How does one change misperceptions? This issue regarding false beliefs is analyzed by Maria Konnikova in her essay “I Don’t Want to Be Right”. In her piece, Konnikova evaluates various previous studies regarding the effort to change beliefs ̶ particularly false beliefs. Taking an untraditional approach on a fairly traditional topic, Konnikova argues that self-image is directly related to open mindedness as opposed to traditional, advertisement-based studies. While she gains considerable credibility as an author by demonstrating her thorough research, constantly citing scientific studies and numeric statistics, her argument is flawed. The argument severely lacks elements of pathos, ultimately failing to gain the reader’s interest. Although the piece was highly educational, without the interest of the reader, any attempts at broadly sharing the information disintegrate.
Konnikova opens her piece by presenting the results-or rather, lack thereof-of the scientific studies led by Brendan Nyhan. In following Nyan’s work, which is specifically directed towards persuading parents of the benefits of vaccinating children, the author establishes both credibility as well as the introduction of her topic. By opening her piece with statistics from a study regarding vaccines, Konnikova forebodes the dry tone in which …show more content…
To illustrate Konnikova’s simple choice of diction, she uses familiar, almost juvenile phrases, such as referring to the findings of one study as “a whole lot of nothing”. It is both because of the nature of the topic and her relatively basic diction that I believe she intentionally selected her audience to be middle-aged adults-particularly parents-as she specifically targets the concept of opening their minds to new concepts and viewpoints, especially when regarding the wellbeing of
Konnikova opens her piece by presenting the results-or rather, lack thereof-of the scientific studies led by Brendan Nyhan. In following Nyan’s work, which is specifically directed towards persuading parents of the benefits of vaccinating children, the author establishes both credibility as well as the introduction of her topic. By opening her piece with statistics from a study regarding vaccines, Konnikova forebodes the dry tone in which …show more content…
To illustrate Konnikova’s simple choice of diction, she uses familiar, almost juvenile phrases, such as referring to the findings of one study as “a whole lot of nothing”. It is both because of the nature of the topic and her relatively basic diction that I believe she intentionally selected her audience to be middle-aged adults-particularly parents-as she specifically targets the concept of opening their minds to new concepts and viewpoints, especially when regarding the wellbeing of