Rhetorical Analysis of 'America Skips School"
Kristofas Barsauskas
Professor Horbey
WRT 102.62
20 February 2011 Rhetoric: What We SHOULD Really Learn We use rhetoric every day without even realizing it. Correctly using rhetoric on a specific group of people can drastically increase an arguments’ strength. Benjamin R. Barber wrote an article conveying his research on the failing school systems in the U.S titled America Skips School published in Harper’s Magazine. Barber uses rhetorical elements like ethos, pathos, and logos to build his argument. He establishes his credibility and then emotionally connects with his audience and explains who and what is to blame for the lack of quality education in America. Once he establishes a solid connection using these rhetorical techniques he effectively inspires the audience to change their ways and raise concern for the education system and construe the weaknesses at hand. Barber’s use of ethos is almost unintentional in the extrinsic sense. The sole fact that his article was published in Harper’s Magazine builds him enough credibility for people to be willing to read it. It is hard to say much else about his extrinsic ethos besides that he is an accomplished writer and a well-known political scientist. The fact that Barber was allowed to publish his article in this magazine frames his credibility. The publisher here does most of the work when it comes down to the extrinsic ethos since the magazine is one for subscribers and not just something that’d randomly get picked up by just anyone. Barber may seem to be slacking on this end of the rhetoric but there isn’t much else someone could do in this situation. Barber’s ethos thus far may not be enough to cut it for some skeptics. However, his intrinsic ethos works marvelously to his advantage. Barber credits himself by his claims from the studies he had conducted and research he has done. “My sample of forty-seven-year-olds scored very well on the test. Not surprisingly, so did their
Professor Horbey
WRT 102.62
20 February 2011 Rhetoric: What We SHOULD Really Learn We use rhetoric every day without even realizing it. Correctly using rhetoric on a specific group of people can drastically increase an arguments’ strength. Benjamin R. Barber wrote an article conveying his research on the failing school systems in the U.S titled America Skips School published in Harper’s Magazine. Barber uses rhetorical elements like ethos, pathos, and logos to build his argument. He establishes his credibility and then emotionally connects with his audience and explains who and what is to blame for the lack of quality education in America. Once he establishes a solid connection using these rhetorical techniques he effectively inspires the audience to change their ways and raise concern for the education system and construe the weaknesses at hand. Barber’s use of ethos is almost unintentional in the extrinsic sense. The sole fact that his article was published in Harper’s Magazine builds him enough credibility for people to be willing to read it. It is hard to say much else about his extrinsic ethos besides that he is an accomplished writer and a well-known political scientist. The fact that Barber was allowed to publish his article in this magazine frames his credibility. The publisher here does most of the work when it comes down to the extrinsic ethos since the magazine is one for subscribers and not just something that’d randomly get picked up by just anyone. Barber may seem to be slacking on this end of the rhetoric but there isn’t much else someone could do in this situation. Barber’s ethos thus far may not be enough to cut it for some skeptics. However, his intrinsic ethos works marvelously to his advantage. Barber credits himself by his claims from the studies he had conducted and research he has done. “My sample of forty-seven-year-olds scored very well on the test. Not surprisingly, so did their
Cited: Barber, Benjamin R. “America Skips School.” The Norton Reader. 12th ed. Ed. Linda H. Peterson and John C. Brereton. New York: Norton, 2008. Print. 457-67