I’d Like to Have an Argument – Monty Python
This was probably everyone’s first introduction to the idea that every disagreement does not an argument make: The post I’d Like to Have an Argument – Monty Python appeared first on Critical Voter.
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Venn Diagrams
I made mention of Venn diagrams in this week’s podcast. These are simple diagrams that can be used to map formal logic statements such as: In this Venn diagram, the circle labeled “Collies” is...
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Toulmin Argument Maps – From Podcast
In addition to Venn diagrams, I also discussed Toulmin argument maps in this week’s podcast, including the following: This simple Toulmin map argues that since the sun is going down, you should put on...
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Romney and Bain Capital vs. Toulmin
During this week’s podcast, I described how Toulmin diagrams can be used to map even the most complex arguments, including those that can be found in campaign materials, such as negative TV ads. Before...
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Thank You for Arguing
As mentioned a number of times during this week’s podcast, Jay Heinrich’s 2007 book Thank You for Arguing is an informative and enjoyable resource to help you understand both the theory and practice...
View ArticleApologies to Aristotle
A listener mentioned that I might have given Aristotelian syllogisms short-shrift last podcast, implying that they were useful for ferreting out breaks in formal logic, but not that helpful when...
View Article“Doing Fine” with Syllogisms
Just as we looked at a negative ad directed at Mitt Romney to see how Toulmin argument maps work, we’ll now look at an ad attacking President Obama to see how to determine and analyze the underlying...
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Critical Voter – Podcast 5 – Rhetorical Devices
When many modern people consider the term “rhetoric,” the first thing that comes to mind is the phrase “mere rhetoric,” implying that rhetoric consists of nothing but words, phrases and techniques...
View ArticleResource: A Way With Words
Back when I was a more of a commuter, I became fond of two series of CD-based audio courses: The Great Courses and Modern Scholar, both of which provide lectures (mostly undergraduate level) on...
View ArticleObama Caught Using Rhetorical Devices!
Because we will be picking apart Mitt Romney’s acceptance speech during the next Critical Voter podcast, I thought it only fair to pick on President Obama on the blog this week, or more specifically to...
View ArticleAsk not what chiasmus can do for you
Given my fondness for chiasmus (that word order switcheroo mentioned in this week’s podcast, i.e., “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”) I was delighted to...
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Critical Thinking Skills – Building Block Resource
It occurred to me that with the election already providing so much material to discuss and analyze, that I’ve not had the chance to revisit that notion of critical thinking skills “building blocks”...
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Critical Voter – Podcast 6 – Arrangement
Note: There was a problem with how this week’s episode appeared in iTunes which I expect to be cleared up Monday night. In the meantime, you can listen to the podcast by clicking on the podcast link...
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The Canons of Rhetoric
If time allows later in the election cycle (or even after the election), I’m hoping to dedicate five days of posting to more detailed discussions on each of the five Canons of Rhetoric. But for now,...
View ArticleObama vs. Romney – Round 1 – Modes of Persuasion
In the lesson plans I’ve included for podcasts covering subjects like the Modes of Persuasion and argumentation, I’ve included exercises asking students to color code different parts of a political...
View ArticleRomney vs Obama – Past, Present and Future
A systematic analysis of whether the two candidate’s acceptance speeches were more forensic (past-oriented), demonstrative (present oriented) or deliberative (future oriented) could be performed by...
View ArticleObama vs. Romney – Rhetorical Devices
The first thing Critical Voter listeners and readers might notice when they look over the acceptance speeches of President Obama and Mitt Romney at the recent party conventions is how frequently both...
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Critical Voter – Podcast 7 – Media Literacy
There’s one actor that tends to play a role in each US election that can sometimes seem bigger than the ones played by the candidates, the parties or even the voters: the media. But what do we mean...
View ArticleMedia Literacy – Who is the audience?
So, what do you think of the new banner? I’m hoping to get some more look-‘n-feel changes operational between now and Election Day, but in the meantime, one of the topics I didn’t get to during this...
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The Shallows
I made brief mention of this book title towards the end of this week’s podcast, but if you’ve got an interest in the subject of what the Internet might be doing to our ability to think critically (or...
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