The Enemy Enthymeme

Whatever happened to the old fashioned method of argument? First you make a claim, and then you back it up with a warrant. I believe that using the concept of the enthymeme will ultimately lead to confusion for students. I understand the concept of the enthymeme, and I use it all the time when making an argument, but I would never try to explain to someone that it is the way to view their argument. Explaining to a student in a modified version works better. Tell them that their thesis should be their claim, their body paragraphs should be the evidence, and their conclusion should be their conclusion (sorry, there's no real synonym that I'd like better). For example:

Cheese is good for you
Cheese is high in calcium, which prevents bone loss
Cheese is high in protein, which helps build muscle
Cheese is low in carbohydrates, which can help you lose weight
Because cheese prevents bone loss, helps build muscle, and helps lose weight, it is good for you.


I know that it is essentially the enthymeme, but it is a much easier way of explaining to tutees, especially those who enter the WORD Studio with problems with their "there's." Without going too far off topic, let's get back to the enthymeme. Onto another example, the comic strip The Lockhorns best illustrate the organization of argument and the effect of the proper usage of enthymeme:

Enthymeme

Main Entry: en·thy·meme
Function: noun

1. A snooty way of saying the structure of an argument ( My name is Doctor Smartypants and your assignment is to create a paper using an enthymeme on quantum physics its use in cytogenetics).

2. A filler; a word with no relevance.

See also: Rhetoric