Page 244 - Between One and Many The Art and Science of Public Speaking

Chapter 8 Supporting Your Message 211

Exhibit 8.6
Relationship Between
Generalization-
Establishing and
Generalization-
Applying Warrants
Generalizations are
Generalization
l
estab ished based on
a number of specifi c in-
stances. Once accepted,
generalizations are then
applied to further spe cifi c
instances.
Specific Specific
instances instance

in Alaska, we know she is a U.S. citizen. Warrants applying generalizations are
subject to tests of support, applicability, and exceptions.

Tips and Tactics
Applying a Generalization to a Specifi c Instance

• The generalization needs to be well-supported and accepted by the audience.
• The generalization should apply to the case at hand.
• If there are exceptions to the generalization, make sure the specifi c case isn’t
one of the exceptions.

Even though all persons born in the United States and its territories are native-
born citizens, there are exceptions—for example, someone who has renounced
his or her citizenship. And, of course, just because a person isn’t born in the
United States doesn’t mean that person is not a U.S. citizen. Children born of
citizen parents are citizens even if they are born outside the United States. When
applying generalizations in a speech, it is important to make sure the audience
accepts the general rule being used and knows the instance being discussed
clearly falls within that category.

Comparison (Analogy) Warrants

Reasoning based on a comparison (analogy) warrant claims that two comparison
cases that are similar in some known respects are also similar in some unknown (analogy) warrant
respects. We often use examples or narratives as points of comparison. In infor-
A statement that two
mative speaking, analogies are particularly useful for explaining complex sub-
cases that are similar in
jects in simple terms. For example, one student drew an analogy between strip- some known respects
ping the insulation off a wire and the effect multiple sclerosis has on the central are also similar in some
nervous system. Analogies are subject to tests of familiarity, literalness versus unknown aspects.
fi gurativeness, similarity, and relevance.

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