The Common Topics

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In classical rhetoric, the Common Topics (koinoi topoi)were a short list of four traditional topics regarded as suitable to structure an argument.[citation needed]

In Aristotle's Rhetoric, the common topics are discussed in Book II.[1] They are generally considered to be heuristic.[1]

## Four traditional topics

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

## Expanded list of topics

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

* Definition
* genus / division / species
* etymology
* description
* definition
* example
* synonyms
* Comparison
* similarity
* difference
* degree
* Circumstance
* cause and effect
* timing
* Relationship
* contraries
* exclusion

* Testimony
* statistics
* maxims
* law
* precedents
* personal example
* historical example
* authoritative quotes

## See also

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* Rhetoric (Aristotle)

## References

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1. ^ a b Quandahl, Ellen (1986). "Aristotle's Rhetoric: Reinterpreting Invention". Rhetoric Review. 4 (2): 128–137\. JSTOR 466031.

## External links

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* Common Topics (course handout)

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