What is an infographic?
Considers the feelings and contexts surrounding the word; recognizes that words evolve and evoke meanings that change over time and in different social groups.
What is connotation?
Description that is fact-based; it strives to focus on the “object” and remain as neutral as possible
What is objective description?
The system used by the Sojourner Truth Library (and most university libraries) to organize material by subject
What is the Library of Congress Classification?
Revision based on formatting, grammar, sentence structure, spelling
What are lower-order concerns?
Seizing the opportune moment for an argument
What is kairos?
Consider the ways that usage and context of words change over time
What are historical definitions?
Description that focuses on the position of the subject (I or me or you or we), so it is personal and interpretive
What is subjective description?
Kenneth Burke's explanation of research as an ongoing conversation that evolves over time and based on the arguments of the participants
What is the "parlor metaphor"?
A concept that views writing as a way of working through challenging ideas by engaging with the writing process
What is writing as thinking-on-paper?
Retaining juvenile characteristics into adulthood
What is neoteny?
The key values used in a definition (and an argument)
What are criteria?
What is sensory description?
The process of bringing sources into conversation with each other; it's like the writer serving as mediator and introducing each source with its examples and quotes as ideas to contribute to the discussion
What is synthesis?
A concept that views writing not as a product but as a learning process that can teach both author and audience
What is writing as knowledge-making?
A logical fallacy that involves attacking the person rather than the argument
What is ad hominem?
Definition by saying what something is not rather than what something is, highlights the definitional argument by contrast.
What is a negative definition?
The rhetorical concept of abundance, particularly relating to writing style at the sentence level
What is copia?
A simple structure for balancing the voices of the sources with the voice of the author and making sure the author analyzes each quote/example for the audience
What is they say/I say?
The process of reviewing one's writing with an eye toward clarifying the rhetorical situation in terms of argument (the higher-order concerns) and delivery (the lower-order concerns)
What is revision?
What is confirmation bias?