Jack English-Cooper
Professor Justin Lotspeich
Rhetoric 110: Written Communication
I
1677 Words
9/30/2014
Analytical-Review
of Herbert and King
Brandon
King and Bob Herbert have mixed opions on the American Dream. In the article, Hiding from Reality, Bob Hebrert
discuses how the American Dream is dead. On the contrary Brandon King argues
that the American Dream is still as alive as ever in his article, The American Dream: Dead, Alive, or on Hold?
The texts demonstrate to American citizens how the authors feel about the
American dream and what needs to be done to sustain it.
Herbert argues
many reasons the American Dream has been destroyed. He explains how the economy
is in ruins, how counter productive the education system is, and how disastrous
the budget deficits are. (Herbert 1) One of his most important points is how
we, as American citizens, are ignorant and “in denial about the extent of the
rot in the system, and the effort that would be required to turn things around”
(Herbert 1). He argues that in order for America to be saved, we need to first
understand how bad of a shape we are in, and accept what needs to be done to
fix it.
King agrees how terrible of a shape America is
in. However, he makes the argument that the American Dream is still relevant no
matter the status of America. (King 1) King claims, “I believe that the ideals
and values of the American Dream are still very much alive. In fact, the
original term “American Dream” was coined during the Great Depression… I would
redefine the American Dream today as the potential to work for an honest,
secure way of life and save for the future” (2). Looking deeper into the
context of each article further proves the magnitude of their impact.
Both Authors are
excellent candidates because of how they support their ethos. When they address
American citizens and explain what needs to be done, they include themselves in
the audience. They write phrases such as “We’re in denial” (Herbert 1), or “We
may have sizeable divide between the rich and poor” (King 4). Using the word,
we, makes the authors as much an American citizen as the audience. Therefore,
they gain the credibility they need to tell other citizens what needs to be
done. They also create their ethos by proving how they have done sufficient research.
They provide facts to back up their arguments. Herbert writes, “foreign born
workers in the U.S gained 656000 jobs while native-born workers lost 1.2
million” (1), and King explains how, “a recent study showed a decrease in home
ownership from 69% in 2005 to about 66.5% in 2010” (3). Between the two, King
uses ethos much more effectively since he also quotes other authors revealing
that he analyzed their work too. He brings up other authors main points, and
agrees or disagrees with them to further prove his point. This shows how he is
an analytical reader himself. Providing information from other sources reveals
how they researched before writing, thus showing how credible their arguments
are.
Pathos is effectively
used in each article to persuade the readers. The authors use emotional phrases
to exaggerate the condition of America. When Herbert writes, "The extent
of the rot in the system” (1) and King describes “The fragile economy” (3), the
audience is compelled to believe that their country is in horrible shape, and
wants to learn from the text how to change it. The authors use pathos in
opposite but effective ways when they educate the reader on what is needed for
recovery of the American dream. King uses optimism when he reminds the audience
“As a nation, we have dealt with economic downturns in the past,” (7). His
powerful wording of “As a nation” makes the reader feel like they are apart of
a united nation, and believes him that they can fix their economy just as
America has done before. On the contrary, Herbert uses negative descriptive
imagery when he reveals, “The human suffering in the years required to recover
from the recession will continue to be immense” (1). When the audience reads
that they will suffer they become empathetic of themselves and determined to
make changes before it becomes worse. While each author use pathos in different
ways they are both effective in making the readers care about the topics and
the survival of their country. Once the authors have their readers attention
they use logos to prove their point and make an impact on the audience.
King and Herbert
facilitate logos in their articles when they explain whether the American dream
is still alive or not, and what we need to do to sustain America. King uses
evidence to prove that his argument that the solution to our economic crisis is
big business and financial institutions is logical King, 5). He proves that “providing
money to businesses may encourage them to hire more people” (King 5), is true
when he provides the evidence that, “Obama presented a proposal… establishing a
$33 billion tax credit to provide incentive for businesses to hire more
workers” (King 5). Herbert also uses evidence for his logos. He makes the argument
that one of America’s faults is our unsuccessful school system. His logical
reasoning is that a woman named Cathleen Black was chosen to run the public
schools in New York City, and she will damage the public schools. (Herbert 2).
He proves this by showing her disconnect with them as she is a “wealthy
corporate executive with no background in education and whose children attend
expensive private schools” (2). This especially speaks to families in the
middle class whose children go to public schools, since they can agree that she
is unable to see the effects her decisions have. He makes his argument even
more logical when he reveals that she “will be presiding over budget cuts that
can only hurt the schools” (2). This is an excellent use of logos, as the
readers can’t deny that budget cuts will damage the school systems. Even when
the authors contradict each other, both arguments are effective due to their
logos. Herbert makes the argument that, “Politicians across the spectrum insist
that they are all about job creation while the employment situation in the real
world remains beyond pathetic” (2), and King makes the contradicting argument
that, “Ever since the height of the Great Recession, However, we have adapted
the values contained within the American Dream to meet new challenges” (7-8).
