FIVE PART ARGUMENT STRUCTURE

WHAT IS THE FIVE PART ARTUMENT STRUCTURE?

• Used by classical rhetoricians in persuasive works
• Almost necessary in composing, makes a sort of ideal structure for students like us
• Five steps to success!

PART ONE: Intruduction (exordium)

• Introduces the reader to the subject under discussion
• i.e. The beginning
• Kind of like an ice-breaker, because you need to grab your audience's attention and focus.

PART TWO: NARRATION (NARRATIO)

• Provides factual information and background material on the subject at hand or establish why the subject is a problem that needs addressing.
• For an example situation, after introducing the fact that Emily is wearing some horrific, God-awful hat, your narration could go on to say that it's awful, you and hopefully her, both know that it's awful, it's hurting your eyes, and it needs disposed of immediately.

PART THREE: CONFIRMATION (CONFIRMATIO)

• Usually the major part of the text
• Includes the proof needed to make the writer's case
• Claims and evidence to back up your thesis!
• i.e. Explain that it's not normal for her to do that; Emily has a fairly dependable fashion sense and is usually a reliable resource for all things fashion; she once told YOU that your boots were horrendous and that they looked like her foot, make sure to support your claim!

PART FOUR: REFUTATION (REFUTATIO)

• Addresses the counter argument
• A bridge between the writer's proof and the conclusion
• Goes along with the confirmation
• Uses evidence or some type of logic

PART FIVE : CONCLUSION (PERORATIO)

• Brings the essay to a satisfying close
• Creates a sense of finality or closure; answers questions or solves problems
• Sometimes writers like to add a final little kick to their conclusions
• Summarize most important fundamentals of your argument