Analysis of the agreement principles of poverty soon forgotten - Essay Example

Analysis of the agreement principles of poverty soon forgotten Grade (13th, Nov. Analysis of the agreement principles of poverty soon forgotten The essay, "Reminders of Poverty, Soon Forgotten" by Alexander Keyssar, has applied the different elements of classical arguments variously, thus making the essay appeal to the reader, while projecting his authority to speak to the subject. Ethos is one such element of the classical argument that Keyssar has applied, which has to do with stamping his authority as a credible, believable and reliable writer in this subject.

As a historian, a professor and a writer, who has tackled different subjects in the course of his writing articles and books, Keyssar presents himself as an author worth writing on the subject, and whose wisdom in this subject cannot be doubted (Keyssar, 2005). This is because, he has previously written several books, all touching on different aspects of the American society, ranging from politics, to sociopolitical and economic issues, while also writing various articles that have been published in highly accredited journals, such as The Chronicle of Higher Education (Keyssar, 2005).

Having written on subjects that are touching on the backbone of the American society in his previous works, such as unemployment, democracy and the dream of America, there is no telling which other social issue he cannot handle, since he has immersed himself into analyzing the societal issues from different perspectives (Keyssar, 2005). Therefore, even when a reader may not have encountered the work of this author before, one cannot doubt that his speaking to this subject is part of a wider social analysis of the American society, and thus he has sufficient knowledge of the society he is addressing.

Therefore, Ethos, as an element of classical argument, has been applied perfectly in this essay, through stamping the authority of the author to speak to the subject of poverty. Pathos is yet the other element that has been suitably applied in the essay, to make the argument made by the author effectively appeal to the reader. Starting with the title of the article and the introduction, there is no way that such an article will not attract the attention of a reader, even those who are in a hurry to peruse for different set of information.

The title of the article immediately draws the reader to the reality of the existence of poor people, whom the society has already forgotten (Keyssar, 2005). Therefore, even without reading the content of the article, the reader can directly connect to the focus and the issue that the author is addressing, especially if the reader has come across, interacted, helped or even sought help for a poor individual. The introduction is even more persuading, through bringing into the forefront, the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina, which was an emotional incidence, not only for the Americans, but to the whole world (Keyssar, 2005).

Through applying such an event as the opening issue that acts as a reminder that poverty is still a reality in the American society, there is no doubt that the subject then appeals to the emotions of the reader, and captivates the readers mind to engage in the issue more sensitively. The author advances his argument through using very emotive terms such that it can even bring forth tears on the reader. Through the use of sentences such as “disproportionately poor and black, wading through muddy water, carrying children and plastic bags containing a few meager possessions” (Keyssar, 2005), the emotions of the reader are heightened, and memory of the suffering endured by the mentioned people triggered, thus making the subject which the author is speaking to, even more emotionally appealing and persuasive to the reader.

Finally, the author has applied the element of Logos, a component of the classical argument principles, most effectively; further making his essay persuasive and the argument worth buying. The author does not take long after the introduction, to call upon the reader to relate how poverty and tragedy are related, and how the poor will always bear the greatest of afflictions in any form of disaster. At this point, the author has started imploring on the reader to apply reasoning, which further strengthens the appeal of the article and subject to which the author is speaking.

Just t the use of two sentences elicits the logical reasoning of the reader of the article, making the reader identify more with the subject, than the emotions would have called for. The author states, “Some people were clearly hit far worse than others. One thing that being poor meant was that you didn’t have the capacity to get out of the way of floodwaters when they came pouring down your street” (Keyssar, 2005). At this point, the relationship between poverty and devastating effect of a tragedy becomes the sole thing that the reader can logically think of, thus making the author appeal to, and effectively persuade the reader to buy the argument, through the application of logical reasoning.

Therefore, the author has applied the three principles of classic argument in a jointed manner, to stamp his authority of speaking to the subject, and to fully persuade the reader to buy the argument. Reference Keyssar, A. (Nov 4, 2005). "Reminders of Poverty, Soon Forgotten". The Chronicle of Higher Education.