Rhetorical Analysis Of 'Television' By Todd Alcott

Improved Essays
There has been some great reading material within this class that presents different perspectives of viewing aspects of life that we don’t typically consider often, from articles that shine a light on the horrors of “Tent City”, to writings of the reality of working as a paramedic. However, the article that presented the strongest argument is “Television" by Todd Alcott. His approach to the conflict presented in his writings managed to submerge the reader into his argument, that makes the rhetoric of his statement that much more effective. We have also had a great assortment of unique videos in the class as well. The film that presented the strongest argument out of the class selection is “Tiny story” by Sebas and Clim. What seems to make these …show more content…
With the reiteration of lines like “ Look at me”, “Are you Looking at me” and “Just keep looking at me”, demands the reader's undivided attention, even if that wasn’t the intent when writing this poem (T. Alcott, 2010). The emotion that is projected within this writing is almost that of urgency. What factor keeps us the most engaged, regardless of the interest of aspects surrounding the factor, danger. When we become aware of possible danger, we naturally direct our attention to the element, as it is in our best interest when preserving our physical well-being. With that in mind, he used a brilliant …show more content…
While “Tiny Story” modestly proposed its notion, while inducing the thought-provoking narratives, “Television” strong-arms its way into the reader's subconscious, leaving no option but to identify with its argument. “Tiny Story” used a simplistic approach of allowing the reader interpret its notion on their own doing, so that when one would become enlightened of the concept it would be much more effective, in terms of creating a long lasting effect. On the hand, “Television” interacts with the subconscious, which in turn invokes unexplainable emotions that are unconsciously keeping the reader engaged with every line, punctuation mark, and stanza. Often when anything is imposed upon someone there will be a degree of resistance, as forcibly doing anything is unnatural to human nature, which is all of the reason why Sebas and Clim’s tactic will outlast that of Todd

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Furthermore, Barry’s use of metaphors helps depict that uncertainty should be used as a tool to aid, in this case, scientific research. Barry compares science to tools. “A shovel can dig up dirt but cannot penetrate rock. Would a pick be best, or would dynamite be better…” (Barry).…

    • 190 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Analysis of Clive Thompson’s Rhetorical Strategies “Clive Thompson on The New Literacy” by Clive Thompson is an argumentative piece on technology’s effects on the upcoming generation of writers. He insisted that instead of diminishing the youth’s writing skills, technology aided and promoted writing amongst students. The author’s stance was very prominent, but he provided a subpar amount of research. To fortify the notion that technology has a positive effect on students, Thompson utilized the appeal to authority, concrete examples, and statistics.…

    • 543 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    English Diagnostic Essay Adam B. Summers wrote a persuasive editorial, “Bag Ban Bad for freedom and Environment,” using many persuasive details to make his argument. Summers is able to appeal and relate to his audience. The different tactics that Summers uses is rallying pronouns, hard, cold facts, and extensive support and diction. The author writes about how banning plastic bags is hurtful to the world and economy in many ways. With deliberate thought, Summers chooses words like “us” or “our”, in the first paragraph.…

    • 672 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Everyone who owns a television has seen the “Somewhere in America” commercial, which was published by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, at least once. This commercial is full of emotions and most people, “Always change the channel because they can’t take it anymore,” (McLachlan). Most of the depressing aspects of this commercial is the pictures because the dogs and cats are all beaten up and suffering from something. As a matter of fact, they are trying to make the audience feel sympathetic so they can join the ASPCA. The ASPCA tries to encourage audience monetary donation by using ethos by their tone, logos and pathos from the pictures and the statistics.…

    • 910 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    In “Francine Wheeler gives President Obama's Weekly Address,” Mrs. Wheeler uses reflective writing in her speech to convey her point of view on the controversial topic of “Commonsense Gun Responsibility Reform.” Mrs. Wheeler elegantly reflects on the event that resulted in the death of her six-year-old son and the effect this event had on past, present, and future consequences concerning her family and citizens of Unites States; while eliciting activism from viewers through empathy and sympathy through a common voice. My Reaction to Mrs. Wheeler’s effective reflective speech on “Commonsense Gun Responsibility Reform” inspired empathy, sympathy, and activism. Empathy rose up within me when Mrs. Wheeler describes the relationship…

