Describes a writing assignment through which students build an understanding of perspectives other than their own. Shows how students, using dice, can create the outlines of a character and, having thought about this character, can write a paper from that character's perspective. (TB)

Argues that tolerance does not mean avoidance of conflict; rather, disagreement is inherent in the concept. Asserts that students must be taught how to conduct dialog in a climate of tolerance to risk their ideas and beliefs being altered by the reasoning of others. (SK)

Explains Joe McCarthy's rhetoric and its apparent resistance to exorcism by historical fact through the literary genre of fantasy. Argues that McCarthy could not be discredited or argued against because he took no positions but presented his audience with a sustained moment of hesitation in which every claim on credulity was offset by a denial of…

Suggests that the report for decision making shares some common ground with the proposal, the report of scientific experiment, and the persuasive essay, yet these genres differ. Argues that recognizing these differences is necessary for effective inquiry, pedagogy, and decision making. Claims that complex problems for decision making require a…

Analyzes Tonya Harding's defense of her image in "Eye to Eye with Connie Chung," applying the theory of image restoration discourse. Finds that the principal strategies employed in her behalf were bolstering, denial, and attacking her accuser, but that these strategies were not developed very effectively in this instance. (SR)

Subjects between adolescence and older adulthood were asked to describe their causal theories for three social problems. Links between informal reasoning, as displayed by subjects in the study, and scientific reasoning are examined, and the development of reasoning competency is discussed. (BC)

Performs factor analysis of editorial criteria reported in earlier studies of cognitive editing of arguments. Finds and discusses three main categories: effectiveness, person-centered issues, and discourse competence. Conceives of these dimensions and criteria as interactional objectives, representing the multiple goals people have during…

Examines college students' reaction to two separate argument situations involving religious or nonreligious issues. Finds a two-way interaction between argumentativeness and religious orientation on willingness to argue, argumentativeness main effects on willingness to argue and value expectancy, and religious orientation main effects on all three…

Investigates whether changes in the written structure of a proposal will affect the reader's attitudes. Maintains that writers can help readers of proposals by providing the information, detail, and structure the reader expects. (SR)

Uses the communications theory of Habermas to analyze the structure of the debate about educational administration between Thomas Greenfield and Daniel Griffiths. Addresses the debate's paradigmatic nature; the ideal speech situation, the public sphere, and the forum of the debate; strategic speech actions; and validity claims. (DMM)

Argues that a definition of interactional argument based primarily on disagreement should be rejected in favor of a more traditional definition based on reason giving. Argues that views of ordinary arguers need not be given priority over those of experts. (SR)

Rejects Robert Rowland and J. Kevin Barge's conclusion (in an article in the same issue) that defining argument as reason giving is superior to defining argument as disagreement. Maintains that defining argument as disagreement is appropriate for an interpretive argumentation theorist, and that argumentation is a complex topic with room for more…

Addresses Pamela Benoit's response to an article in the same issue by the authors, restating key arguments of why a research focus on reason giving is superior to a research focus on disagreement. (SR)

Content analysis of 288 advocacy ads in the "Washington Post" and 373 in the "New York Times" showed that (1) for-profit organizations place such ads more frequently, although nonprofit groups are increasing their use; (2) 3 organizations placed a quarter of all the ads; (3) economic and social welfare issues predominated; and (4) primary…

Describes how generating effective advertising copy affords students practice in aspects of persuasive writing, such as developing a thesis, refuting counter-arguments, and writing in a comparison-contrast mode. Notes that this approach helps students negotiate the problematic shift from expressive to persuasive discourse without losing their…