Rhetoric Assignment

A college education is valuable and its quality is of the highest importance to most Americans. In his essay, “On the Uses of a Liberal Education: As Lite Entertainment for Bored College Students,” Mark Edmundson utilizes ethos, pathos, and logos to effectively deliver his argument that the current educational system, especially in college, revolves around consumerism which in turn has negatively impacted students, teachers, and universities in general. However, although Edmundson presents an overall logically sound argument, there are few instances throughout the article that may hinder the reliability of his claims to the audience.

In his article “If Technology Is Making Us Stupid, It’s Not Technology’s Fault,” David Theo Goldberg effectively informs the reader about the effects that computers in the home and school environment could have on the future education of the coming generations. Goldberg achieves this by executing defined organization and adding unique comparisons about the potentially crippling effects technology can have on a society when put into the wrong hands.

In the essay, “What You Eat is Your Business”, Radley Balko writes to tell his audience about how the government is trying to control people’s health and eating habits by restricting food, taxing high calorie food, and considering menu labeling. Balko includes in his essay that government restricting diets and having socialist insurance is not helping the obesity problem, but it is only making it worse because it not allowing people to take their health in to their own hands so they have no drive to lose weight or eat healthy. In his essay, Balko is targeting society, including those who may be obese, he is trying to show them that the laws our

and the audience, and secondly, by speaking in an active voice to let the sophisticated audience know of the importance that his argument brings.

My time in ENC1101 has been beneficial in many ways. Since the beginning of high school I dreaded writing all types of essay in English. So coming into this class I was not too fond of idea writing six thousand words within four short months. My inability to put my thoughts into creative and well worded sentence is the biggest obstacle I face when it comes to writing. I came into this class hoping it would improve my writing skills, which it did. Shortly after attending this class for a few days, the professor introduced the concept of a portfolio draft. My initial reaction was “wow, this is going to be a lot of work,” however, I realized that this would only benefit my grade due to the multiple edits my paper would go through. The portfolio reveals the amount of progress I have made throughout the semester with my writing. This portfolio really highlights on my ability to take criticism of others into account when it comes to editing my professional and portfolio draft.

“But skilled and loyal assistants on other polar ventures, however famous the expedition and it’d leader, are seldom remembered and really celebrate.” (pg 3)

Imagine discovering the cure for cancer, and then tossing the revolutionary discovery into a blaze of fire. This obliteration has happened to rhetoric, a tool of language that donates life to argument and creates a thriving system of communication for the world. Rhetoric used to be an important aspect of education that could assist students with the teachings of argument and human interaction. Today, rhetoric has become a topic of minimal discussion among ideas that have long since been outdated, and considered archaic to the educational system. In reality, rhetoric exemplifies the human genius and must be taught in schools to further the evolution of human expression.

The 2016 presidential campaign, was wrought with several controversial issues, none more so than the refugee crisis. Throughout the campaign, Donald Trump’s Anti-Muslim rhetoric, appeared to go against the American ideals of protecting religious freedoms. This trend continued into his presidency, he enacted Executive Order 13769 “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States”, banning immigrants and refugees from seven predominately Muslim countries. While, the President claims these measures were taken to prevent any future terrorist attacks on the United States, many question if the Order has more to do with instilling a ban on Islam. Yet, with the possibility of terrorists entering the United States, how can we

Mr. Collins incorrectly uses logical and emotional appeals when asking for Elizabeth’s hand in marriage, which will probably not lead to his desired result. Mr. Collins is very direct and business-like with his proposal, starting his appeal with the words “my reasons for marrying are”. He then lists out facts about why he needs to marry her, even citing his benefactor. His word choice creates a very professional and objective tone, which may be effective in a business setting, but is not right for a romantic marriage proposal. He never mentions that he likes Elizabeth, only expressing that it’s a practical marriage. When Mr. Collins attempts an emotional appeal, he is not very successful. Mr. Collins tells Elizabeth

In ‘Here’s Why Legalizing Marijuana Makes Sense’, Alex Newhouse, a lawyer who resides in the area of Sunnyside, Washington addresses the controversial issue of the legalization of cannabis. The sole purpose of Newhouse’s article is to persuade readers and voters that marijuana should be legalized. Throughout his article, Newhouse focuses on the use of ethos and logos, while also slightly focusing on the use of pathos, to help persuade his audience. The incorporation of such rhetoric strategies allows Newhouse to change the opinions of individuals with views opposing the opinions he, himself, holds.

In this week’s reading of the “Rhetorical Approaches to College Writing”, the foundations for rhetoric were introduced. The book describes rhetoric as a word with many definitions that all have a commonality. From the reading rhetoric seems to have a way of calling people to action in some distort manner similar to enticement. From the reading three definitions of rhetoric were given by different sources. The first source being from a ancient Greek philosopher who defined rhetoric as, “the faculty of discovering in any particular case all of the available means of persuasion”(RACW pg.3). I learned that for Aristotle the Greek philosopher rhetoric was a means of political engagement in civic life (RACW pg.4). The second source was from another

There exists an immeasurable amount of techniques that allow writing to be eloquent. Rhetoric, however, consistently remains one of the most popular techniques due to the influential nature and effectiveness of its steps. Composition can best be analyzed and constructed using rhetoric. It’s essential in rhetoric to follow critical instructions to generate the best writing possible. Rhetoric consists of the need to develop and establish a clear purpose, identify with an audience, build a clear context, and develop a strategy to lay out ideas. With these situations in hand, a composer can efficiently use rhetorical analysis to better understand readings and improve writing.

What influences your opinions and decisions in life? Is it a fact base analysis of a topic, providing you with statistical evidence to back its claims, or is it an emotional based claim that tugs at your heartstrings and connects with your past? Both forms of argument are fighting for your acceptance of its arguments, but do so in conflicting ways. On one end of the spectrum, a Dodge commercial exploits your emotional connection to your country and leverages that to sway your opinion of their new car. And on the other end, a writer uses facts and data to convince you that the legalization of marijuana is the right thing to do.

For the first several lectures in ENGL 1301, we discussed the importance of rhetorical appeals and went in depth about what each one means. If logos, ethos, or pathos appeals are used effectively, a writer can sway audiences to either accept or consider their opinion on many different matters. Such appeals can be used to successfully join a discourse community, which is what I am writing about in this paper, and how I will join many others in the future. High school band is one of the biggest discourse communities as well as the most written about. Generic as it is since it fits the criteria of a typical discourse community (e.g. group of people who share knowledge of the same topic, common ways of communicating, etc…), I feel most passionate writing about it since it’s the one I’ve stayed in the longest and had the most experience with. In writing this paper I will show that I have mastered these appeals with my joining of the marching band community, and give my instructor and classmates an opportunity to get to know me better.

How I have missed you dearly. My life has been so changed by the loss of your presence. There is not a day that goes by where I do not miss your beautiful laugh. The pain of separation has been so severe, abstinence from writing you was necessary to quell the pain. But of course I focus on my own suffering, failing to realize the damage my absence has has done to you. My poor… child. I am so deeply sorry for what I have done to you. I only hope Anne was good to you these past 8 years, I am so disheartened to hear of her passing; she was such a wonderful mother to me. I can only imagine how old and pretty you must look. Surely your father has dressed you only in the prettiest of dresses; I have no doubt he has been kind to you, as he was to me. I am doubly sure you have become excellent in