1. Enthymemes!
From Roskelly & Jolliffe’s Everyday Use: Rhetoric at Work in Reading and Writing

2. ???
EN-thuh-meem

3. What’s that?
A form of syllogistic reasoning with the following characteristics
Three parts: Major Premise, Minor Premise, Conclusion
The major premise is unstated and assumed by the rhetor to be accepted by the audience
The major premise is often arguable (different from a syllogism, whose unstated premise is mostly irrefutable)

4. Example
Unstated premise: [Women are wise.] Minor premise: Kate’s a woman. Conclusion: Of course, she gave me good advice.

5. Example
Unstated premise: [HRHS is the best school in Cabarrus County.] Minor premise: Most people would prefer to go to the best schools available. Conclusion: Of course, I will go to HRHS.

6. You try…
What’s the unstated premise? Major premise: Minor premise: The construction of large housing developments that adjoin forest preserves upsets the ecosystem and drives animals such as deer, raccoons, and skunks out of their natural habitats. Conclusion: Therefore, city, county, and state governments should limit the number and size of houses built in such developments.

7. Answer:
Major premise: Animals such as deer, raccoons, and skunks, as creatures of the earth, deserve a stable ecological habitat in which to live, as do humans. Minor premise: The construction of large housing developments that adjoin forest preserves upsets the ecosystem and drives animals such as deer, raccoons, and skunks out of their natural habitats. Conclusion: Therefore, city, county, and state governments should limit the number and size of houses built in such developments.

8. Petitio principi
Also known as “begging the question,” this occurs when the rhetor makes an enthymeme that an audience doesn’t accept.

9. Practice
In his book High and Mighty, Keith Bradsher labels the SUV “the world’s most dangerous vehicle.” He points out that the Ford Explorer gets 14 miles to the gallon, less than half what the average new automobile in Japan gets. He notes that the Chevy Suburban emits 7.5 times more air pollution than the average automobile. Describe Bradsher’s argument as an enthymeme. Explain the unspoken assumption that forms the major premise.
2. Find a short piece of argumentative writing from your textbook, a newspaper, magazine, online article, etc., and describe the argument it makes as an enthymeme.

10. Answer:
Major Premise: [Vehicles that are bad for the environment are dangerous] Minor Premise: The SUV is bad for the environment Conclusion: The SUV is the world’s most dangerous vehicle