rhetorical analysis: teens and tattoos
Morgan Verdoni
Grand Canyon University: English 105
Professor Skeen
September 16, 2014
Digging Deeper: A Response to Andres Martin’s ‘On Teenagers and Tattoos’ When you hear the words “teenagers and tattoos” what comes to mind? As most of us know, in American and many other countries, it is illegal to get a tattoo if you are under the age of eighteen. However, it is not impossible to get one if you are a minor. For some reason, nowadays it has become more and more easy to get tattoos when you are underage. In Andres Martin’s article, “On Teenagers and Tattoos”, he explains the psychology behind why teens ink their bodies. To summarize, “On Teenagers and Tattoos” declares that most teens get piercings and tattoos as a way of standing out and being unique. It states that piercings and tattoos are a way for teens to take control over their body and decorate it the way the want it to look. Martin suggests tattoos are a way for them to identify themselves. Although it is unusual for psychiatrists to mostly use qualitative evidence, Martin does a good job of using that evidence to make his article persuasive.
In Andres Martin’s article, he uses many rhetorical strategies. On example is his use of qualitative evidence verses quantitative evidence. In the Case Vignette section of Martin’s piece, he states “A proud father at 17, “B” had had the smiling face of his 4-month-old baby girl tattooed on his chest. As we talked at a tattoo convention, he proudly introduced her to me, explaining how he would “always know how beautiful she is today” when years from then he saw her semblance etched on himself” (2000. P. 143). Like this example, most of the evidence Martin uses is qualitative, meaning it is gathered from observation rather than statistics. I believe Andres Martin gives good evidence supporting his theory, however, because his article is aiming towards his peers, meaning
Grand Canyon University: English 105
Professor Skeen
September 16, 2014
Digging Deeper: A Response to Andres Martin’s ‘On Teenagers and Tattoos’ When you hear the words “teenagers and tattoos” what comes to mind? As most of us know, in American and many other countries, it is illegal to get a tattoo if you are under the age of eighteen. However, it is not impossible to get one if you are a minor. For some reason, nowadays it has become more and more easy to get tattoos when you are underage. In Andres Martin’s article, “On Teenagers and Tattoos”, he explains the psychology behind why teens ink their bodies. To summarize, “On Teenagers and Tattoos” declares that most teens get piercings and tattoos as a way of standing out and being unique. It states that piercings and tattoos are a way for teens to take control over their body and decorate it the way the want it to look. Martin suggests tattoos are a way for them to identify themselves. Although it is unusual for psychiatrists to mostly use qualitative evidence, Martin does a good job of using that evidence to make his article persuasive.
In Andres Martin’s article, he uses many rhetorical strategies. On example is his use of qualitative evidence verses quantitative evidence. In the Case Vignette section of Martin’s piece, he states “A proud father at 17, “B” had had the smiling face of his 4-month-old baby girl tattooed on his chest. As we talked at a tattoo convention, he proudly introduced her to me, explaining how he would “always know how beautiful she is today” when years from then he saw her semblance etched on himself” (2000. P. 143). Like this example, most of the evidence Martin uses is qualitative, meaning it is gathered from observation rather than statistics. I believe Andres Martin gives good evidence supporting his theory, however, because his article is aiming towards his peers, meaning
References: Martin, A. (2000). On teenagers and tattoos. Reclaiming Children and Youth, 9(3), 143-144+. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/214196131?accountid=7374 Trimbur, J. (2011). The Call to Write. P. 46