Written Communication Oct 1988

The Stases in Scientific and Literary Argument

JEANNE FAHNESTOCK ; MARIE SECOR

Abstract

This article explores the usefulness of identifying the stasis of an argument, that is, whether it concerns an issue of fact, definition, cause, value, or action. The stasis of an argument can be seen as a component that has to be justified. An author must either assume or overtly appeal to the value of addressing a particular audience on a topic in a particular stasis. Once this principle of rhetorical analysis is in place, it is especially useful as an approach in the current enterprise of analyzing the rhetoric of the disciplines. While arguments in public forums naturally exploit the full stases, arguments in disciplinary contexts usually concern only the first two. “Exemplary” arguments in representative issues of Science and PMLA are then analyzed for their stasis and how they justify arguing over the issues they address. While science articles open and reopen questions of fact, classification, and cause while assuming the value of their enterprise, articles in literary criticism are problematic. They concern issues of value that are to a great extent already granted by their audience.

Journal
Written Communication
Published
1988-10-01
DOI
10.1177/0741088388005004002
CompPile
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Open Access
Closed
Topics
rhetorical criticism literary studies
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Citation Context

Cited by in this index (33)

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  3. Durá et al. (2019)
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  4. Eberly (2016)
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  6. Weber (2016)
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  11. Walker et al. (2012)
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  14. Walsh (2010)
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  15. Brizee (2008)
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  16. Casper (2007)
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  20. Wolfe (2003)
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  21. Wilder (2002)
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  22. Charney (1998)
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  23. Grant‐Davie (1997)
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  24. THACKER et al. (1995)
    Transmuting Common Substances: The Cold Fusion Controversy and the Rhetoric of …
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  25. Pullman (1995)
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  26. STRATMAN et al. (1995)
    Risk Communication, Metacommunication, and Rhetorical Stases in the Aspen-EPA S…
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  27. Sullivan (1993)
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  28. MacDONALD (1989)
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