Aristotle's Topics — 9 of 18

Section 1 - Hello And Welcome!

To run the introductory sequence:

print "[line break][line break][line break][line break][line break][tab]A COMPUTER-PROMPTED INVENTION PROGRAM:[line break][tab]-------------------------------------[line break][line break][tab] ARISTOTLE'S TOPICS[line break][tab] ------------------[line break][line break][line break][line break][line break][tab]HELLO AND WELCOME![line break][line break]";

[00250]

print "PLEASE TYPE IN YOUR FIRST NAME: ";

get a line of input, ignoring blank lines;

now the first name is the user input;

[00290]

print "[line break]NOW, [first name], PLEASE TYPE IN YOUR LAST NAME: ";

get a line of input, ignoring blank lines;

now the last name is the user input;

[00312]

[The special input TEST! makes Topoi skip the introductory stuff, ask the first question, and jump to the main loop--without selecting a subject.]

if the last name is not "TEST!":

introduce ourselves;

offer directions;

offer some background;

get the initial subject;

get the user's purpose;

[03330 'PAGING OPENING QUESTIONING SEQUENCE]

print "[line break][line break][line break][line break][line break][tab]RELAX NOW, [first name], AND ENJOY THIS BRAINSTORMING SESSION.[line break][line break][line break][line break][line break][line break][line break][line break][line break][line break][line break][line break][line break][line break]";

ask a question.

To introduce ourselves:

[00320]

print "[line break][line break]WELL, [first name] [last name], I HOPE I CAN BE OF SOME ASSISTANCE[line break]TO YOU TODAY. IF WE TAKE EACH OTHER SERIOUSLY, YOU'LL[line break]THINK ABOUT YOUR TOPIC AS YOU NEVER HAVE BEFORE.[line break][line break][line break][tab]BEFORE WE BEGIN, [first name], THERE'S AN OLD[line break]SAYING ABOUT COMPUTER-ASSISTED INSTRUCTION, IT GOES:[line break][line break][tab]'GARBAGE IN, GARBAGE OUT!'[line break][line break]IN OTHER WORDS, YOU AND I MUST WORK TOGETHER SO[line break]YOU CAN GET A GOOD START ON YOUR RESEARCH PAPER.[line break][line break][line break][line break][tab][tab](PRESS 'RETURN' TO CONTINUE.)";

wait for the user to press Return.

To offer directions:

[00510]

print "[line break][line break][line break]WOULD YOU LIKE TO REVIEW THE DIRECTIONS AND THE COMMANDS?[line break][tab](YES OR NO?)[line break]";

if the user agrees:

show directions and commands.

To offer some background:

[01570]

print "[line break][line break][line break][line break]WOULD YOU LIKE A BRIEF EXPLANATION OF HOW[line break]ARISTOTLE'S TOPICS HELP WRITERS WRITE?[line break][tab](YES OR NO?)[line break]";

if the user agrees:

print "[line break][line break][tab]I'M GLAD YOU ASKED, [first name]. BRIEFLY, THE TWENTY-EIGHT[line break]ENTHYMEME TOPICS HELP A WRITER (OR A SPEAKER) DISCOVER[line break]SPECIFIC ARGUMENTS ABOUT SUBJECTS.[line break][line break][tab]IN HIS 'RHETORIC', ARISTOTLE TELLS US THAT THE AIM OR GOAL[line break]OF RHETORIC IS TO PERSUADE AN AUDIENCE. REMEMBER THAT TERM --[line break]PERSUADE.[line break][line break][tab]ARISTOTLE BELIEVED THAT IF HIS STUDENTS IN THE[line break]ACADEMY KNEW AND PRACTICED USING THE TOPICS, THEY WOULD BECOME[line break]EFFECTIVE 'PERSUADERS.'[line break][line break][tab]YOU'LL RECOGNIZE AMONG THE TOPICS:[line break][line break]";

print "[tab]1. QUESTIONS OF DEVINITION;[line break]";

print "[tab]2. QUESTIONS ABOUT CAUSES AND EFFECTS;[line break]";

print "[tab]3. QUESTIONS REGARDING OPPOSITES AND ASSOCIATIONS;[line break]";

print "[tab]4. QUESTIONS ABOUT CONSEQUENCES;[line break]";

print "[tab]5. AND QUESTIONS ABOUT MATTERS OF FACT AND OPINION.[line break][line break][tab][tab](HIT 'RETURN' TO CONTINUE.)[line break]";

wait for the user to press Return.