Communication - Rhetoric and Reasoning - Critique - Assignment Example

Communication: Rhetoric and Reasoning: Critique Assignment Table of Contents Part 3 Concept Map on the article ‘History fairer to Bush’ ed byAndrew Roberts 3 Part 2 4 Overview: First Article 4 Ethos 5 Logos 6 Pathos 7 Fallacies 8 Conclusion 8 Overview: Second Article 9 Ethos 9 Logos 9 Pathos 10 Fallacies 10 References 11 Bibliography 13 Part 1 Concept Map on the article ‘History fairer to Bush’ authored by Andrew Roberts (Graphic, n.d.). The map shows the broad heads, the relationships and the examples mentioned in the article. The article covers all three important rhetorical styles, making the article an effective reading. The difference among the three rhetoric styles can be easily established and has its own individual significance. Part 2 Overview: First Article In the article titled ‘History fairer to Bush’ authored by Andrew Roberts and published by The Australian on 20th January 2009 has tried to focus on the nature and the jobs done by George W. Bush with a different set of perspectives. The article primarily states that in the near future when this decade will become a history then it can be analyzed that George W. Bush was fair in several of his decisions. Though the results have been adverse but it had actually helped in a very different way altogether. Actually in many situations there were no other choices available to George W. Bush. The article brings into light the brighter sides of the decisions taken by George W. Bush and the government. Though it has caused pains for many but has even brought smile on certain faces. The article summarizes all the major accuses that have been given to George W. Bush and the author tries to convert the negative aspects to positive ones. Even there are comparisons with other presidents and the flaws in their regime. Thus an effort has been made by the author to prove that George W. Bush is not all about flaws but also about important and critical judgments (Edlund, n.d.). Ethos The article is basically characteristic driven. It brings out a different ideology of the author altogether. In most cases it has been seen that George W. Bush is considered to be as one of those president in the history of United States of America who has not only inflicted miseries to its nation but also in the world. But here in the case of this article the author has tried to reflect only on the positive points on the attitude and the decisions made by George W. Bush. The characteristic of the author can be identified from the beginning of the article when it is seen that according to him he addresses George W. Bush as a good president. In the article it can be seen that the author is certain about the fact that in the future George W. Bush and his decisions regarding various issues such as terrorism would be considered as ethical and just decisions. It also states that there are several aspects to a man. He justifies that the media has contributed a lot in making George W. Bush a national as well as international enemy but in true sense there are several positive aspects which has not been highlighted by the media which could have turned him into an international hero (Learning First, n.d.). Even the author has focused on the nature of the George W. Bush. According the author the president has always been quick to identify his mistakes and would render apologies for them. The author also states that George W. Bush has contributed a lot in the development of the African nations and also other poor countries. The article reflects a great deal about the personality of the author. In terms of evaluating the article from the ethos point of view the various characteristics of the author can be displayed. The main characteristics of the ethos based article i.e. reputation of the author and character of the speaker can be seen in the article. It can be easily understood that the author has the uncanny ability of seeing the other side of the coin. Even he is positive minded and ethical in his personal considerations. It is actually the belief of the author that has been presented in the article. Therefore there is also a certain level of personal biased view in the article. The author has not only been able to highlight his beliefs in the article but also he has been able to display tremendous influencing power and strength of words to substantiate his claims in his writing. This has taken his article to another level. Therefore in spite it having the personal viewpoint of the author, the author has made its contents a compelling one and also believable one. Thus the article can be considered as character centric (Crewell & Et. Al., 1996). Logos In the article it has been witnessed that the author has provided logic for each and every statements he have made. There is something very exciting about this article and the exciting part is that there are only few people in the world who can emphasis on a negative attribute and turn it into positive, with logical reasons. The author is among one of the few who have this ability. In the eyes of the majority, George W. Bush has been a leader, who has brought great perils to the world but the author turns all accusations made on George W. Bush to positive influences and supports by saying that most of the decisions made by him are right and would be proved by the historians in the future. He has not only made such comments but also has backed them up by logical reasoning. The attack on Afghanistan is considered to be a very brutal step taken by George W. Bush by many and several do believe that the attack made was not undertaken just on the basis of terrorism but also for profit motives. But the author in his article addresses such believers as fools and also states that the attacks were based primarily on the grounds of the human rights and the UN resolutions. Even several other opinions regarding George W. Bush have been contradicted by the author (Durham Technical Community College, n.d.). Logical comparisons have been made of other former presidents of America with George W. Bush. According to the author, George W. Bush is not the worst president of America and has contributed a lot which the common people have failed to notice. The logical aspect has a major focus on the article because the credibility of the article is based on such logics and reasoning. If the author would have failed to create the positive relationship then