Analysis of 'This Is Water' by David Foster Wallace

In “This is Water,” the author, David Foster Wallace, argues that the interpretation of life is a conscious and intentional decision, only learning by being aware of exercising and taking control of how one thinks. In his 2005 Commencement Address, Wallace begins by introducing the topic of life and how each person perceives it, especially regarding a liberal arts education. Wallace later explains the concept of different realities, meaning that two different people can perceive the same experience with two different meanings. Wallace uses the example of both a Christian and an atheist, and how the atheist was caught in a blizzard and cried out to God for help, and moments later a group of Eskimos wandered by and took him back to camp. The Christian saw this as a miracle from God, while the Atheist saw a group of

Writing can be an effective way in persuading an audience. Creating a connection to the audience is a difficult task, but if rhetorical writing is used correctly, one's writing can be impactful and effective. The authors, Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt, of "The Coddling of the American Mind" use rhetorical strategies to evoke interest, and to assist in bringing across meaning to the reader. Some of the effects used include data, quotes from ancient philosophers, and specific word connotation. The rhetorical strategies used by Haidt and Lukianoff are for the most part unsuccessful in convincing college administration that shielding students does more harm than good.

we have recently read two passages, both about tragedies that America has faced. The two speakers that present themselves are Bill Clinton and Robert F Kennedy, they both came out to talk about a recent event that has happened. Each one of them go in depth by using ethos, pathos, and logos. With that they create a bond With the audience so that they feel like they're not alone. To start off, the bombing of the Oklahoma federal building was a tragic event, but Bill Clinton suggests that we shouldn't be filled with hatred instead we should get over and it and work on healing and building ourselves back up.

Have you ever seen a sign and scratched your head wondering what is it trying to communicate? All around the Unites States, patriotic slogans are countless and in Gary Sloan’s article “Sleuthing Patriotic Slogans,” Sloan presents readers with his thoughts concerning patriotic slogans by questioning various patriotic expressions, parsing each of the words for meaning. Sloan sparks critical thinking about various slogans through his thoughtful writing style and use of rhetorical appeals. This rhetorical analysis shows the varied degrees of success with which Sloan uses ethos, logos, and pathos: while Mr. Sloan’s credibility appeal is strong because of his teaching background and his use of logical appeal by breaking down words into meaning is difficult to argue with, his use of emotional appeal is somewhat weak.

Now, he uses quotes to illustrate how the decline in reading takes a toll in the civic and political sphere. A quote from the “National Conference of State Legislatures,” is inputted from Gioia, verbalizing how this toll has led to, “Young people [not knowing] the ideals of citizenship...and their appreciation and support of American democracy is limited.” Dana’s use of these quotes, such as these creates the foundation of his argument, cementing his side to the argument. The effect of this strategy details how this now involves politics and governmental issues, not just the decline in various art

If there was a way for the Mills student body to write significantly better while learning about rhetorical strategies, would you turn it down? The answer is clear, and your answer is Dave Egger's 2009 best-selling book Zeitoun. The book Zeitoun depicts Abdulrahman, the main character, as a man who lives as an average American citizen with a successful life but then struggles during Hurricane Katrina when he becomes wrongly accused of being a terrorist and lives through social injustices brought to him by the government’s enforcement. As a former reader of this book, the successful imagery and credibility that shows Zeitoun’s experience made me connect to Zeitoun on a emotional and serious level. Zeitoun is truly being portrayed as a hero in Egger's Zeitoun.

Infuriating Insult In “The Speech The Graduates Didn’t Hear,” Dr. Neusner attempted to sway his audience (the American student) into the unpleasant realization that life after college isn’t as simple as they had anticipated. Acknowledging that a majority of his audience won’t see him again, he utilized a strict, rational appeal rather than a typical inspirational speech. Despite verbally insulting his audience, his intention was to motivate and trigger a response that would yield a more industrious group of graduates. Dr. Neusner established his persona as an authoritative college professor that does not care whether his audience condemns him.

