the textbook

Our assigned reading for this third week was Chapter Eight, "Extrinsic Proofs: Arguments Waiting to be Used". I found the information about proofs and authorities particularly interesting. One thing I have taken away from this week's reading is a new interest in sources used in journalism other literature. It can be interesting to find out more about the background of sources used in newspaper and magazine articles. I have had to write research papers for classes before, but this chapter has helped me better understand the mechanics behind putting them together. The credibility given to proximate authorities can easily lead to false accusations. Another interesting section of Chapter Eight was the explanation of how scholarly disagreements occur. What I don't understand is how "rhetors should never accept facts at face value". Say for example you are reading a scientific paper. Most scientific papers that are published cannot be published without peer review, so why would you not be able to trust data from these papers? Also, it confused me a little that they wrote that 'rumors' were considered an extrinsic proof. How can just a rumor with no witness backing be considered proof? However, I guess a witness testimony might also be falsified by that individual. On the whole though, this chapter was slow reading, a little dull.