the article would have no basis and also would create no effect to the readers (Silva Rhetoricae, n.d.). Pathos The author has tried to bring out the emotions in this article and infuse them in the minds of the readers. An adequate attempt is made by the author to signify that George W. Bush does not always mean a failed president but there are other good sides to the person too. In the article the author focuses on several emotional aspects that may touch the sentiments of the readers. The mention of the works done by George W. Bush in Libya and in other African countries is emphasized to bring some emotional change on the minds of the readers. Even when the author mentions that the prime minister of India has said that the Indian people deeply love George W. Bush, it is actually focusing on the emotional aspects. Emotions play a greater role in transformation of view points. In this article the author has skillfully infused the emotional aspects by even highlighting the eventualities that may happen if the decisions taken by George W. Bush had not been implemented. This may lead the readers in the state of imagination. Imagination is one aspect of pathos. The perspective of the readers severely gets influenced by the articles. Even the comparison made also highlights that other presidents have been faulty in their decision too but the major victim has only been George W. Bush (Changing Minds, n.d.). Fallacies The author has supported the acts of George W. Bush and according to him whatever measures had been taken by the president of USA is for the betterment of the citizen but few of those measures can be eradicated, such as the attack on Afghanistan. Even it can be said that this particular decision is somehow responsible for the economical breakdown of the nation. Conclusion The article more or less comprises of all the three main rhetoric style. Thus the author has been successful in his effort of writing an article which is quite effective in reaching to the readers’ mind. The author in this article persuades the readers to have a favorable attitude towards George W. Bush and also mentions that if they do not understand the implications of his work at present then they will surely understand it in the future. The perception regarding George W. Bush completely depends upon the individual but the article establishes an effort to bring out his positivity and to turn some readers into his favor (Central Oregon Community College, n.d.). Overview: Second Article The article titled ‘The Students Wise beyond their Peers’ has been written by Steven Schwartz and published by The Australian on 15th October 2009. In this article the author wanted to express his views regarding the existing educational system even he also had included the verdicts of other scholars. He tried to develop an idea regarding the role of the universities for making a student wise and preparing them for life (Schwartz, 2008). Ethos Basically the author had tried to analyze the present education system along with certain statistics of few countries worldwide and on the basis of that analysis he tried to articulate his views regarding a required and appropriate education system. He has drawn various examples on course curriculum of various professional and mainly Doctors. The views of the author and cited examples will be accepted by the readers as it established trustworthiness. The reason behind it is that author is the vice-chancellor of the Macquarie University of Sydney. Even once he was a dean of medicine. Logos The author had argued that the doctor should get the opportunities through which they can identify and assess their own self. This is a bold statement and Steven Schwartz had justified it appropriately. He put logic for that. According to him, self assessment is necessary as the Doctor should know their competence level. Besides that the author had also stated that Doctors’ need to be associated with the literature as they can conceptualize the nature and culture of the patients. Pathos While concluding the paper, the author had expressed his emotions and sympathy towards the students. According to him the students should provide opportunities to live their life through engaging with some extra curriculum activities. Focusing only on the core subject of the course and circumventing other cultural and emotional aspects will make the student only a good professional, not a good human being. Fallacies Steven Schwartz had stated that a proper understanding with logic, scientific method will help them to ‘separate sound argument from specious one’. He was right in his own part but inclusion of few more characteristics and attributes was essential to justify the requirement of a student of medical science. References Central Oregon Community College, No Date. Rhetorical Analysis: Critical Reading. Writing a Rhetorical Analysis. [Online] Available at: http://web.cocc.edu/rquay/Classroom%20WR123/writing_a_rhetorical_analysis.htm [Accessed October 04, 2010]. Changing Minds, No Date. Three ways to persuade. Arguments. [Online] Available at: http://changingminds.org/disciplines/argument/making_argument/three_persuade.htm [Accessed October 04, 2010]. Crewell, D. & Et. Al., 1996. Learning How to Use the Three Main Rhetorical Styles. The Art of Rhetoric. [Online] Available at: http://www.rpi.edu/dept/llc/webclass/web/project1/group4/ [Accessed October 04, 2010]. Durham Technical Community College. No Date. The Three "Artistic Proofs". Rhetoric, Logos, Pathos, and Ethos. [Online] Available at: http://courses.durhamtech.edu/perkins/aris.html [Accessed October 04, 2010]. Edlund, J., No Date. Three Ways to Persuade. Ethos, Logos, Pathos. [Online] Available at: http://www.calstatela.edu/faculty/jgarret/3waypers.htm [Accessed October 04, 2010]. Graphic, No Date. Concept Map. The Graphic Organizer. [Online] Available at: http://www.graphic.org/concept.html [Accessed October 04, 2010]. Learning First, No Date. Rhetoric. English Language & Linguistics. [Online] Available at: http://www.putlearningfirst.com/language/20rhet/20rhet.html [Accessed October 04, 2010]. Schwartz, S., 2008. The Students Wise beyond their Peers. The Australian. Silva Rhetoricae, No Date. The Forest of Rhetoric. Silva Rhetoricae. [Online] Available at: http://rhetoric.byu.edu/ [Accessed October 04, 2010]. Bibliography Aristotle, 2010. Rhetoric. Cosimo, Inc. Burniske, R., 2007. Literacy in the Digital Age. Corwin Press. Read More