Freedom of speech has been an integral part of American society ever since the founding fathers gathered in Philadelphia to create the nation’s fundamental laws. The first amendment of the Constitution guarantees every American citizen the right to freedom of speech. In recent years, questions have arisen about whether free speech should be regulated, specifically on college campuses. Are college students too sensitive to handle issues brought up in free debate? Two articles that address this issue are “Millennials Will Soon Define ‘America,’ and That’s a Problem for Ideas” by Julie Lythcott-Haims and “Today’s Students Have a New Way of Looking at Free Speech” by Kathleen McCartney. The article by Ms. Lythcott-Haims argues that “millennials,”
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By using the term “millennials,” she conjures a certain stereotype within the audience. In the case of millennials, Lythcott-Haims describes, “feelings were validated, ideas and efforts were praised, problems were handled, [and] fairy tales were made kinder.” Older generations will always think that the younger generations have an easier life. This notion will make older readers more likely to agree with the author. Furthermore, she uses powerful imagery to describe how millennials react to controversy. Whenever college students hear debate, Lythcott-Haims says they react by “sticking their fingers in their ears,” and they cannot stop the “inevitable whimper” that rises in their throat. The imagery supports Lythcott-Haims’ claim because if students shy away from controversial ideas rather than discuss them, those ideas will eventually disappear …show more content…
Lythcott-Haims wrote a more successful article because she proves her credibility to the audience. Her second paragraph begins, “When I was a college dean working with millennials….” (Lythcott-Haims). This statement establishes that she has first-hand experience working with millennials. She is not merely theorizing how they react to unfamiliar situations; she has witnessed their reaction herself. Since she has experience, the readers are more likely to believe her. Also, the first paragraph states that she subscribed to a newspaper that contradicts her opinions to solidify her own personal views: “I subscribed to the conservative student newspaper The Stanford Review because its viewpoints … were diametrically opposed to my own” (Lythcott-Haims). Lythcott-Haims improves her credibility by showing the reader she is not ignorant to the opposing view; she takes the time to formulate her own opinion. She effectively uses the rhetoric device ethos to prove to the audience she is knowledgeable on the subject at
By using the term “millennials,” she conjures a certain stereotype within the audience. In the case of millennials, Lythcott-Haims describes, “feelings were validated, ideas and efforts were praised, problems were handled, [and] fairy tales were made kinder.” Older generations will always think that the younger generations have an easier life. This notion will make older readers more likely to agree with the author. Furthermore, she uses powerful imagery to describe how millennials react to controversy. Whenever college students hear debate, Lythcott-Haims says they react by “sticking their fingers in their ears,” and they cannot stop the “inevitable whimper” that rises in their throat. The imagery supports Lythcott-Haims’ claim because if students shy away from controversial ideas rather than discuss them, those ideas will eventually disappear …show more content…
Lythcott-Haims wrote a more successful article because she proves her credibility to the audience. Her second paragraph begins, “When I was a college dean working with millennials….” (Lythcott-Haims). This statement establishes that she has first-hand experience working with millennials. She is not merely theorizing how they react to unfamiliar situations; she has witnessed their reaction herself. Since she has experience, the readers are more likely to believe her. Also, the first paragraph states that she subscribed to a newspaper that contradicts her opinions to solidify her own personal views: “I subscribed to the conservative student newspaper The Stanford Review because its viewpoints … were diametrically opposed to my own” (Lythcott-Haims). Lythcott-Haims improves her credibility by showing the reader she is not ignorant to the opposing view; she takes the time to formulate her own opinion. She effectively uses the rhetoric device ethos to prove to the audience she is knowledgeable on the subject at