Emotion and Thomas G. Plummer
Cheyenne Pruett
Ms. Mitchell
College Composition
October 8, 2013
Ophelia? Thomas G. Plummer, in his essay “Diagnosing and Treating the Ophelia Syndrome” argues that the system we use for teaching today takes away students ability to think for themselves. Plummer proves his argument with loads of examples of students conforming to others to take the easy way out. In Plummers essay he points out ways to treat this syndrome and stop all ignorant people from ruining the minds of other students. Plummer’s purpose is to point out the issue that society is molding into uneducated individuals. Plummer writes in a formal tone for his target audience. Plummer appeals to pathos when he adds the quote about people not knowing how to
“answer” simple questions such as “How are you? How do you feel?” because we are too busy
“Feeling what we are supposed to feel”. He also strikes an emotional cord when he introduces the Treatments. The treatments in and of themselves are appealing to pathos because they all stimulate some kind of emotional response. Treatment 2 is all about trusting yourself. Later on in the discussing the treatments Plummer talks about how every throught he has are his thoughts. He says to “follow your intuition”. Just be you. Treatment three also has a lot of pathos. It is all about being okay with not knowing. He puts it into deep words when he says “surrender the need for absolute truth”.
Plummer also uses formal diction to get his point across and to also help achieve the objective to make his argument stronger. In using words such as “pontificates” and “clamors”, he is making it clear who his target audience is. Even just adding the treatments can be considered formal diction. The treatments are his way of showing/ telling the audience that something can be done to reverse the effects of Ophelia Syndrome. Other formal words such as “morality” and “counterargument” can be found throughout the essay. The word
Ms. Mitchell
College Composition
October 8, 2013
Ophelia? Thomas G. Plummer, in his essay “Diagnosing and Treating the Ophelia Syndrome” argues that the system we use for teaching today takes away students ability to think for themselves. Plummer proves his argument with loads of examples of students conforming to others to take the easy way out. In Plummers essay he points out ways to treat this syndrome and stop all ignorant people from ruining the minds of other students. Plummer’s purpose is to point out the issue that society is molding into uneducated individuals. Plummer writes in a formal tone for his target audience. Plummer appeals to pathos when he adds the quote about people not knowing how to
“answer” simple questions such as “How are you? How do you feel?” because we are too busy
“Feeling what we are supposed to feel”. He also strikes an emotional cord when he introduces the Treatments. The treatments in and of themselves are appealing to pathos because they all stimulate some kind of emotional response. Treatment 2 is all about trusting yourself. Later on in the discussing the treatments Plummer talks about how every throught he has are his thoughts. He says to “follow your intuition”. Just be you. Treatment three also has a lot of pathos. It is all about being okay with not knowing. He puts it into deep words when he says “surrender the need for absolute truth”.
Plummer also uses formal diction to get his point across and to also help achieve the objective to make his argument stronger. In using words such as “pontificates” and “clamors”, he is making it clear who his target audience is. Even just adding the treatments can be considered formal diction. The treatments are his way of showing/ telling the audience that something can be done to reverse the effects of Ophelia Syndrome. Other formal words such as “morality” and “counterargument” can be found throughout the essay. The word