Written Communication Apr 2021

The Construction of Value in Science Research Articles: A Quantitative Study of Topoi Used in Introductions

Michael Carter North Carolina State University

Abstract

Scholars in the field of writing and rhetorical studies have long been interested in professional writing and the ways in which experts frame their research for disciplinary audiences. Three decades ago, rhetoricians incorporated stasis theory into their work as a way to explore the nature of argument and persuasion in scientific discourse. However, what is missing in these general arguments based on stasis are the particular arguments in science texts aimed at persuasion. Specifically, this article analyzes arguments from the stasis of value in introductions of science research articles. This work is grounded in the Classical topoi, or topics, cataloging types of arguments and identifying seven topoi. I analyzed 60 introductions from articles in three different science journals, totaling the number of value arguments and arguments comprising the topoi. Findings yielded different proportions in types of arguments, sharp disparities among the journals, and widespread use of value arguments. The broader issue at work in this article is how scientists make a case for the importance of their research and how these findings might inform writing and argumentation in the sciences.

Journal
Written Communication
Published
2021-04-01
DOI
10.1177/0741088320983364
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Topics
classical rhetoric rhetorical criticism discourse analysis argument professional writing quantitative research
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Citation Context

Cited by in this index (4)

  1. DeJeu (2024)
    Topoi of Nonprofit Proposal Writing
    Business and Professional Communication Quarterly
  2. DeJeu (2023)
    The Topoi of Small Business Entrepreneurship
    Written Communication
  3. Banting (2023)
    Humanistic Knowledge-Making and the Rhetoric of Literary Criticism: Special Top…
    Written Communication
  4. Gordon et al. (2022)
    Masked Meanings: COVID-19 and the Subversion of Stasis Hierarchy
    Rhetoric Review

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