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The Imaginative Argument: A Practical Manifesto for Writers
More than merely a writing text, The Imaginative Argument offers writers instruction on how to use their imaginations to improve their prose. Cioffi shows writers how they can enliven argument--the organizing rubric of all persuasive writing--by drawing on emotion, soul, and creativity, the wellsprings of imagination. While Cioffi suggests that argument should become a natural habit of mind for writers, he goes still further, inspiring writers to adopt as their gold standard the imaginative the surprising yet strikingly apt insight that organizes disparate noises into music, that makes out of chaos, chaos theory.
Rather than offering a model of writing based on established formulas or templates, Cioffi urges writers to envision argument as an active parsing of experience that imaginatively reinvents the world. Cioffi's manifesto asserts that successful argument also requires writers to explore their own deep-seated feelings, to exploit the fuzzy but often profoundly insightful logic of the imagination.
But expression is not all that Cioffi's work anchors itself in the actual. Drawing on Louis Kahn's notion that a good architect never has all the answers to a building's problems before its physical construction, Cioffi maintains that in argument, too, answers must be forged along the way, as the writer inventively deals with emergent problems and unforeseen complexities. Indeed, discovery, imagination, and invention suffuse all stages of the process.
The Imaginative Argument offers all the intellectual kindling that writers need to ignite this creativity, from insights on developing ideas to avoiding bland assertions or logical leaps. It cites exemplary nonfiction prose stylists, including William James, Ruth Benedict, and Erving Goffman, as well as literary sources to demonstrate the dynamic of persuasive writing. Provocative and lively, it will prove not only essential reading but also inspiration for all those interested in arguing more imaginatively more successfully.
Rather than offering a model of writing based on established formulas or templates, Cioffi urges writers to envision argument as an active parsing of experience that imaginatively reinvents the world. Cioffi's manifesto asserts that successful argument also requires writers to explore their own deep-seated feelings, to exploit the fuzzy but often profoundly insightful logic of the imagination.
But expression is not all that Cioffi's work anchors itself in the actual. Drawing on Louis Kahn's notion that a good architect never has all the answers to a building's problems before its physical construction, Cioffi maintains that in argument, too, answers must be forged along the way, as the writer inventively deals with emergent problems and unforeseen complexities. Indeed, discovery, imagination, and invention suffuse all stages of the process.
The Imaginative Argument offers all the intellectual kindling that writers need to ignite this creativity, from insights on developing ideas to avoiding bland assertions or logical leaps. It cites exemplary nonfiction prose stylists, including William James, Ruth Benedict, and Erving Goffman, as well as literary sources to demonstrate the dynamic of persuasive writing. Provocative and lively, it will prove not only essential reading but also inspiration for all those interested in arguing more imaginatively more successfully.
- GenresWritingNonfiction
256 pages, Paperback
First published March 14, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 21, 2020
The Imaginative Argument – A Practical Manifesto For Writers by Frank L. Cioffi is an innovative book that shows writers how to explore a wide array of subjects in a truly creative way.
Cioffi infuses the book with abundant practical, thoughtful, yet incisive examples that teach individuals the many possibilities available in argumentation, while still leaving the reader the versatility to focus and employ their own creative style in their writing repertoire.
Sourcing authors such as Orwell, Goffman, Benedict, Updike, James, Nabovok and others, the author helps the reader analyze them and view their notable writing idiosyncrasies for the strengths they were, while also showing the vast range these writers employed each in their own unique way.
The Imaginative Argument is an outside of the box book that it is better thought of as belonging in its own writing domain, for it doesn’t operate within any proverbial box, as it teaches argumentation in a robust and yet meaningful way that doesn’t shackle itself to any preconceived notions but uses imagination as the gateway from which it operates.
In other words, what Cioffi offers in this book is a mixture of equal parts mad scientist and academician who employ mathematical precision merged with the range of a boundless artist that utilizes the universe as its canvas for writing. The Imaginative Argument is a true perfect fusion of the left and right brain to boot, which is the best part of this book.
Writing argumentative papers or articles on serious subjects can really make for a dull read. But this book helps add additional depth and intrigue by its inherent strength in showing many of the ways that subjects can be explored in a non-traditional way that really leaves the reader thinking in ways they wouldn’t have done so if a subject was written about in a more traditional way as writing is often taught.
Covered also within the confines of this book are all of the major parts of constructing an essay: a solid foundational introduction, a consideration of the audience which is focused on quite a bit throughout the book, a foray into the writing process, a focus on the thesis, arguments, style, and much more.
