The Common Topics

In classical rhetoric, the Common Topics were a short list of four traditional topics regarded as suitable to structure an argument.

Four Traditional Topics

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

Expanded List of Topics
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
 * open
 * closed
 * complicated
 * sexual
 * casual


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