Thinking of Something to Say: Topoi

Sometimes when you're thinking about a subject that you might want to write about -- or even form an opinion about -- you don't know quite where to start or how to proceed.

In rhetorical theory, this stage in the process of developing an argument -- coming up with ideas, thinking of something to say -- is called invention (inventio).

In the fourth century before Christ, the Greek philosopher Aristotle provided would-be orators with a wealth of topoi (sing. topos), literally places, intellectual places to explore, in his Rhetoric.

In their classic textbook, Writing, Gregory and Elizabeth Cowan (1980) adapted Aristotle's concept for modern use in the form of a heuristic, a sort of thought-provoking questionnaire that helps writers develop a more thorough understanding of a topic as they work through each stage. It has become one of my favorite teaching tools.

As superficially "obvious" as these questions seem, as you work through them there comes a point when you say, "Now that's something worth saying" or "I bet no one has looked at it this way before." Originality doesn't come from nowhere. It comes from asking "obvious" questions and thinking hard about the answers. NO CLICHES. Cliches kill brain cells. You're better off hitting yourself in the head with a brick.

Definition:

1. How does the dictionary define __________________?
2. What earlier words did __________________ come from?
3. What do I mean by _________________?
4. What group of things does _________________ seem to belong to?  How is
    _________________ different from other things in this group?
5. What parts can _________________ be divided into?
6. Does _________________ mean something now it didn't years ago?
7. What other words mean approximately the same as _________________?
8. What are some concrete examples of _________________?
9. When is the meaning of _________________ misunderstood?

Comparison:

1. What is _________________ similar to?  How?
2. What is _________________ different from?  How?
3. _________________ is superior to what?  How?
4. _________________ is inferior to what?  How?
5. _________________ is most unlike what?  How?
6. _________________ is most like what?  How?

Relationship:

1. What causes _________________?
2. What are the effects of _________________?
3. What is the purpose of _________________?
4. Why does _________________ happen?
5. What is the consequence of _________________?
6. What comes after _________________?
7. What comes before _________________?

Testimony:

1. What have I heard people say about _________________?
2. Do I know any facts or statistics about _________________?  What?
3. Have I talked with anyone about _________________?
4. Do I know any well-known saying about _________________?
5. Can I quote proverbs or poems about _________________?
6. Are there any laws about _________________?
7. Do I know any songs about _________________?  Have I read anything
   about _________________ in books or magazines?
8. Do I want to do any research on _________________?

Circumstance:

1. Is _________________ possible or impossible?
2. What qualities, conditions, or circumstances make _________________
   possible or impossible?
3. Suppose that _________________ is possible.  Is it feasible?  Why?
4. When did _________________ happen previously?
5. Who has done or experienced _________________?
6. Who can do _________________?
7. If _________________ starts what makes it end?
8. What would it take for _________________ to happen now?
9. What would prevent _________________ from happening now?

This particular version of the list was modeled on the one at the Hunter College Reading/Writing Center webpage on Invention. The bust is Aristotle's.

Comments

[grog nokir]

hey, this looks like Scientology to me .. invented in the 80's, you say? hmm ..

[gail]

I would not be the least bit surprised if anything Hubbard came up with was, well, borrowed without attribution. My guess would be that he borrowed topoi from Aristotle rather than from Cowan & Cowan, or do you think Cowan & Cowan borrowed their modernization from him? I'd have to see the Scientology questions to decide if they sound like copies or originals.