The Common Topics Explained

In classical rhetoric, the Common Topics were a short list of four traditional topics regarded as suitable to structure an argument.

Four Traditional Topics

  1. Past Fact (Circumstance)
  2. Possible/Impossible (Possibility)
  3. Future Fact (Circumstance)
  4. Greater/Lesser (Comparison)

Expanded List of Topics

Edward P.J. Corbett and Robert J. Connors expanded the list in their 1971 book Classical Rhetoric for the Modern Student to include:

See also

References