Analyzes the structure of argumentative discourse produced when small groups of children discuss issues raised by stories they have read, examining the discourse from story discussions in two fourth-grade classrooms. Compares and contrasts two approaches of representing the structure of classroom arguments (the argument network and the causal…

Investigates profiles of mature adult readers' who are persuaded by what they read, and what role a reader's educational level plays in the persuasion process. Finds that, for the most part, readers with moderate but favorable stances, moderate to high interest in the topic, and at least moderate levels of perceived or demonstrated knowledge were…

Refutes commonly held assumptions forced on the art-education public that characterize Viktor Lowenfeld, a historically well-known art educator, as having a laissez-faire approach to art education and a visual-haptic fixation. Asserts Lowenfeld's beliefs were distorted in later publications of his book, "Creative and Mental Growth." (CMK)

Discusses how prior to the 1932 presidential campaign, Governor Roosevelt sought to dispel suspicion that he was physically unfit to become President; and though he never hid his disability, he minimized his appearance as a disabled person. Describes how Roosevelt arranged for the publication of a medical examination as proof that he was…

Contributes to scholarship on rhetorical theory and political judgment theory by examining how the rhetoric of Reconstruction congressional actors expressed divergent modes of political judgment regarding the civil rights of African Americans. Contends that proponents and opponents enacted adverse norms of discursive practice and competing…

Examines the effects of negotiated interaction on the production and development of question forms in English as a Second Language (ESL). The study focused on one feature of interaction--recasts--which have recently been the topic of interactional work in second-language acquisition literature. (Author/VWL)

Notes that for two decades issues related to the National Debate Tournament (NDT) consumed major portions of the American Forensic Association's (AFA) annual business meetings. Reviews the circumstances leading to the AFA's vote to sponsor the NDT; examines the association's role in overseeing the NDT; and judges the significance of the…

Employs interaction analysis to examine communicative behaviors displayed by management versus labor negotiators at various phases of the collective bargaining process. Finds that administration and teacher negotiators were surprisingly similar in communicative bargaining behaviors exhibited but that communication strategies were different at the…

Explains and illustrates the features of practical argument engagement, noting it is one way to understand why teachers do what they do. Observations, interviews, and dialogs with teachers illustrate that, by working with partners to examine actions occurring in their daily work, teachers can enhance their capacity for reflection, change beliefs…

Contributes to scholarship on rhetorical criticism and the civil rights movement by interrogating the memory of the 1963 March on Washington. Analyzes remarks delivered by John Lewis. Compares Lewis's prepared speech with the speech he delivered. Reveals a synecdochic struggle over the rhetoric of the civil rights movement and what was sayable in…

Discusses the making of a video documenting the research and teaching of the Department of Communication at North Carolina State University, noting its rationale and the visual communication strategies used in it. Discusses visual metaphors that served as rhetorical devices within the video. Describes the video's uses to build external relations…

Analyzes the events of July 23, 1993, when Carol Moseley-Braun was involved in two rhetorical events in the United States Senate dealing with racial issues and the rhetorical culture of the Senate. Concludes that the reactions are as telling as the actions, revealing a United States Senate fundamentally unprepared for such a subject and such a…

Explains that understanding the art of persuasion can help students in evaluating what they hear, read, and write. Recommends four books that have good examples of persuasion and provides information on how to use prewriting as well as the reading writing relationship to construct arguments and write essays. (MOK)

Argues that a deleterious effect of increased use of online databases in academic debate is the change in the nature of information available to debaters and corresponding changes in ideological assumptions in argumentation. Examines the link between debate training and argumentative proficiency in a democracy. Foresees the likely consequences of…

Replies to another article in this issue by Robert Tucker. Argues that Tucker's view of how debaters research is limited. Suggests that his argument relies on a skewed view of the nature of electronic resources. States that Tucker's argument is grounded in a misperception of the nature of the free marketplace of ideas and its role within a…