Page 243 - Between One and Many The Art and Science of Public Speaking

210 Part 3 Putting Theory Into Practice

Exhibit 8.5
An Example of the Use
Grounds: Claim:
of Authority to Support
My doctor Warrant: My doctor is an I should
a Claim recommends the expert on treating obesity. go on the
NutriSystem diet. NutriSystem diet.

specifi c examples and use them to establish generalizations. Others take previ-

ously established generalizations and apply them to specific cases. Exhibit 8.6
illustrates the relationship between a generalization-establishing warrant and a
generalization-applying warrant.

Establishing Generalizations
A warrant that establishes a generalization uses specifi c examples, statistics,
narratives, and the like to reach general conclusions. Warrants establishing gen-
eralizations are subject to tests of relevance, quantity, typicality, precision, and
negative example.

Tips and Tactics
Establishing a Generalization

• Are the specifi c instances relevant to the generalization?
• Are there enough specifi c instances to establish the claim?
• Are the specifi c instances typical of the larger population?
• Has overgeneralization from only a few instances been avoided?
• Are there no signifi cant known negative examples?

Examples, numerical data, and narratives are all good ways to establish a gener-
alization. However, relying on isolated examples and narratives is risky. A blend
of numbers and examples is more effective in establishing a generalization than
use of only a few examples or narratives. The story of Subway’s spokesperson,
Jared, who lost more than a hundred pounds on his all-sub sandwich diet, al-
though compelling, hardly proves that eating at Subway will guarantee weight
loss. Using his story along with other types of evidence—numerical data, expert
opinion, and descriptions of the low-fat, low-carb alternatives at Subway—would
be a stronger way to establish the claim that eating at Subway is a good way to
lose weight (assuming it really is).

Applying Generalizations
Once we know a generalization is true, we can apply it to a specifi c instance

and reach some valid conclusions about that specific instance. For example, we
know that anyone born in the United States or its territories is, by defi nition, a
U.S. citizen. Thus, if Jane shows us her birth certifi cate and it says she was born

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