The end of the book even provides additional sample essays and writing prompts which serve to further an individual’s self-directed learning process.
In its totality, this book offers a lot of ideas for consideration for all writers. Cioffi’s refreshing and fearless approach serves to engage the reader quite saliently, also providing a veritable mixture of do’s and don’ts that are not only practical but useful.
Cioffi created an absolute masterpiece in the field of creative argumentation, and for that he should be applauded at length.
____________________________________________
About The Author:
Zy Marquiez is author of Amor Vincit Omnia – Love Conquers All, and also an avid book reviewer, inquirer, an open-minded skeptic, health freedom advocate, and writer who aims at empowering individuals in many ways, while also delving deeper and regularly mirroring subjects like Consciousness, Education, Creativity, Individuality, Ancient History & Ancient Civilizations, Forbidden Archaeology, Big Pharma, Alternative Health, Space, Geoengineering, Social Engineering, Propaganda, and much more.
____________________________________________
Add Me On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ZMarquiez
Follow The Page On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BreakawayInd...
Blog: https://breakawayindividual.com
____________________________________________
Suggested Reading:
Socratic Logic V3.1 by Peter Kreeft Ph.D.
How To Read A Book by Mortimer J. Adler & Charles Van Doren
Philosophy 101b by Peter Kreeft Ph.D.
A Workbook For Arguments – A Complete Course In Critical Thinking by David Morrow
The Imaginative Argument – A Practical Manifesto For Writers By Frank L. Cioffi
The Trivium – The Liberal Arts Of Logic, Grammar & Rhetoric by Sister Mary Joseph Ph.D.
Dumbing Us Down by John Taylor Gatto
Rotten To The Common Core by Dr. Joseph P. Farrell & Gary Lawrence
A Different Kind Of Teacher by John Taylor Gatto
Weapons Of Mass Instruction by John Taylor Gatto
Drilling Through The Core by Sandra Stotski & Contributors
Tavistock Institute: Social Engineering The Masses by Daniel Estulin
Sherlock Holmes – The Complete Stories by Arthur Conan Doyle.
A Mind Of Your Own – The Truth About Depression & How Women Can Heal Their Bodies To Reclaim Their Lives by Dr. Kelly Brogan
Cioffi infuses the book with abundant practical, thoughtful, yet incisive examples that teach individuals the many possibilities available in argumentation, while still leaving the reader the versatility to focus and employ their own creative style in their writing repertoire.
Sourcing authors such as Orwell, Goffman, Benedict, Updike, James, Nabovok and others, the author helps the reader analyze them and view their notable writing idiosyncrasies for the strengths they were, while also showing the vast range these writers employed each in their own unique way.
The Imaginative Argument is an outside of the box book that it is better thought of as belonging in its own writing domain, for it doesn’t operate within any proverbial box, as it teaches argumentation in a robust and yet meaningful way that doesn’t shackle itself to any preconceived notions but uses imagination as the gateway from which it operates.
In other words, what Cioffi offers in this book is a mixture of equal parts mad scientist and academician who employ mathematical precision merged with the range of a boundless artist that utilizes the universe as its canvas for writing. The Imaginative Argument is a true perfect fusion of the left and right brain to boot, which is the best part of this book.
Writing argumentative papers or articles on serious subjects can really make for a dull read. But this book helps add additional depth and intrigue by its inherent strength in showing many of the ways that subjects can be explored in a non-traditional way that really leaves the reader thinking in ways they wouldn’t have done so if a subject was written about in a more traditional way as writing is often taught.
Covered also within the confines of this book are all of the major parts of constructing an essay: a solid foundational introduction, a consideration of the audience which is focused on quite a bit throughout the book, a foray into the writing process, a focus on the thesis, arguments, style, and much more.
The end of the book even provides additional sample essays and writing prompts which serve to further an individual’s self-directed learning process.
In its totality, this book offers a lot of ideas for consideration for all writers. Cioffi’s refreshing and fearless approach serves to engage the reader quite saliently, also providing a veritable mixture of do’s and don’ts that are not only practical but useful.
Cioffi created an absolute masterpiece in the field of creative argumentation, and for that he should be applauded at length.
