Questions on Rhetoric and Style

  1. What purposes do the quotations in this essay from George Eliot’s novel Middlemarch serve? Why does Gould, when introducing the quotation from Broca in paragraph 5, refer to Eliot? Why are quotations from Eliot, whose real name was Mary Anne Evans, especially appropriate for Gould’s essay?

    Question

    uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7
    Chapter 8 - Women’s Brains - Questions on Rhetoric and Style: What purposes do the quotations in this essay from George Eliot’s novel Middlemarch serve? Why does Gould, when introducing the quotation from Broca in paragraph 5, refer to Eliot? Why are quotations from Eliot, whose real name was Mary Anne Evans, especially appropriate for Gould’s essay?
  2. In paragraph 3, Gould states, “I have the greatest respect for Broca’s meticulous procedure. His numbers are sound.” Despite this praise, Gould goes on to refute Broca’s findings. What vulnerability does Gould find in Broca’s conclusions? Does Gould’s praise of Broca strengthen or weaken his own argument? Explain.

    Question

    uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7
    Chapter 8 - Women’s Brains - Questions on Rhetoric and Style: In paragraph 3, Gould states, “I have the greatest respect for Broca’s meticulous procedure. His numbers are sound.” Despite this praise, Gould goes on to refute Broca’s findings. What vulnerability does Gould find in Broca’s conclusions? Does Gould’s praise of Broca strengthen or weaken his own argument? Explain.
  3. Gould builds two parallel arguments: one on scientific method, another on speculative conclusions. In which passages does he question the scientific method(s) rather than the findings themselves? How does Gould weave these sources together in order to make his own point?

    Question

    uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7
    Chapter 8 - Women’s Brains - Questions on Rhetoric and Style: Gould builds two parallel arguments: one on scientific method, another on speculative conclusions. In which passages does he question the scientific method(s) rather than the findings themselves? How does Gould weave these sources together in order to make his own point?
  4. How does each of the individuals Gould cites—Paul Broca, L. Manouvrier, Gustave Le Bon, and Maria Montessori—contribute to the development of his argument? Does each make a separate point, or do they reinforce one another? Could Gould have eliminated any of them without damaging his argument? Explain your reasoning.

    Question

    uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7
    Chapter 8 - Women’s Brains - Questions on Rhetoric and Style: How does each of the individuals Gould cites—Paul Broca, L. Manouvrier, Gustave Le Bon, and Maria Montessori—contribute to the development of his argument? Does each make a separate point, or do they reinforce one another? Could Gould have eliminated any of them without damaging his argument? Explain your reasoning.
  5. At the end of paragraph 7, Gould adds a footnote reassessing an earlier point. Does this admission add or detract from his credibility?

    Question

    uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7
    Chapter 8 - Women’s Brains - Questions on Rhetoric and Style: At the end of paragraph 7, Gould adds a footnote reassessing an earlier point. Does this admission add or detract from his credibility?
  6. Paragraphs 9 through 12 work as a unit to develop a single point that is integral to the overall essay. What is this point? How do paragraphs 9–12 develop the point?

    Question

    uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7
    Chapter 8 - Women’s Brains - Questions on Rhetoric and Style: Paragraphs 9 through 12 work as a unit to develop a single point that is integral to the overall essay. What is this point? How do paragraphs 9–12 develop the point?
  7. In paragraph 13, Gould shows how Broca and his colleagues extended their conclusions to other groups. What is Gould’s purpose in developing this point as elaborately as he does?

    Question

    uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7
    Chapter 8 - Women’s Brains - Questions on Rhetoric and Style: In paragraph 13, Gould shows how Broca and his colleagues extended their conclusions to other groups. What is Gould’s purpose in developing this point as elaborately as he does?
  8. Why is questioning Maria Montessori’s research and conclusions an effective strategy? What criticism might Gould be guarding against in doing so?

    Question

    uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7
    Chapter 8 - Women’s Brains - Questions on Rhetoric and Style: Why is questioning Maria Montessori’s research and conclusions an effective strategy? What criticism might Gould be guarding against in doing so?
  9. In the final two paragraphs, how does Gould bring together both of his arguments—that is, his argument against the actual scientific research and his argument about the conclusions drawn from that research?

    Question

    uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7
    Chapter 8 - Women’s Brains - Questions on Rhetoric and Style: In the final two paragraphs, how does Gould bring together both of his arguments—that is, his argument against the actual scientific research and his argument about the conclusions drawn from that research?
  10. This essay has a strong appeal to logos, as would be expected of a scientific argument. How does Gould also appeal to pathos? How does that appeal add to the persuasiveness of his argument?

    Question

    uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7
    Chapter 8 - Women’s Brains - Questions on Rhetoric and Style: This essay has a strong appeal to logos, as would be expected of a scientific argument. How does Gould also appeal to pathos? How does that appeal add to the persuasiveness of his argument?
  11. Most of the time Gould writes in the third person, but he uses first person occasionally. Explain why you think those shifts strengthen or weaken the essay.

    Question

    uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7
    Chapter 8 - Women’s Brains - Questions on Rhetoric and Style: Most of the time Gould writes in the third person, but he uses first person occasionally. Explain why you think those shifts strengthen or weaken the essay.
  12. How would you characterize the audience for whom Gould is writing? Do you think fellow scientists are among them? Explain why or why not.

    Question

    uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7
    Chapter 8 - Women’s Brains - Questions on Rhetoric and Style: How would you characterize the audience for whom Gould is writing? Do you think fellow scientists are among them? Explain why or why not.