Rhetorical Analysis Of Learning English By Canagarajah

Furthermore, Canagarajah uses pathos (emotional appeals) in his essay and the use of it is efficient. He successfully makes the reader sympathize with him and his struggle in learning English. For instance, he gives an example about his parents and how they used English to talk to each other and not let their child understand: “My Dad suddenly whispers something in English to my mother and they both sneak into the room inside, letting me play with the maid” (23). Also his parents used to talk to each other in English if they wanted to surprise their kid. Canagarajah writes, “While planning my upcoming birthday party, they would quickly switch to English” (24). By those two examples, the reader can see how Canagarajah was helpless and how
he was lost. So he wants the reader to feel pity and sorry for him. Moreover, he was willing that the reader could imagine being in his shoes to understand the struggle. And he actually did, he made the reader feel for him, especially international students who have struggled to understand English