Read the essay on page 81 of The Norton Sampler. This essay is written by educational activist Richard Rodriguez and it focuses on his feelings about Affirmative Action policies. Pay close attention to the publication date.
When you have read it, write a response analyzing Rodriguez's use of logos, ethos, and pathos. This is practice for the AP exam, identifying these three elements of rhetoric. Since this assignment is important in terms of both Blog posts and AP Test prep, there will be separate grades assigned for both (i.e. you must do this assignment as one of the grades for the course).
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Ethos: When Richard reached the conclusion that he was going to decline all of the job offers he was considering the ethical effects of his decision. He had been delaying making a decision because he was nervous but in the end he declined all of the offers because it was not fair that he should get all of the offers while his classmates were lucky to get one offer.
ReplyDeleteLogos: Richard notes that because he is a minority student he receives more attention then average white Americans. He finds this unfair. The best in his class has received few job offers while he has received many job offers. He knows that universities wish to acknowledge 'the importance of cultural diversity' but does not find affirmative action logical
Pathos: The pathos behind the argument makes a strong point. Another teaching assistant explains to Richard that he has decided to take a job far away from his home because he has received no other offers. He is depressed because the job that he has accepted will separate him from his young daughter. This is an excellent use of pathos because many people can relate to him. Adults that have children know how difficult it is to leave them and how torn they would be.
Richard uses his logos to know that a reason that he got more job offers than the smartest of kids is because he is a minority and people are looking for minority workers to help their image. He uses his ethos to tell us that he doesn't want the job offers because it wasn't fair to his fellow classmates, which weren't minorities and weren't getting many job offers. He uses his pathos to show his anxiety from leaving his daughter as an excuse of declining, which is something a lot of parents with kids can relate to and feel for. I think this essay is pretty true because minorities do get more out of society these days because of the new rise in those minorities.
ReplyDeleteRobert Rodriguez focuses mainly on logos and ethos, using very little pathos. He uses reason when explaining how it is unfair for him to receive more opportunities because of his ethnicity. Although Rodriguez is showing his dissatisfaction that he could gain so many offers simply because he was an educated minority, he shows that dissatisfaction in a calm way. Rodriguez's relaxed tone makes it easier to read and understand, and allow his logic and reason to show very easily.
ReplyDeleteI actually disagree with Daniel's statement that Rodriguez uses little pathos. It is not always as noticeable as his use of logos or ethos, because sometimes it seems to be mixed with ethos. For example, the title itself, "None of This Is Fair," is a combination of ethos and pathos. Whether it is actually fair or not is a matter of ethics, but the argument that something is not fair generally falls under the category of emotions. Another instance where these rhetorical devices are combined is when Rodriguez mentions his letter to the schools. He says, "I cannot claim to represent disadvantaged Mexican-Americans. The very fact that I am in a position to apply for this job should make that clear." I see that statement as a slap in the face towards the schools. He uses logos most frequently when he talks about Affirmative Action and the supposed disadvantage of being Hispanic-American.
ReplyDeleteRodriguez’s essay regarding Affirmative Action contains several examples of pathos, egos, and logos. Pathos underlies Rodriguez’s entire reasoning for writing the essay. His emotional journey that he finds himself on over the course of getting his education and becoming employed leads him to his very argument; from being highly motivated to rise above his racial disadvantage to becoming emotionally distraught over his great success. He uses this emotional journey to make the point that Affirmative Action is not okay. The most obvious signs of his use of pathos to promote his negative viewpoint are his says he had feelings such as “guilt,” “embarrassment,” and “depression.” In addition, Rodriguez makes use of egos, which is found first and foremost in the title—“None of This is Fair.” He points out that his success is rooted in the fact that he is of a minority social group, which somehow unfairly places him ahead of those who have worked just as hard but do not hold an uncontrollable factor, such as being part of a minority group. He also makes the ethical choice to decline all job offers after deciding that he received them unfairly. Finally, Rodriguez makes use of logos when he addresses that the idea of Affirmative Action is illogical because those that are disadvantaged are not so because of their race, but simply because they are lacking the confidence to be successful, and it is therefore illogical to place an unconfident candidate ahead of one who is confident but just so happens to not be part of a social minority group.
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