The Classical Model for
Argumentation
Organization
• Classical rhetoricians call this arrangement
since you must consider how your essay and
its individual paragraphs or sections are
arranged
• The essay always has a beginning, middle,
and an end: introduction, developmental
paragraphs, and conclusion
• How a writer structures the argument depends
upon his or her intended purpose and effect.
The Classical Model of
Argument
• Devised by Greek and Roman rhetoricians 2
thousand years ago
• For presenting cases in courts or making
speeches to a senate
• Those speaking were taught to think of
arguments as debates that have winners and
losers
• Classical structure has 5 parts: each part does
NOT represent one paragraph
– Each part can have any number of paragraphs
depending on how much information the author needs
to present
Exordium (The Introduction)
• Writer tries to win the attention and
goodwill of the audience while introducing
a subject or problem
• Draws the audience into the text by
piquing their interest, challenging them, or
otherwise getting their attention
Exordium (continued)
• In your intro ¶’s, you will need to establish
what is called exigency, which means
urgency of the topic. Why does this issue
need to be addressed now? Why’s it a hot
topic?
• It will state your position on
the issue in the thesis
statement at the end of the
¶.
Narratio (The Narration)
• Writer presents the facts of the case, explaining
what happened, who is involved, etc.
• This section puts the argument in context
• Provides factual information and background
material on the subject at hand OR establishes
why the subject is a problem that needs
addressing
– Level of details provided here will depend on the
audience’s knowledge of the subject
Confirmatio (The Confirmation)
• Usually the major part of your essay
w/many ¶’s
• Writer offers detailed support for the claim,
using both logical reason and factual
evidence
• Contains the most specific and concrete
detail in the text
– strong appeal to logos (logic/facts)
Logos Silliness
•
Refutario (The Refutation)
• Writer acknowledges and then refutes
opposing claims or evidence
• The refutation addresses the
counterargument, which is in many ways a
bridge between the
writer’s proof and
conclusion.
• This is the 2nd to last
thing you do right before …
Peroratio (The Conclusion!)
• Writer summarizes the case and moves the
audience to action
• Brings all the author’s ideas together and
answers the question, so what?
– Call to action
– Solution
– The greater importance of this topic for
society
LET’S SEE SOME
EXAMPLES! 