Comments on: Epitasis and Aposiopesis: On Dan Olmsted’s rhetoric

By: Back in Jersey Where There’s “Looming Dread of Autism”

Back in Jersey Where There’s “Looming Dread of Autism” — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 18:16:56 +0000

[...] offer up many (if not most) of his pieces (like this one); I supposed I could also include some writings by Dan Olmsted. Is it possible that there’s a correlation between writing about the dangers of vaccines, [...]

By: The truth about autism: It’s not toxic

The truth about autism: It’s not toxic — Tue, 06 May 2008 20:10:34 +0000

[...] her op-ed in the usual way that advocates of the mercury-autism theory (such as David Kirby and Dan Olmsted) use: After briefly mentioning an opposing theory in the opening paragraphs, Dachel attempts to [...]

By: Mercury in the Syllabus: Sample Writing Assignments

Mercury in the Syllabus: Sample Writing Assignments — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 15:58:44 +0000

[...] (1) Close Reading Essay Choose one day of testimony from the “vaccine court” held in June of 2006 at the U.S. Court of Claims, in which Theresa and Michael Cedillo claimed that their now-12-year-old daughter, Michelle, became autistic due to a vaccine or to something in a vaccine. Look closely at the language of the “expert witnesses” called to the stand (Dr. Ronald Kennedy, Dr. Vera Byers, Dr. Marcel Kinsbourne) and also at the questions asked by the lawyers. What uses of rhetoric are used and for what purposes? (For an example of a close reading based on rhetoric, go here.) [...]

By: Autism Vox » Something To Make You Think

Autism Vox » Something To Make You Think — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 07:28:17 +0000

[...] As you may have noticed over the past few days, or weeks, or months, there have been a few other things to write about regarding autism: cause—-cure—-the autism “epidemic“—-vaccines—-why in the world there is so much autism in New Jersey—-little Katherine McCarron—-the genetics of autism—-disablity and mythology in the ancient world—-legislation for autism in New Jersey—-Sigourney Weaver as an autistic woman—-poetry—-the rhetoric of autism writing—-and a really good book. [...]

By: Autism Vox » Autism Vox Top 10 of 2006

Autism Vox » Autism Vox Top 10 of 2006 — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 05:50:23 +0000

[...] Epitasis and Aposiopesis: On Dan Olmsted’s rhetoric [...]

By: Julia

Julia — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 15:51:44 +0000

Oh, brother.

1) You can’t do that sort of calculation unless the two variables are independent. If someone with Still’s Disease is more likely to have autism than someone without, then the probability calculation is meaningless.

2) Throwing in “Oh, brother” like that in a piece of writing to be taken as seriously as Olmstead would probably like it to be taken detracts from the argument. Greatly. I see something like that tossed into an argument and I automatically discount the rest of it — it undermines the credibility of the speaker and what he’s trying to convince me of.

3) Yeah, I did the same above. I also type, “Um, dude” in internet conversations where I’m trying very hard NOT to instead type “Look, you’re being incredibly stupid on this point, and I’m about to make you look like someone who shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near a computer in the next 5 sentences.”

By: Kristina Chew, PhD

Kristina Chew, PhD — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 15:15:50 +0000

I’ll try to in the next post, or the next rhetorical analysis…….

You’re very welcome!

By: Lisa/Jedi

Lisa/Jedi — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 15:15:41 +0000

If only more people were able to actually assess what they’re reading rather than just buying it because it sounds good… **shakes head**

By: sharon

sharon — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 09:25:27 +0000

Ah go on Kristina, be inauspicious just this once!

BTY, thanks for the lesson!