Stasis Theory: Kinds of information English 103 – 1 & 9 23 February 2012

Stasis Theory Method of inquiry designed by ancient Greek lawyers, posed as a set of questions meant to help someone brainstorm and investigate all the important dynamics of an issue. A tool of Inquiry – a way to begin discovering the information you need to discover regarding a subject you want to write about. You’ll use it to brainstorm the information you need to be more knowledge about the problem and solution you’ll addresss. Answering questions of Fact, Definition, Opinion/Interpretation, Consequences, Value, and Policy

Stasis Categories Facts – information regarding a topic or issue that most people would find incontrovertible (information almost everyone agrees with and almost nobody thinks is in question). Definition – important terminology on an issue and how it is defined (above and beyond dictionary definition). Opinion/Interpretation – Other people’s viewpoints or opinions (drawn from another source) on the topic or issue; the major explanations or rationales people give for events or problems related to it; what people typically think about the issue. Consequences – the causes and effects (drawn from another source) related to an issue; the results of a problem as well as the things (and people) that contributed to making those things happen Value – The reasons (drawn from another source) the issue or topic matters to people; what is at stake that leads people to develop attitudes or opinions about the topic; how people can be hurt or helped depending on how the matter turns out and who is helped or hurt. Policy – The official procedures, rules, laws, and guidelines that guide decisions and judgment on the topic or issue; also the procedures, actions, rules, laws, and/or guidelines that can be proposed to deal with the issue.

Stasis & Information • Official statements or explana- Facts • Statistics, surveys, polls • News reports of current events • First-Hand/Personal accounts • Photographs • Encyclopedic Information that is not in question • Confirmed historical details • Graphs, charts, or tables conveying facts about the issue Definition • Definitions of key words used to communicate about this problem/solution • Expert or official definitions • Common/ Dictionary/ non-expert definitions Opinion/ Interpretation • Editorials or opinion pieces about the problem • Important viewpoints, opinions, and perspectives on the issue • Rationales, justifications, or explan-ations told about the issue • Results of opinion polls Consequence • Statistical information suggesting cause/effect • Photographs showing effects • Opinions/ Interpretation of causes and effects • Common understan-dings of the origins of the problem • Descriptions of positive or negative outcomes of the problem or solution Value • Mission statements/ manifestos expressing what involved parties find most important about the issue • Statements of value from individuals • Statements of social rules or mores being followed or violated Policy • Administra-tive decisions • Official rules, regulations, & procedures • Institutional Policies • Statements in institutional documents • other proposed actions or solutions • Official statements or explana- tions on institutional websites

Using Stasis to Start Inquiry Facts What informa-tion is not in question and can be con-firmed by research? Who are the people involved? When or where has this been an issue? What are the facts as verified by experts? What has happened in the past? Definition What are the key words officially used to commun-icate about this topic? What are the expert or official definitions? How are the words under-stood by non-experts or non-officials? Opinion/ Interpretation What are the important viewpoints, opinions, and perspectives on the issue? What rationaliza-tions or justifications are made to explain the issue? What are the major theories about the issue? Who believes them and who doesn’t? Consequence What are deemed to be the origins of this problem? What are deemed to be the causes of problems or benefits of solutions related to the issue? What are deemed to be the results or effects (both good and bad) of this issue? Who is considered responsible? Who is considered to be affected? Value What ethical considerations are involved? Why does it matter to those involved? What is at stake if things turn out one way or another? What standards, expectations, mores, or values are involved? Policy What official procedures, rules, regulations, decisions, and /or guidelines are in place? What actions, procedures, rules, decisions, or guidelines have been suggested but not put in place?