FRESHMAN COMPOSITION, RHETORIC, GRAMMAR II

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INTRO. TO LITERARY RESEARCH & WRITING

INSTRUCTOR: James Maxfield

Example Mode: An essay or argument illustrated or supported by a series of examples, cases, events, conditions, circumstances, instances, locales, concepts, or individual persons or things to make your point. "The process of illustrating a general principle [. . .] by citing specific instances [of a larger category] that illuminate the generalization" (D’Angelo). An extended example beyond a short paragraph might be termed an illustration.

--be specific and relevant—focused—to your topic or argument

--include multiple examples to amplify your case, generally arranged in emphatic order (of ascending importance, significance, or strength). But chronological order may also be used.

--provide effective support for your argument. (This is especially important when Example is used as the dominant mode in your essay as an extended illustration.)

--Introduction (including a generalization of your main idea)

--First Example or Main Point 1 (followed by 1 or more examples)

--Second Example or Main Point 2 (followed by 1 or more examples)

--Third Example or Third Point (followed by 1 or more supporting examples

--Conclusion

Division—Separating a complex subject (the whole) into smaller distinctive component parts to facilitate the understanding of the whole and discussing each part separately. Division is closely related to Analysis, which divides one larger idea into other smaller ideas.

Classification—Grouping elements of your subject in a manner and arrangement that enhances the understanding for the reader based on shared characteristics of a single object or subject from an exclusive class, such as: songs, cars, paintings, jobs, buildings, dogs.

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Last modified: 04/30/06