Eramus

In class we've dealt extensively with "Arrangement," originally one of Aristotle's canons. Erasmus, another religious rhetorical figure, had his own take on Aristotle's "Arrangement." Essentially, he broke it down to five parts:

1) Word order: This was essentially meaning that the words should be ordered clearly, musically, and/or vigorously.

2) Order of propositions: Basically, you should order your arguments (which we will get into more later)

3) Parts of individual arguments: This was important because it broke each proposition or argument into it's own parts.

4) Large section: this was the evidence-based part of the sermon

5) Whole sermon: the culmination of everything into a religious sermon.

Steps 2 & 5 seem to be the most important because Erasmus believed the best/strongest arguments should be at the beginning and the end. The order of propositions seemed obviously important in this step. You would structure your rhetoric/arguments to get the strongest at the beginning and the end. This sets up the parts of individual arguments to follow. Then, at the end, step #5, the whole sermon is ultimately the most important. At the end, sermons are what should be remembered, according to Erasmus and other religious rhetoricians.

The notion of best arguments at the beginning and the end is taught still today. The introduction and conclusion sometimes get overlooked in writing and rhetoric. However, psychologically, this is what the audience remembers. The middle of the speech/paper may contain the evidence and the logical appeals, but the audience needs to know the premise from the beginning, and the end arguments tie it all together. There is no doubt that the end of any rhetorical speech/paper/process needs to be the strongest.

Erasmus would agree.