Welcome Back!
“Bad reasoning as well as good
reasoning is possible; and this fact
is the foundation of the practical
side of logic.”
- Charles Sanders Peirce
On the Radar
 Researching the Persuasive Speech Assignment
 Due Wednesday on WebCT (by 11:59 p.m.)
 Exam Two
 This Friday in Lecture
 Study Guide on Course Website
 Workshops for the Persuasive Speech
 Start Monday (first three speaking days)
A Return to Logos
Using Models of Reasoning
Reasoning from Specific Instances
Progressing from a number of
particular facts to a general
conclusion.
FACT ONE: President Obama supported the American Recovery
and Investment Act to allot $5 billion for early learning
programs.
FACT TWO: President Obama launched the Educate to
Innovate Campaign to enhance American students’
performance in key areas of science and math.
FACT THREE: President Obama endorsed
the Health Care and Education
Reconciliation Act to invest more in
higher education programs like
community college.
CONCLUSION: President Obama values
education.
Reasoning from Specific Instances
 Use in Speech:
 FACT ONE: I have done a lot of research on blood donation.
 FACT TWO: I have personally donated blood.
 FACT THREE: I sit with my grandma through her weekly
dialysis appointments.
 CONCLUSION: I am credible to talk on the topic of blood
donation.
Reasoning from Specific Instances
 What to look out for:
 Avoid hasty generalizations.
 Be careful with your wording (avoid absolutes).
 Provide additional evidence (statistics or testimony).
Reasoning from Principle
 Progressing from a general principle to a specific
conclusion.
 Example:
 GENERAL PRINCIPLE: All fruits
grow on trees.
 MINOR PREMISE: Apples are fruits.
 CONCLUSION: Apples grow on
trees.
Reasoning from Principle
 Use in Speech:
 GENERAL PRINCIPLE: The Children’s Miracle Network funds
hundreds of hospitals that offer care specifically to children.
 MINOR PREMISE: Sarah has been a patient at a Children’s
Miracle Network hospital for over six months.
 CONCLUSION: Your donation to the Children’s Miracle
Network could benefit children just like Sarah.
Causal Reasoning
 Establishing a relationship between cause and effect
 Example:
 CAUSE: The winter of 2010 yielded record snow falls in the
Midwest.
 EFFECT: The large volume of snow increased river levels
which ultimately led many cities to flood.
Causal Reasoning
 What to look out for:
 Avoid the post hoc fallacy.
 Don’t assume that events only have one cause.
 Use in Speech:
 EFFECT: Obesity rates in America are alarmingly high.
 CAUSE: Studies have shown that a lack of exercise
contributes greatly to the problem of obesity.
Analogical Reasoning
 Comparing two similar cases and assuming what is true of
one should be true of the other.
 What to look out for:
 Make sure that the two cases are, in fact, similar.
Analogical Reasoning
 Example:
If you enjoyed watching
the first seven Harry
Potter movies, chances
are you will enjoy the
final one coming out this
summer.
Analogical Reasoning
 Use in Speech:
 A study done at the University of Iowa surveying 1500
college students found that 80% of students will take out a
student loan some time throughout their time as an
undergraduate. That means, that in this room, it is probable
that at least sixteen of you are facing student loan date
upon graduation.
The Successful
Speech
Earning that Elusive *A*
Earning that A
 “A superior (A) speech stands out from the crowd. It has
superior content, excellent organization and distinctive
delivery. In short, it represents the speaker’s best creative
effort” (W p. 12).
The Rhetorical Canons
 Invention
 Arrangement
 Style
 Memory
 Delivery
Invention
 Choose your topic wisely.
 Is it manageable?
 Does it relate to the audience?
 What does your Lab Instructor say?
 Research your topic thoroughly.
 Do Wednesday’s assignment.
 Look for more than four sources.
 Make the most of Workshop.
 Come prepared.
 Respond and adapt to criticism.
Arrangement
 Choose an appropriate pattern of organization.
 Is it the best choice for your topic?
 Are you supporting your structure well?


Use clear, creative connectives.
Use terminology in your preview.
 Make the most of your Introduction.
 Use the elements of CARRP to your
advantage.
 Make the most of your Conclusion.
 End on a good note.
Style
 Master the three appeals.
 Clarify complicated terminology.
 Be creative.
Memory
 Know your topic.
 Prepare your note cards in advance.
 Practice with your note cards.
 Know your visual aid!!!
Delivery
 Focus first on issues from the Informative Speech.
 Set reasonable goals.
 Practice in front of other people.
 Try the Speech Reflection assignment.
On the Radar
 Researching the Persuasive Speech Assignment
 Due Wednesday on WebCT (by 11:59 p.m.)
 Exam Two
 This Friday in Lecture
 Study Guide on Course Website
 Workshops for the Persuasive Speech
 Starts Monday (first three speaking days)