____________________________________________
About The Author:
Zy Marquiez is author of Amor Vincit Omnia – Love Conquers All, and also an avid book reviewer, inquirer, an open-minded skeptic, health freedom advocate, and writer who aims at empowering individuals in many ways, while also delving deeper and regularly mirroring subjects like Consciousness, Education, Creativity, Individuality, Ancient History & Ancient Civilizations, Forbidden Archaeology, Big Pharma, Alternative Health, Space, Geoengineering, Social Engineering, Propaganda, and much more.
____________________________________________
Add Me On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ZMarquiez
Follow The Page On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BreakawayInd...
Blog: https://breakawayindividual.com
____________________________________________
Suggested Reading:
Socratic Logic V3.1 by Peter Kreeft Ph.D.
How To Read A Book by Mortimer J. Adler & Charles Van Doren
Philosophy 101b by Peter Kreeft Ph.D.
A Workbook For Arguments – A Complete Course In Critical Thinking by David Morrow
The Imaginative Argument – A Practical Manifesto For Writers By Frank L. Cioffi
The Trivium – The Liberal Arts Of Logic, Grammar & Rhetoric by Sister Mary Joseph Ph.D.
Dumbing Us Down by John Taylor Gatto
Rotten To The Common Core by Dr. Joseph P. Farrell & Gary Lawrence
A Different Kind Of Teacher by John Taylor Gatto
Weapons Of Mass Instruction by John Taylor Gatto
Drilling Through The Core by Sandra Stotski & Contributors
Tavistock Institute: Social Engineering The Masses by Daniel Estulin
Sherlock Holmes – The Complete Stories by Arthur Conan Doyle.
A Mind Of Your Own – The Truth About Depression & How Women Can Heal Their Bodies To Reclaim Their Lives by Dr. Kelly Brogan
February 24, 2017
This is the book I wish I'd read before I started that dissertation. It's not fun reading. Reading about writing seldom is, but supportive help about forming arguments in academic writing is well worth the effort.
June 15, 2019
3.5 Stars.
Solid text. I will likely use some ideas from it in my teaching, but I would only recommend the text as a whole for advanced rhetoric classes or autodidacts.
Solid text. I will likely use some ideas from it in my teaching, but I would only recommend the text as a whole for advanced rhetoric classes or autodidacts.
April 26, 2021
Great book on how to write effective essays.
August 17, 2010
Reading this book got me back in touch with what drove me as an English major and helped me see that experience (over 20 years ago, now) in a way that will be easy for my high school and middle school students to understand. Additionally, as a teacher of teachers, I've new insights into the process of writing essays and research papers that can only help me in my college/prof. development classroom.
As a veteran of Bard College's Institute for Writing and Thinking, I'm intimately familiar with the mindset Cioffi brings to the process of writing (he is a faculty member of the IWT). I highly recommend this book to all teachers of writing, but only after your tackle Peter Elbow's Writing with Power, and Teresa Villardi and Mary Chang (eds.) Writing Based Teaching.
As a veteran of Bard College's Institute for Writing and Thinking, I'm intimately familiar with the mindset Cioffi brings to the process of writing (he is a faculty member of the IWT). I highly recommend this book to all teachers of writing, but only after your tackle Peter Elbow's Writing with Power, and Teresa Villardi and Mary Chang (eds.) Writing Based Teaching.
October 14, 2008
Stylistic primers are an odd sort. As a genre, these tools almost unanimously battle with advising a beginner to both find one's own method and follow the author's method. Cioffi makes a great case for his particular brand of creative writing (and frequently apologizes for it with reasoned exceptions), but he frequently comes across as a bit of a snark, maybe leaning a little too diligently on the idea that there are some things that simply don't belong in writing under any circumstances. It's a useful tool, though, and a fair, brief breakdown of some sophisticated argumentation.
October 21, 2013
This book has saved my sanity on more than one occasion. Writing (especially academic writing) makes me very anxious and in chapters 3 and 5 Cioffi suggests a writing process (with ways to think up ideas and organize them) that is not revolutionary, but very practical (and adaptable). When my brain is cycling round in a panic loop, I pull this book out, read chapter three and adhere to the process. It allows me to at least START writing SOMETHING which is 99% of the battle.
July 10, 2008
great for anyone writing an academic paper. Cioffi gives great suggestions for generating ideas and organizing your writing.
October 31, 2012
Had to read it for a writing class. It definitely had some good ideas, though I am not sure how practical some will be.
November 21, 2014
Wonderful book, would have really been helpful had I fully gone through it during an earlier time than the last semester of college.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews