There is a fundamental gap between people's assertions as to what is right or wrong and their actual behavior. This has been traditionally attributed to "akrasia" or weakness of the will. This research examines this concept and considers what moral education can do about it. (Editor/RK)

Proposes a rhetorical perspective of newspaper comic strips emphasizing the recriprocal influence of comics and society. (MH)

Illustrates Toulmin's simple three-step model of argumentation (claim, grounds, backing) with various proposition and syllogisms. Implements such heuristic quests at each step as "What position do I want my audience to take?" Proposes Toulmin logic as a strategy for teaching inductive and deductive thinking in composition. (JG)

Analyzes George Hansen's apologetic rhetoric from the perspective of a generic, "paranoid-style" of discourse to show why the Congressman was able to defend his character to the satisfaction of nearly one-half of his constituency. Uses the Hansen case to illustrate the development and function of a rhetorical genre in a given historical context.…

Employs Kenneth Burke's pentad to examine rhetorical choices made by former U.S. Congressman George Hansen as he dramatized two situations: his felony conviction and his subsequent reelection bid. Suggests that Hansen's rhetoric was largely effective because it resulted in substantial identification with the voters of Idaho's Second Congressional…

Examines Henry Johnstone's (a former editor of "Philosophy and Rhetoric") ironic play on the different uses of the terms "rational,""argument," and "explanation," when he discusses two of his favorite philosophical topics, rhetoric and argument. (NKA)

Examines how people edit arguments prior to speaking, and what editorial criteria (effectiveness, principled objection to argument type, person-centered issues, and discourse competence) different types of people prefer. Notes that argumentativeness, verbal aggression, interpersonal orientation, and respondent gender are associated with use of…

Draws on a research project involving argumentative writing to contend that some student writing problems result not from a lack of familiarity with the academic discourse community but from certain audience postures that were positively correlated with the levels of socio-cognitive development as assessed by the Perry scheme. (RS)

Describes the emergence of media evangelists in times of situational crisis. Discusses the appeal such leaders have to listeners possessing a "crisis mentality." Offers a model to explain the communication influence process associated with these charismatic speakers. (SR)

Argues that Sylvia Plath not only perceives the world as competing male and female languages, but attempts to write in the feminine. Discusses how "The Bell Jar" might define, as a solution to sociological and psychological problems of women, a language and art to secure women against male domination. (MS)

Examines the effects of two variables on persons' degree of attitude-behavioral intention congruency: (1) their perceptions of the attitude object's prototypicality; and (2) their level of attitudinal confidence. Results indicate that attitude-behavioral intention congruency was limited to participants with high attitudinal confidence. (RS)

Reviews scholarship on the interdependence of rhetoric and poetic language, and proposes a performance as argument model for the oral interpretation of literature. Relates the model to current work on the relationship of narrative to argument and suggests benefits gained from its adoption. (SR)

Examines the way competing interpretations of evidence form the basis for arguments over appropriate defense postures. Indicates that it is only as participants in a policy dispute move to develop validity standards appropriate to the particular dispute that resolution becomes possible. (MS)

Examines the use of pretournament workshops and instruction packets as means of eliminating errors made by uninformed debate judges. Offers suggestions to judges which are intended to help them develop more articulate and educationally valuable student critiques. (Author/GEA)

Examines arguments used in three United Nations Security Council debates which contradict the conclusion that different nations use different argumentative forms and think differently. Finds that the nature of data and the relative emphasis on principle as a negotiating strategy were more characteristic factors. (MS)