Raw notes made while reading the book:
“How to Win an Argument: An ancient guide to the art of persuasion”
– Marcus Tullius Cicero
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Ancient theorists organized their presentation around five parts, or activities of the orator:
- invention – discovering, that is, thinking out the material
- arrangement – ordering the material
- style – putting the ordered material into appropriate words
- memory – memorizing the speech
- delivery – including directives about voice facial expression and gesture
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Logos – Rational argumentation
Ethos – Arguments based on character
Pathos – Arguments based on emotional email
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3 qualities of the ideal narration:
- Brevity
- Clarity
- Persuasiveness/ plausibility
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4 ways to refute an argument:
- If one or more of its assumptions are not granted
- If it’s granted, its denied that a conclusion can be reached
- actual form of argument is shown to be based on mistaken beliefs
- countered by an equally strong or even more stronger argument
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3 virtues of style:
- Correct use of Language
- Clarity/ ornamentation/ use of metaphors
- Figures of thought/ appropriateness/ context
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3 characters of style:
- Plain
- Middle
- Grand
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Cheat sheet:
- 3 requisites for becoming a kickass speaker: Nature. Art. Practice
- Eloquence is the winner
- Construction of an argument: Identify. Arrange. Memorize.
- Logic alone won’t work, use the power of persuasion
- Know your audience and tailor your message accordingly
- Be clear, be correct
- Delivery matters; its often not what you say, but HOW you say it
- Find good role models to immitate
- The pen’s mightier that the sword; write what you have to say, practice, critique yourself
- Make sure to not only have the right words but also the right substance to support it