The authorial argument builds on the synthetic study and seeks to determine why the author/Author wrote what he/He did to the readers. This approach is largely deductive, based on the clues found in your inductive study. So imagine yourself to be a detective who endeavors to determine the purpose for selecting both the content and arrangement.
This study is significant because it serves as a bridge to application. After we determine why the content of a book was written to the initial readers, we can discern its timeless value to our lives today.
How to determine an argument
1. DEDUCE THE ARGUMENT First, a purpose is deduced for the entire book from the clues given in the literary development of the book. The synthetic chart lends itself to determining the purpose of the book because it reflects the literary scripture.
An argument statement consists of two parts : Subject/Complement (S/C)
The subject represents what has been said in the paragraph, unit, or the entire book.
The complement states why it has been said.
Prayerfully ask deductive questions, "Why did he say this? What did he want to accomplish in their lives? Why was this said here? What is its relationship to what is said before it, to what comes after it, to the letter as a whole?"
2. TRACE THE ARGUMENT Second, prove that the purpose exists by explaining how the major parts of the letter contribute to the whole. To do this, let the main sections of your synthetic chart serve as an outline for the main sections of the purpose(s). Add a complement statement to each summary statement in order to reflect its purpose.
The complement should make deliberate reference to "the readers". This allows you to explain why the author said what he said to the readers. Organize your discoveries
EXTRA TIPS:
Keep the initial readers in mind.
What was being written to them?
A multitude of other events, examples, or concepts could have been chosen. But they were not.
Why did the readers need to have this content sent to them?
Is there a key verse that unlocks the purpose and can be added to my chart?
Realize that "purpose" may be stated at 3 different levels:
1. Why the subject matter occurred initially
2. Why the subject matter was selected for the readers.
3. Why God kept the subject matter for today.
Title: State the S/C for the book in one sentence.
I. State S/C for the first main section (ref)
A. Under a sub-point write 3- 5 sentences that offer proof from that section to support your S/C statement. (ref)
B. A section may require several sub-points which reflect the flow of the argument through the section. (ref)
II. State S/C for the second main section of the book (ref)
A. Under a sub-point write 3- 5 sentences that offer proof from that section to support your S/C statement. Note the references which apply.
B. A section may require several sub-point which reflect the flow of the argument through the section. Note the references which apply.
Repeat outline pattern for the remaining sections
3. Discern the Writer's Argument/Purpose
