ARCS p. 186 #1&3

1.) By examining the article, “We Knew This Web Thing Was Just a Fad,” I discovered that the author, Roy Edroso, made use of maxims, signs, and examples to support his argument that the internet’s powerful influence on the world is declining. He begins his article, which appears in The Village Voice, by stating, “The conventional wisdom is that the internet is all-powerful, and therefore immune from the slump that's affecting boring old companies in the tedious real world.” This statement serves as a maxim that is generally accepted by the community Edroso is writing towards. Edroso continues his argument by explaining how “Yahoo and eBay are cutting about 2,500 jobs.” This statement is a physical fact that signifies the decline in internet power. Finally, Edroso uses examples to support his argument. Edroso states, “Brand Republic reports that Amazon has just taken a billion dollars off its 2008 revenue projections.” This description of Amazon’s budget cut exemplifies the move towards a less influential internet. Edroso’s use of maxims, signs, and examples allows him to provide his readers with a stronger, more convincing argument.

3.) The slogan, “Knowledge is Power” could likely serve as a premise of an enthymeme. For example, if a parent is trying to convince their child to attend college, the parent could use” Knowledge is Power” as a premise for the argument.