Deductive Structures
Structures that move from general principles to specific applications — stating the conclusion or thesis first, then supporting it with evidence and reasoning.
4 structures across 1 subcategory
Thesis-First Exposition
Structures that lead with the main claim and then build the case beneath it.
General Principle → Evidence → Specific Conclusion
A structure that begins with a general principle or thesis, then moves through supporting evidence and reasoning to arrive at a specific conclusion that follows necessarily from the premises.
Most Important → Important → Supporting Detail → Background
A structure borrowed from journalism that presents the most important information first, then progressively adds detail and context in descending order of importance.
Major Premise → Minor Premise → Conclusion → (Application)
A structure that explicitly lays out premises in sequence, each building on the last, to reach an inescapable conclusion through formal logical steps.
Thesis → Evidence → Application
A three-part structure that states a thesis, marshals evidence to support it, then applies the proven thesis to a specific situation or draws out its implications.