Argumentation

Hidden argumentation

Hidden argumentation means the writer relies on examples and case stories to suggest arguments without stating them directly.

For example, in “Why we need to slow down our lives”, Pico Iyer uses the story about visiting Google’s headquarters to show that big companies are promoting techniques like meditation and yoga because they realized they have a positive impact on employee creativity and productivity: “…a ‘Yogler’ program whereby the many Googlers who practice yoga could actually be trained to teach it; (...) a celebrated and popular seven-week program called ‘Search Inside Yourself,’…” (ll. 78-84).

Various other examples of companies and institutions promoting similar relaxation programs add to the writer’s hidden argument that stillness is important for both mind and body: “…leads his colleagues in the House of Representatives in sessions of sitting still, reminding them that, if nothing else, it’s be...