A Rhetoric of Argument introduces a foundational framework for understanding and constructing arguments, known as the stasis approach. This approach, developed by Jeanne Fahnestock and Philip Secor, categorizes arguments based on the fundamental questions they aim to answer: definition, causation, evaluation, and proposal. These categories provide students with a structured method for dissecting existing texts and for building their own persuasive writing. The book aims to equip readers with analytical tools applicable across various academic and rhetorical contexts.

When first published in 1982, 'A Rhetoric of Argument' introduced a novel approach to teaching argumentation through its pioneering stasis system. This framework, which categorizes arguments by the core questions they address (definition, causation, evaluation, proposal), has become a standard element in many contemporary argument textbooks. The book is recognized for providing students with a constructive and engaging method for both analyzing others' writing and developing their own.