Your goal is to look at an argument and figure out what's persuasive about it. Then you lay these persuasive things out on the operating table and dissect them—get down to the nitty gritty so you know how they work. When you're all finished, you'll explain how you can apply these same strategies in your own writing.
In short, you're mining for writing tips (or rhetorical strategies).
RhetAn Checklist
[ ] Do I have an interesting hook?
[ ] Do I talk about the specific author, the specific audience, and the context?
[ ] Do I discuss how they were persuasive and why?
[ ] Is my thesis so clear than even a 4th grader would get the point?
[ ] Does each paragraph have a single point with a clear topic sentence? (I mean super-clear.) Are they organized by theme (rather than by chronology)?
[ ] Is my paper analyzing the argument (and not summarizing)?
[ ] Is my essay based on the principles of Writing and Rhetoric chapter 4?
[ ] Does my essay include my own thoughts and opinions—my own unique perspective?
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Example 1
(This example has a few weaknesses, but is fairly strong overall.)
Practice what you Preach
David Neff uses multiple persuasive arguments throughout his article to make it seem that same-sex marriage, although accepted in the culture of America, is unnatural and harmful to our communities. He states that he has “an alternate view, rooted in the Bible, in history, in tradition, and in nature”(Neff 176). By using these loaded words, Neff is able to put forth a picture of black and white. The words that he chose to use in this powerful sentence present a hard situation for people that having opposing views, especially in the Christian community. In this short sentence he is able to portray that same-sex marriage conflicts with the Bible, with God, with the traditions of our founders, and in the way we were designed. Considering the audience of this article, it is not surprising that he chose to use the language that he did. Christians do not want to disagree with the Bible or with God, so by presenting the argument in this manner, he effectively closes the door to conflicting views.
Neff later uses pathos when he brings children into the scene of the debate. He indicates that he believes that the youth will be greatly affected by same-sex marriage and that the children should be the main focus in this dispute. Neff expresses that without children having a father and a mother, children grow up believing that the other sex is not necessary. He believes that this will have an immense affect on our future generations. “ ‘Marriage is our most basic social institution for protecting children. Same-sex marriage amounts to a vast social experiment on children’ (Maggie Gallagher)” (Neff 180). By including children in his article, he successfully uses pathos to make people more concerned about this issue. Using words like “experiment” arouses feelings of worry and concern. Almost everyone in America loves and cares about the well being of children, so this is an extremely effective strategy. Also, since family is one of the main focuses in the Christian religion, this argument becomes even more advantageous.
Another way that Neff presents that same-sex marriage is wrong is by using very descriptive language that paints a picture for the reader. One example of this can be seen in the first paragraph of the article. He writes, “More than four decades after the introduction of the Pill, hardly anyone now getting married remembers the time when pleasure, procreation, passion, companionship, and parenthood were all intimately knotted into a bundle called marriage” (Neff 176). By using these very vivid, descriptive words, Neff describes what he believes a marriage should include and portrays it in such a way that you can visualize marriage. Overall, using expressive language is a very effective ways to appeal to an audience. Not only does descriptive language stir emotions, but it also creates an image in your brain that is easy to remember and to recall.
Later in the article, Neff expresses his solution for restoring marriage. He addresses Christians and tries to persuade them that they need to be the beginning of the revolution. Throughout the next paragraphs Neff “rallies the troops” and tries to encourage Christians to take action by giving a step-by-step process in which Christian’s can restore marriage in America. He states, “The local church has a key role in recreating a biblical understanding of marriage in our society”(Neff 177). Neff clearly believes that it is up to the Christians across America to teach by example the way that marriages should be. He believes that the best way to restore the tradition of marriage in the United States of America is by encouraging individual congregations to refine and better the marriages within them. Using a motivational tone in this section of the article effectively encourages and motivates people to try to do better in their marriages and to try to make a difference in restoring marriage.
Another very effective strategy that Neff uses is appealing to authority. He uses quotes that are direct, powerful, and clear. Since the audience that Neff is addressing is religious, he is able to find and use quotes that entwine God into them. Once again, by doing this he makes it seem that there is only one opinion that you can have on the debate if you believe in God. “‘Marriage between a man and a woman reflects and complements God’s own personality. God made males and females as two distinct parts of himself. Gender differences reflect the kaleidoscope of God’s characteristics. No other types of marriages can show the diversity of God like the loving male/female one does’ (Doctor Shay Roop)” (Neff 179). At the end of his article, he uses multiple quotes from highly esteemed people, some of which include authors, doctors, professors, psychotherapists, and sex therapists. By choosing to quote such educated people, Neff creates a very well supported argument that people are more likely to agree with.
David Neff uses many effective rhetorical strategies throughout his article “A Marriage Revolution: By Practicing what we Believe, Christian Marriages can Transform Our Society”. Overall, Neff’s tactics were extremely effective, especially when looking at the audience he is addressing. Neff chose to use rhetoric that Christian’s would directly relate to and have strong feelings about. Some of the ways he did this was by including topics, like experimenting on children, which he knew the audience would want to take action against. Neff was able to convince religious people that they need to start a revolution and that they have a responsibility to educate the general public on what marriage should be. David Neff was able to use different strategies of rhetoric to convince people of the Christian community that they not only need to teach others their beliefs on marriage, but that it is also their responsibility to practice what they preach.
Here's to the Crazy Ones
- Adrian Tan. "Don't Work. Be Hated. Love Someone."2008. (Author of The Teenage Textbook.) 2076 words.
- Arbinger Institute. "The Anatomy of Peace." (chapter) +Video. 1 Apr 2010.
- F. A. Hayek. "The Pretense of Knowledge: Nobel Prize Lecture." +Parody Video. 11 Dec 1974. (Nobel-prize-winning economist and author.) 5050 words.
- Jason Seib. "Friends Don't Let Friends Do Cardio." 2 Sep 2011. (Biochemist and blogger.) 880 words.
- Jeffry R. Holland, "The Grandeur of God." +Video. Oct 2003. (Latter-day Apostle.) 1806 words.
- Malcolm Gladwell, "Why the Revolution Will Not Be Tweeted." 4 Oct 2010. (Author of Blink, The Tipping Point, and Outliers.) 4346 words.
- Michael Pollan. "Unhappy Meals." 28 Jan 2007. (Bestselling journalist and "liberal foodie intellectual.") 10,140 words.
- Mike Munger "They Clapped: Can Price-Gouging Laws Prohibit Scarcity?" +Podcast. 8 Jan 2007. (Ph.D. and professor of economics at Duke University). 2476 words.
- Ron Paul. "End the Fed." +Video. 1 Feb 2009. (U.S. Representative, presidential candidate, M.D.) 3846 words.
- Robin Hemley. "No Pleasure But Meanness." 2012. (Author, and edgy non-fictionist.) 3648 words.
- Scott Anthony, "How to Create a Culture of Innovation." 2012. (Businessman and author of The Little Black Book of Innovation) 2027 words.
- Stephen Hawking, "The Origin of the Universe." +Video. 2005. (Bestselling author and world-renowned cosmologist.) 3481 words.
- Steve Jobs. "2005 Stanford Commencement Address." +Video. Apr 2005. (Former CEO of Apple Computer and Pixar.) 2256 words.
- Tim Ferriss. "How to Learn Any Language in 3 Months." "Smash Fear: Learn Anything (TED video)" (PROFANITY WARNING). 20 Jan 2009. (New York Times bestselling author, entrepreneur, and angel investor.)
