A Nation That's Losing Its Toolbox Analysis

Great Essays
Louis Uchitelle’s “A Nation That’s Losing Its Toolbox” is an article focused on the decline of craftsmanship in the United States. Uchitelle points out that this decline is a cause for the deteriorating self-image of American’s can-do attitude and that the president should take this matter as a concern for the country’s future. In addition, he explains how the rising irrelevance of craftsmanship has led to a downfall of available jobs in America. In essence, Uchitelle claims that the decline of craftsmanship is a social, cultural, and economic problem that needs to be remedied. This claim that craftsmanship has to be brought back into relevance for the good of the country and its citizens is done in a thoroughly effective way with Uchitelle’s effective use of appeals and writing style. Uchitelle supports his argumentative claim with multiple uses of all three appeals and is done so in a successful manner. The appeal of logic, or logos, is presented with facts, statistics, and expert testimony to back up his claims. An example would be a statistic regarding the work …show more content…
The essay starts with a narrative: “The scene inside the Home Depot on Weyman Avenue here would give the old-time American craftsman pause…And if you don’t want to be your own handyman, head to Aisle 23 or Aisle 35, where a help desk will arrange for an installer” (Uchitelle). This story helps to engage the reader and creates the common ground of going to a home improvement store. In addition, Uchitelle uses cause and effect to give his claim more impact for the reader. An example in the text shows how the irrelevance of craftsmanship in the work force is a negative for the country’s citizens: “Traditional vocational training in public high schools is gradually declining, stranding thousands of young people who seek training for a craft without going to college”

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