Rhetorical Analysis Of The Pursuit Of Just Getting By

In Amy Widner’s essay, The Pursuit of Just Getting By, a college student expresses her dismay in the attitude her generation holds towards school work ethic. Widner insistently explains that the sardonic outlook that students have on doing homework and class assignments reflects negatively on her peers and primarily on the workforce they will be apart of in the future. Her essay insists that students take their work seriously in order to secure a good job and reputation, delivering a well explained list of reasons to do so; such as the fact that students are paying to attend class and it “increase[s]... chances of excelling in the job market.” Although her stances on the subject are well executed and backed by a large amount of evidence, Widner’s …show more content…
Her statement being a generalization she backs up with a relatable anecdote involving two students boasting about not studying for a test and still passing. Widner goes on to explain her understanding of the student’s boastfulness; “stress relief, nervous small talk, academic confessionals” that lessens the sting of her tone for a moment - before she offers the backhanded sentiment: “it gets on my nerves.” This comment solidifies the audience’s hostility towards Widner because she feigns understanding when really she uses it to set up her own impatience. However, it can be argued that Widner’s condescension is a simple overplaying of her familiar and casual relationship with her fellow peers because the article is directed at university students. While this may be true, the generalizations and accusations that she voices makes her superior tone and outlook clear and …show more content…
In the fourth paragraph, she expresses concrete reasoning to work hard in school, “skills and knowledge are what help students get jobs in the real world, as well as experience working hard and getting things done on time” and she introduces this statement with a charming metaphor about an obstacle course and a rat race. However, she then returns to her prior condescension by sarcastically describing a scenario where a graduate meets with an employer and insinuates that students only care about a degree rather than the knowledge that is needed to gain one. Throughout the text, Widner skillfully avoids the fact that college is difficult. Balancing classes, (4 to 5 classes being the minimum of a full time student) homework, (at least 2 hours worth for each class taken) extracurriculars, friends, family, sometimes a part-time job, and the surprises of life in general can be a grueling task for most