A Rhetorical Analysis Of Small Change

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When it comes to persuasive essays, an author’s initiative is to create the soundest argument that cannot be invalidated. With the usage of emotional, ethical, and logical appeals, their claim towards a certain subject can be supported most effectively. How an author decides on implementing these strategies upon their writing can either make or break their thesis entirely. An excellent approach to evaluate this impact is by respectively analyzing the two articles “Small Change” and “Community and Diversity” by Malcolm Gladwell and Rebekah Nathan. In the texts “Community and Diversity” by Rebekah Nathan and “Small Change” by Malcolm Gladwell, both authors employs rhetorical devices of logical, emotional, and ethical appeals to effectively present…show more content…
Authors seek to engage their readers emotionally by utilizing words that bear appropriate connotations. In the beginning of “Small Change” Gladwell introduces his topic by mentioning many historical landmarks and events of the Civil Rights Movement. He emphasizes especially on the incident of Greensboro and discusses how racial segregation was dealt back in the 1960’s. In doing so, Malcolm Gladwell mentions how activists powerfully demonstrated forms of social change through strong ties and in response, attracted many other protesters in the process. By indicating such controversial topics of race and segregation, Gladwell is able to emotionally engage with his audience. On the other hand, Rebekah Nathan addresses the lack of diversity in universities with the topics of race, color, and identity. As she further observe through the students’ dining halls, she takes notice of the way students of similar gender and race would sit together, divided from all the other different cultures. Nathan concludes that active racism serves as another factor that explains the lack of diversity on college campuses. She includes “no doubt that active racism also plays a part in the lack of diversity on college campus” (Barrios 325). By addressing the subject of race and diversity, Nathan’s audience can form sympathy since many people can emotionally relate to the

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