The shape of reason: Argumentative writing in college

By John T. Gage

Book Overview

This brief rhetoric of argument teaches critical reading, informal reasoning, and writing as reasoned inquiry, and now features a mini-anthology of arguments on civic issues. The Shape of Reason emphasizes the enthymeme as the central basis for the invention and structure of arguments. This approach blends classical insights into rhetorical reasoning with contemporary understandings of the composing process as generative and organic, situated within discourse communities. The book helps to understand argument as inquiry, stressing the responsibility that writers have - to their audience and to their own ideas - in structuring arguments that earn their conclusions and in considering opposing arguments. For anyone interested in argumentative writing.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0023404205
• ISBN13: 9780023404207
• Release Date: January 1986
• Publisher: Macmillan Pub. Co
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.

Customer Reviews

The Shape of Reason

This book is wonderful! I've learned so much about writing and the responsibilities of a writer to his/her audience. The enthymeme--which can seem esoteric at first--makes sense to me now because it emphasizes the need to provide supportive reasons. Most importantly, I love the fact that this book highlights the need to see writing as an ongoing process.