Using Stasis for Your Purposes

• When you’re overwhelmed by information about a topic, as all researchers are at the outset, it’s easy to feel like you have to "cover" everything.

• But stasis can help you to narrow down the focus of what you take on, what research is relevant, and how to incorporate that research in your own writing. By identifying the type of issue at stake—whether it’s about facts, definitions, causes, etc.—you can better respond to the needs of your audience and the demands of the particular writing occasion.

• This awareness helps you to decide how much space to give each part of an issue, where to clarify or push back, and how to enter a conversation effectively.

• Especially in college, where you're often asked to engage with others’ arguments, stasis gives you a way to figure out exactly how much responsibility you take on, where you agree or disagree with what has been said before, or where you might want to shift the conversation to more productive ground.