While Herbert is saying that politicians are doing nothing to save America and
we are doomed, King is arguing that America always adapts to meet the
challenges. Both are effective in proving their point. When the audience reads Herbert’s
argument they can agree that if nothing is happening to fix the problem then maybe
the American dream really is dead, but when they read Kings, they believe his
logical argument that if America survived the Great Recession it can survive
this. Logos is used in both sentences to prove the point by providing details
that the readers have no choice but to agree with.
Besides the
rhetorical moves the authors use to convey their message, their content and
structure is powerful. Herbert begins with the intense statement referring to
the American dream, “there is not much of it that’s left anymore” (1). This
sets ups his text by saying his point at the very beginning, making the
audience want to figure out why he says this. He then structures his article by
providing details with how horrific America’s status is. Once he proves why
America is in a recession, he writes three more short paragraphs highlighting the
extent to which we are failing to sustain America, and how were in denial.
These prove how the American dream is now absent. (Herbert 1-2). He finishes
his article by imploring his readers that, “America will never get its act together
until we recognize how much trouble we’re really in” (2). This is an effective
conclusion because it provides his answer to the problem and how to resurrect
the American dream. Herbert could provide more information that would make his
content have a bigger impact, but it is still a sufficient article.
King structures
his article very similar and his content is just as effective. He begins with a
hook, “The American Dream: Dead, Alive, or on Hold?” (2). This draws the reader
into the article. He then discuses the American dream and comes to his own
definition of it, which is, “the potential to work for an honest, secure way of
life and save for the future” (2). In his supporting paragraphs, he writes about
the problems America is facing and what it’s doing to solve it. (2-7). He
provides sufficient evidence that proves his points. At the end of his
argument, he is examining the Great Recession and proving how our overcoming of
it proves that we can overcome the current disastrous status of America. (8). Just
like Herbert, he concludes his argument with his lesson, which is how the
American dream is still alive. His structure is effective in proving
information for all of his arguments and finishing by answering the question he
started with.
I would highly
recommend both of these texts, because their content and rhetorical moves are
effective in making an impact on the audiences. The audience is American
citizens, and both authors refer to them as we, in order to connect to them and
show them that they are on the same side. Once the authors create their ethos
they use pathos to make the readers feel empathetic for America. They
facilitate logos to convince them why they are correct and what needs to be
done to save America. The content in each article is structured well with
sufficient information so that the readers understand the message. Even though
Herbert and King have different views on if the American dream exists or not,
they both clearly present their ideas and persuade the readers to help save
America.
Works
Cited:
Herbert, Bob. "Hiding
From Reality." The New York Times. The New York Times, 19 Nov.
2010. Web. 01 Oct. 2014.
King, Brandon. “The American
Dream: Dead, Alive, or on hold?” They Say/I Say:
The Moves That Matter in
Academic Writing: With Readings. Graff, Gerald, Cathy
Birkenstein, and Russel K. Durst. New York: W.W. Norton &, 2009.
Print
Jack English-Cooper
Professor Justin Lotspeich
Rhetoric 110: Written Communication
I
382 Words
9/30/2014
Dear
Reader
1)
I used many reading strategies that helped me
write this essay. I first annotated which helped me understand the articles
better. I highlighted and underlined to find the main ideas. Rereading was a
strategy I didn’t use as much in unit 1, and it helped. Once I started my
essay, rereading helped since I knew what to look for. I was able to use my
time better since I could skim through the readings searching for the
rhetorical moves I knew I wanted to discuss.
2)
During the prewriting stage I brainstormed,
outlined, and drafted. Brainstorming helped me get started and decide whom I
wanted to analyze. Outlining was useful since it helped me organize my ideas.
Drafting was necessary for me to start my essay. What didn’t work very well was
writing before I understood the prompt better. I needed to use the strategy of
talking to my classmates to better comprehend the prompt before drafting.
3)
My writing strategies were most different from
when I wrote the first essay. Instead of jumping into drafting, I needed to
brainstorm. I needed to decide my argument before I wrote it. In the first unit
the essay was shorter and it worked better to write it at once. In unit 2 the
essay was far to long for that. I worked best for me to write in multiple
sessions by writing a paragraph then returning to write another. This way the
time was more manageable and each paragraph were detailed better.
4)
My post writing stage was similar to unit 1.
However, going to the writing center was even more helpful this time. I was
more confused about the prompt so the writing center helped direct me on a
structure that would work for this essay. He helped me understand the main goal
better and how I should organize my essay. Editing by rereading was also a
helpful strategy.
5)
I felt least confident in turning in my
analytical review. I have never done this type of essay before and was unsure
about how to structure it.
1) Developed
2) Well
Developed
3) Well
Developed
4) Developed
5) Well
Developed
6) Well
Developed
7) Well
Developed
8) Developed
No comments:
Post a Comment