My friend and colleague, Christy McDowell, has an article in Business and Professional Communication Quarterly about using topoi in class. With Annette Holba, they describe topoi as a framework for arguments—different ways to “use logic so that an audience can follow our reasoning.”

Topoi can deepen students’ understanding of logical arguments, and Christy and Annette provide examples and a class activity for instructors to use. I like the framework because it’s easily applied. Students could identify topoi used in a recent business message. As the authors explain, when you bring an example for students to analyze, in addition to the audience, communication objectives, and use of logos, ethos, and pathos, analyzing topoi is a deeper dive into how the writers use logic to reach the audience and what other approaches might be more effective.

Students also could develop their own argument, choosing relevant topoi for the context and audience. The authors provide several examples for this assignment.

I see topoi introduced in any class that includes rhetorical approaches and, particularly, in persuasive communication classes.