5 9The Art of Close Analysis
This chapter will largely be dedicated to a single purpose: the close and careful analysis
of a speech drawn from the Congressional Record, using argumentative devices
introduced in Chapter 3. The point of this chapter is to show in detail how these methods
of analysis can be applied to an actual argument of some richness and complexity.An Extended Example
It is now time to apply all of our previously discussed notions to a genuine
argument. Our example will be a debate that occurred in the House of Rep-
resentatives on the question of whether there should be an increase in the al-
lowance given to members of the House for clerical help—the so-called clerk
hire allowance. The argument against the increase presented by Representa-
tive Kyl (Republican, Iowa) will be examined in detail. We will put it under
an analytic microscope.
The choice of this example may seem odd, for the question of clerk hire
allowance is not one of the burning issues of our time. This, in fact, is one
reason for choosing it. It will be useful to begin with an example about
which feelings do not run high to learn the habit of objective analysis. Later
on we shall examine arguments about which almost everyone has strong
feelings and try to maintain an objective standpoint even there.
The example is good for two other reasons: (1) It contains most of the ar-
gumentative devices we have listed, and (2) relatively speaking, it is quite a
strong argument. This last remark may seem ironic after we seemingly tear
the argument to shreds. However, in comparison to other arguments we
shall examine, it stands up well.
We begin by reading through a section of the Congressional Record
(vol. 107, part 3, March 15, 1961, pp. 4059–60) without comment:Clerk Hire Allowance, House of Representatives
Mr. FRIEDEL. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on House Administration,
I call up the resolution (H. Res. 219) to increase the basic clerk hire allowance of each
Member of the House, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration.4
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