We go through life with important, beautiful things hovering right below our nose in our reach the whole time yet for some reason we never seem to notice them they slip right out from under us like they were never there at all. We’ve been in water but never been able to distinguish it. David Foster Wallace touches on all the aspects of selfishness and belief in his changing speech to Kenyan students called This is Water David Foster Wallace uses vivid imagery, figurative language , and symbolism to enhance the readers/listeners experience well making the piece seem more personal. One literary tool that David Foster Wallace uses to invoke more feeling the reader is vivid imagery.

By taking advantage of opportunities provided by the University, one can boost their experience and improve their resume which allows them to quickly find a job out of college and helps them stand out from other applicants. Such reflects on the ideals of “hard work” that come with the argument of the American Dream, those that put in the effort, get the best out of it. However, since we do not live in a perfect world, it is easier said than done. Therefore, the speech was meant to encourage students to step out of their comfort zone and explore things such as thinking critically about oneself and participating in internships, volunteering while staying involved within the community. Such reflects the ideals of the American Dream and how effort allows for a boost to a resume and therefore higher chance to a better life in the United States.

Baldwin’s theory for education could not only improve an individual 's morality but also it could help someone figure out who they truly are. Finding yourself is important part in one 's life because it defines who you truly are not who you want to be or who you are when you’re around certain people. Also, Baldwin says, “It is your responsibility to change society if you think of yourself as an educated person.” Having been an educated person Baldwin believed it was

A noted reminder of the true sadness hidden within middle american culture, to only escape is a shame reflected back to him and his inability to escape where he relates to “especially at night, when all the ship 's structured fun... I felt despair... despair, but it 's a serious word.” Wallace draws awareness to the word “Despire” as Paul Giles states that it draws “knowingness and insecurity” into Wallaces essay. The awareness of despire is a common suffereing for Middle American culture, it draws on irony, falseness and consumer consuption, these are all ideas that Wallace relates to and can not escape from. Like every other Middle American, Wallces confesses to that fact that “ I cannot escape my own essential and newly unpleasant

Wallace, David Foster "This is Water" Kenyon College Commencement Speech 2005 The general argument by David Foster Wallace in his work "This is Water" is that sometimes the most obvious realities are the hardest to comprehend. More specifically, he argues that thinking negatively is not a choice but a natural setting and we need to start thinking cognitively and outside the box. Wallace performs this speech for a group of graduating college students to prepare them for the future life they are about to embark on. He includes the grocery store example so that the reader's can connect to the story because they have gone through that situation themselves; he is trying to connect to the audience.

In the speech he says, “We are convinced that when people are faced with a direct appeal from the poor struggling nonviolently against great odds, they will react positively.” This appeals to peoples’ morals by saying people are expected to react in a positive way when dealing with struggling

Near the beginning of his renowned essay, "Civil Disobedience," Henry David Thoreau appeals to his fellow citizens when he says, "...I ask for, not at once no government, but at once a better government. " This request serves as a starting point from which the rest of "Civil Disobedience" emerges. Thoreau 's essay is particularly compelling because of its incorporation of rhetorical strategies, including the use of logos, ethos, pathos, purposive discourse, rhetorical competence and identification. I will demonstrate how each of these rhetorical techniques benefit Thoreau 's persuasive argument. Thoreau uses logos throughout his essay to strengthen his argument with reasoning.

Rhetorical analysis is crucial in comprehending another author's work and also in improving one's own writing. In this paper my project is to undertake a rhetorical analysis of Time Magazine journalist Joel Stein's opinion on the problems posed but also the advantages millennials in society in his article “The Me Me Me Generation.” I will address Stein's purpose, argument, and the way he presents it to further his claim. By dissecting the structure and arrangement of his argument we will view the means to persuasion in his article. I will also analyze the author's style and use of rhetorical analogies and assumptions.