Contends that the different loci of competition for the counterplan--that it must compete with the plan, the policy system, the values implicit within the resolution, or the entire resolution--are grounded in conflicting conceptions of the resolution. Argues for a plan focus perspective. (MS)

Articulates a case for triangulation as a research strategy to aid in the development of theoretical claims and the integration of theory. Demonstrates the potential and actual uses of these types of triangulation for argumentation by examining research in everyday argument and argument fields. (MS)

Reviews the development of research on the persuasive effects of evidence, focusing on research dealing with the impact of evidence on persuasive communication. Concludes that evidence makes a difference in persuasive argument, and that the difference is affected by evidence type, along with relevant source, message, and receiver elements (191…

Examines the symbolic power of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and explains why it arouses such intense public reaction. Argues that the Memorial's symbolic power derives from its distinctive and unconventional design, that denies visitors interpretation of its meaning through the social resources upon which they customarily rely. (MS)

Explores the worth of high impact/low probability arguments as "real world" policy arguments. Evaluates four National Debate Tournament (NDT) final round disadvantages by students using the subjective probability model. Finds that although NDT disadvantages were perceived to be a technically sound form of argumentation, they were not…

Describes the Persuasive Arguments Theory (PAT), a noninteractional theory of group decision-making that predicts postdiscussion shifts from prediscussion cognitive arguments, elaborates on it, and advances two models to test the PAT perspective on argument. Finds the second model demonstrates superior predictive ability to the PAT model at some…

Examines the 1982 film "The Year of Living Dangerously" to illustrate how an explicit argument may be implicitly enacted in a rhetorical artifact through a rhetor's rhetorical choices. (MM)

Examines the process through which a fear appeal transforms low-involvement audiences into active publics. Analyzes cognitive and emotional responses of uninvolved viewers to a film on environmental contamination, together with coping strategies used to deal with the threat. Concludes that cognition and affect mediate viewers' responses to a…

Discusses "little nothings"--a paragraph that pretends to give information but only alludes to or implies needed action. Presents examples of little nothings in a marketing flier for a filter. Discusses the role of the technical writer in translating the little nothings into clear, readable text. Discusses ethical issues. (RS)

Tests the persuasive impact of synesthetic metaphors (which equate sense A to sense B) in advertising headlines. Finds that in some circumstances, synesthetic headlines produce less, rather than more, favorable attitudes toward the advertisement and brand than literal equivalents. (SR)

Presents and describes seven pictograms that correspond to the seven common propaganda devices described in another article in this issue. (SR)

Examines the word "reason" as it is used in political discourse. Argues that "reason"'s plasticity and flexibility help it to stimulate and evoke variable mental images and responses in different settings and situations. Notes that the example of reason of state shows "reason"'s rhetorical power and privilege, its…

Relevance theory in linguistic pragmatics is applied to the field of rhetorical argument. The applied theory allows for multiple coincidental relevances (strategic, rational, and worldly) during the communication of arguments corresponding to horizons of awareness with regard to which arguments are made and understood. (32 references) (LB)

Reports two studies investigating the relationship between communication style variables and sales performance. Relates findings which indicate that the "precise" dimension of communication is strongly associated with effective sales performance and that different combinations of the "precise" and "friendly"…

Likens the role of a public relations practitioner to that of a lawyer, as an advocate in an adversarial society. Argues that this role justifies the distribution of "selective truth," relieves the public person from the obligation to tell "objective truth," allows for ethical persuasion, but does not delineate the parameters of ethical behavior.…