Rhetorical Strategies in “Denise Specht: Minnesota students have a money problem. It’s time to face it.” “ ‘How much education funding is enough?’ ” (Specht 1) appears to be a simple question; however, the answer to this seemingly simple question is far more complicated. This question is addressed in the article “Denise Specht: Minnesota students have a money problem. It’s time to face it.” which was published in the Twin Cities Pioneer Press on September 21, 2017. The author argues that Minnesota schools are not receiving the funding they need and that officials are making no effort to fix this problem. The article makes the statement “Its time to face it” (Specht 1), but how effective is the author in making the audience face the issue?
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The strong wording present in certain areas of the article is used to appeal to the audience’s sensitive and compassionate side. The “suffering” and “needy” children are discussed throughout the article in an attempt to appeal to the readers’ emotions. The examples that are given to demonstrate how schools and students are suffering due to the lack of education funding also adds to this attempt to appeal to the audience’s emotions. The portion of the article that discusses educators’ responses to the question “ ‘How much education funding is enough?’ ” (Specht 1) is especially effective in adding to the article’s pathos. The responses made by teachers are relatable and understandable: “ ‘…Enough so we can have copy paper to last all year,’ ‘Teachers not spending their own money on supplies—or buying food to fill hungry tummies,’ ‘Enough to cover the cost of bandaids’ ” (Specht 1). Specht uses many techniques to appeal to the audience’s emotions throughout her article; however, her attempts at appealing to her audience’s emotions are sometimes overdone. The wording used to describe the situation appears to be overdramatic is some portions of the article. There are also additional small attempts that can be seen throughout the article in an attempt to persuade the audience, which causes the article to seem desperate. The effectiveness of the article is diminished …show more content…
Inadequate funding to education is a problem that is present throughout the entire United States and affects a great deal of the population that live there: “Many individuals in these distressed districts, characterized by overcrowded classrooms, outdated resources, and limited funding, face day-to-day challenges that force them to develop and implement creative survival techniques” (Ikpa 468). The article discusses the basis of the issue and the government’s role in the problem that is facing education systems across the United States. The problems facing the education system in Minnesota that are presented in Specht’s article are just a small example of what is occurring across the entire United States. In her article, Specht briefly mentions that the issue of insufficient funding to schools is not only limited to Minnesota. Specht mentions that Minnesota officials are considering a policy that has been adapted by other states and the results of this
The strong wording present in certain areas of the article is used to appeal to the audience’s sensitive and compassionate side. The “suffering” and “needy” children are discussed throughout the article in an attempt to appeal to the readers’ emotions. The examples that are given to demonstrate how schools and students are suffering due to the lack of education funding also adds to this attempt to appeal to the audience’s emotions. The portion of the article that discusses educators’ responses to the question “ ‘How much education funding is enough?’ ” (Specht 1) is especially effective in adding to the article’s pathos. The responses made by teachers are relatable and understandable: “ ‘…Enough so we can have copy paper to last all year,’ ‘Teachers not spending their own money on supplies—or buying food to fill hungry tummies,’ ‘Enough to cover the cost of bandaids’ ” (Specht 1). Specht uses many techniques to appeal to the audience’s emotions throughout her article; however, her attempts at appealing to her audience’s emotions are sometimes overdone. The wording used to describe the situation appears to be overdramatic is some portions of the article. There are also additional small attempts that can be seen throughout the article in an attempt to persuade the audience, which causes the article to seem desperate. The effectiveness of the article is diminished …show more content…
Inadequate funding to education is a problem that is present throughout the entire United States and affects a great deal of the population that live there: “Many individuals in these distressed districts, characterized by overcrowded classrooms, outdated resources, and limited funding, face day-to-day challenges that force them to develop and implement creative survival techniques” (Ikpa 468). The article discusses the basis of the issue and the government’s role in the problem that is facing education systems across the United States. The problems facing the education system in Minnesota that are presented in Specht’s article are just a small example of what is occurring across the entire United States. In her article, Specht briefly mentions that the issue of insufficient funding to schools is not only limited to Minnesota. Specht mentions that Minnesota officials are considering a policy that has been adapted by other states and the results of this