    • 1079 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Sam Anderson uses rhetorical appeals constantly throughout his writing in order to "capture the hearts" of his readers. By using the rhetorical appeals Anderson is able to either make himself credible, emotionally connect to the audience, and use stats to prove that technology is distracting us on a daily basis but we also need technology to get through life. Furthermore, Anderson does this because he wants to make his writing more exciting and grab the attention of his readers in order to keep his readers coming back for more. Right off the bat Sam Anderson starts out trying to set the mood and secretly slipping one of his thesis' in his intro.…

    • 1229 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Martin Luther King Jr. uses many rhetorical strategies in his letter to Birmingham. While reading the letter I noticed he enjoys to show his knowledge of historical features and names mentioned in the Bible. King starts off the letter (paragraph 2) with who he is and why he is in Birmingham. He then gives the comment that he is apart of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, showing he is a christian and later on finding out he is a minister.…

    • 637 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Television can offer an educational outlet that permits children and students to grow, develop, and broaden their…

    • 793 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Jonathan Edwards expresses throughout his entire sermon one common ideal. Being born again is the only way to salvation. Articulating many puritan ideals about Gods vision of humans, he claims humans are instinctive sinners and we must change to escape the jaws of hell. Believing in predestination he emphasizes on this matter. But its central argument is not the most important aspect of this sermon.…

    • 497 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Hlt 208 Syllabus

    • 590 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Email: melissa @hlt.ca Course Description This course is an introduction into the challenging field of media and health issues, and will allow you to gain an understanding of the psychological effect of the media on younger generation. Course Goals and Learning Outcomes This course will provide an introduction to media and education, related health issues due to its overuse and the ways to prevent the ill effects associated with them.…

    • 590 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The author of the written passage, “The Horizontal World”, Debra Marquart utilizes the rhetorical strategies of bleak imagery and ethos to initially encourage harmful stereotypes of the upper Midwest and later prove that region, where she grew up in, is in fact special. Marquart describes the region’s topology, famous trivialities such as it being in several movies, and even political stance. However, she does so by at first describing its physical characteristics with disgust and even with hints of disdain in order to support her intended audience’ existing viewpoint that the Midwest is simply a “fly-over” region in the United States with no real significance to it. Given her credibility as a midwesterner herself, being acquainted with all…

    • 764 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In the short story by author Kate Chopin, “the Story of an Hour”, the main character shows her true feelings about her marriage after a false report about her husband’s death. Many readers of the audience point that Mrs. Mallard died from the joy of her husband’s arrival but an important aspect that is often overlooked is the ironic juxtaposition set up by the author to truly show her feelings. Mrs. Mallard was not in shock of joy but she was in shock of utter disappointment that ultimately lead to her death. Through the discrete details of their marriage, the author writes the message of marriage and love during this era in the American society. Through the actions of the main character, it is clear that her cause of death was because of…

    • 1345 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    On a dark stormy night, Arthur Miller wrote a book called, The Crucible. Throughout this piece of writing Miller expresses himself and the theme of the book through Mary Warren. She expresses multiple traits that Miller believes he has and uses as a theme, like hunger for power, self-preservation, greed, and protectiveness of reputation. Mary agrees to act like she is being bewitched because everyone else was doing it (bandwagon), and if she didn’t she would have been whipped for dancing in the woods. We have all heard of the Salem Witch Trials, but does everybody know the true story?…

    • 1083 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Through the iconic voice of Holden Caulfield, an estranged adolescent, one hears a cry for help emerge from the clouds of depression so effortlessly that nearly everyone, regardless of background, relates. As evident within J. D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, and particularly during chapter 20, Salinger utilizes casual diction, relatable syntax, and a symbolic setting to convey Holden’s great dejection and introspection about death itself. With such a strong rhetorical technique as this, Salinger appeals to the empathy of the audience and creates a nearly universal cult-following for Holden. Although undeservingly idealized, Holden’s struggle to find meaning and happiness in this passage suggests a greater, underlying aspect throughout…

    • 1049 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Symbolic Interactionism

    • 811 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Mass media has been on the rise since the early 1920s, however, most recently has it only began to allow individuals to express their thoughts and ideas more easily. Generally speaking, television is a form of mass media that plays a significant role in reflecting as well as creating cultures. Television allows individuals to be overwhelmed with messages from an abundant amount of different sources leading to the influence on society’s mood as well as attitude. Though it becomes quite obvious that television affects societies as a whole, there is still quite a debate on how much it really contributes into different cultures. To truly understand the study of television and its implications one has to understand the three major ideologies of…

    • 811 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays