Written Communication Jan 2013

Common Topics and Commonplaces of Environmental Rhetoric

Derek G. Ross Auburn University

Abstract

Common topics are words or phrases used to develop argument, and commonplaces aid memory or catalyze frames of understanding. When used in argumentation, each may help interested parties more effectively communicate valuable scientific and environment-related information. This article describes 12 modern topics of environmental rhetoric, identified from 125 interviews, and discusses them in relation to their topical fluidity and managerial, generative, and encapsulated utility: “Al Gore,” “balance,” “common sense,” “environment as setting,” “experience,” “extremism,” “man’s achievements,” “pragmatism,” “proof,” “religion,” “recycling,” and “seeing is believing.” Findings suggest that “environment” is a complex topic with many potential implications—using topics common to environmental rhetoric to shape argumentation may facilitate more productive environment-related communication.

Journal
Written Communication
Published
2013-01-01
DOI
10.1177/0741088312465376
Open Access
Closed
Topics
multimodality argument

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (7)

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  2. Walsh (2013)
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