Editing Inventio (section)

==''Stasis''==
According to rhetorical scholar Thomas O. Sloane, Cicero described rhetoric as the devising of true or seemingly true arguments for the sake of making one's case appear probable.<ref name=tos1>{{cite journal |last1=Sloane |first1=Thomas O. |title="Reinventing Inventio." |journal=College English |date=1989 |volume=51 |issue=5 |pages=461–73 |url=https://doi.org/10.2307/378000 |doi=10.2307/378000 |jstor=378000 |access-date=20 September 2023|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Therefore, a speaker must debate both sides of an argument to invent an effective argument.<ref name=tos1/> Sloane goes on to say it is important for a speaker to critique every aspect of his or her argument. Ciceronian invention is simply an analytical process of argument.<ref name=tos1/> However, as a theorist of law, Cicero put forward a specific procedure commonly referred to as stasis theory.<ref name="Sloane 1989 466">{{cite book|last=Sloane|first=Thomas|title=Reinventing Inventio|year=1989|publisher=National Council of Teachers of English|page=466}}</ref>

Stasis is a procedure by which a speaker poses questions in order to clarify the main issues and persuasive points of a speech or debate.<ref name=tos1/> This procedure allows the speaker to critically question each point, assessing the relative worth of each point as appropriate to the substance of the case and to its capacity to persuade an audience.

Using stasis theory gives the speaker numerous advantages that will help them excel in persuading. According to Crowley and Hawhee, the following advantages may accrue in the use of stasis theory.

*Allows the speaker to clarify his or her thinking about the point in dispute.
*Allows the speaker to consider the assumption and values an audience holds. 
*Establishes certain areas in which more research and effort needs to be spent.
*Distinguishes which points are crucial to an effective argument.
*Guides the speaker towards building an effective arrangement for their argument or speech.

There are four types of stasis:<ref>{{cite book|last=Hawhee, Debra and Sharon Crowley|chapter=Stasis theory: Asking the right questions |title=Ancient Rhetorics for Contemporary Students |year=1999|publisher=Allyn and Bacon|location=Boston|pages=44–74}}</ref> conjectural (question of fact: Is/was it?), definitional (question of definition: What is/what is its meaning?), qualitative (question of quality: How good or bad is/was it), and translative (question of place or procedure: Is/was this appropriate process or place to handle the matter?). For instance, a lawyer defending someone accused of damaging property might pose the following questions:

*Question of fact: did the person damage the item? (conjectural)
*Question of definition: was the damage minor or major? (definitional)
*Question of quality: was he justified in damaging the item? (qualitative)
*Question of jurisdiction: should this be a civil or criminal trial? (translative)

The question of fact is key as the first step in formulating any argument is separating the true from the false. If the terms of the argument at hand cannot be agreed on, the discussion will not move in any positive direction. Going back and forth attacking sources of information is not conducive to making any real progress, so an emphasis on using only solid information and evidence-based anecdotes is at the crucial to achieving stasis

The question of definition means to define what, exactly, the issue of concern is, and what, if any, biases or preconceptions our arguments hold. Then, categorizing the problem is the next focus, agreeing on the class of the event and therefore the attitude with which it should be approached. A political disagreement should be investigated with a different lens than a criminal case, for example, as they are concerns of a different nature.

The question of quality means identifying the magnitude of the event, the wider impacts, as well as what would happen if no action were to be taken. Identifying if this problem is important as part of a bigger picture is key to preparing a sound argument, as well as figuring out whether or not it is a cause worth pursuing. The quality aspect of stasis comes down to deciding if this particular problem requires attention, and at what cost will a resolution come about.

The question of jurisdiction means formulating a plan of action. Just as we calculate whether the particular problem is worth the energy in the quality category, here we make the decision to take action. A plan of action includes determining what kind of people should be involved in solving this problem, and what strategy these people will use.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/736/1/ |title = OWL // Purdue Writing Lab}}</ref>