Assembling Arguments

"In its attempt to characterize scientific discourse as multi-modal Assembling Arguments seems to me both radical and right, radical because most of the literature on the subject is focused exclusively on the verbal and right because most of science is multi-modal as a casual glance at Science or Nature will immediately reveal."—Alan G. Gross, professor of communications emeritus, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

"Assembling Arguments brings an impressive breadth of traditional and contemporary conceptual resources to bear on the question of how visual images contribute to scientific argumentation. Buehl rethinks rhetorical theory, enriches it with theories of cognition and visual perception, and applies his synthetic framework to a series of deeply engaged case studies of scientific argumentation, both historical and contemporary, involving both traditional and digital visual elements. It will be essential reading for those in both rhetoric of science and visual rhetoric"—Carolyn Miller, retired, North Carolina State University

"Jonathan Buehl has produced an important and timely investigation into the complex and multifaceted relationships between argumentation, science, multimodality, and ethics. He illuminates in impressive ways the rhetorical strategies and dynamics in a wide range of scientific cases, demonstrating the stakes of both science and rhetoric as disciplinary endeavors. Readers will especially appreciate the critical extension of his project into the pedagogical domain. This book will become required reading in rhetoric, composition, and communication programs."—Stuart A. Selber, Pennsylvania State University