Cicero’s Six Steps in Arranging a Persuasive Speech

Arrangement (dispositio or taxis) concerns how one orders speech or writing. In ancient rhetoric, arrangement referred solely to the order to be observed in an oration, but the term has broadened to include all considerations of the ordering of discourse, especially on a large scale.

1. Introduction:

2. Statement of Facts:

3. Division:

4. Proof: 1.

2.

3.

5. Refutation:

6. Conclusion

Cicero aligned certain rhetorical appeals with specific parts of the oration. In the exordium or introduction, it is necessary for one to establish his or her own authority. Therefore, one employs ethical appeals (see ethos). In the next four parts of the oration (statement of facts, division, proof, and refutation), one chiefly employs logical arguments (see logos). In the conclusion, one finishes up by employing emotional appeals (see pathos). Introduction (Exordium): The introduction of a speech, where one announces the subject and purpose of the discourse, and where one usually employs the persuasive appeal of ethos in order to establish credibility with the audience.

Ethos names the persuasive appeal of one's character, especially how this character is established by means of the speech or discourse. Aristotle claimed that one needs to appear both knowledgeable about one's subject and benevolent. (Silvae Rhetoricae)

Statement of Facts (Narratio): The speaker here provides a narrative account of what has happened and generally explains the nature of the case.

Division (Partitio): Following In this section of the oration, the speaker outlines what will follow, in accordance with what's been stated as the stasis, or point at issue in the case.

Stasis names a procedure within rhetorical invention by which one would ask certain questions in order to arrive at the point at issue in the debate, the "stasis." Four such basic kinds of conflict were categorized by the Greeks and Romans: conjectural, definitional, qualitative, and translative. (Silvae Rhetoricae)

Questions to find Stasis Kind of Kind of Stasis Question Did he do it? of Fact Conjectural Stasis What did he do? of Definition Definitional Stasis Was it just/expedient? of Quality Qualitative Stasis Is this the right venue for this of Jurisdiction Translative Stasis issue?

Further argumentative strategies in the invention process would depend on which of these was determined upon, as would the number and arrangement of the parts of an oration to be followed.

Proof (Confirmatio): The main body of the speech where one offers logical arguments as proof. The appeal to logos is emphasized here.

Logos names the appeal to reason. It is accomplished in rhetoric through the use of argument, which involves giving the reasons for your conclusion, and example, in which you offer analogies or anecdotes that allow your audience to see why you are right.

Refutation (Refutatio): As the name connotes, this section of a speech was devoted to answering the counterarguments of one's opponent. Logos is again emphasized here, but used now to show, not how your argument is right, but how the contradictory argument of the person who does or would disagree with you is not rational.

Conclusion (Peroratio): The peroratio conventionally employed appeals through pathos, and often included a summing up.

Pathos names the appeal to emotion. This involves putting your audience in the right frame of mind, thereby making them want to believe you. This is done by knowing the states of mind in which certain emotions are felt, the people to whom they are felt, and the grounds on which they are felt.