Fangzhou Chen
Professor Ray
English 1A 1243
08/27/2016
Assignment 1
Rhetorical Analysis of “ Why is‘Compromise’ Now a Dirty Word? ”
When it comes to compromise, what is the first thing that comes out from your mind? Is it an advantage or disadvantage? The answers to this question vary from people to people, regions to regions. People who regard compromise as an advantage, say that compromise helps reach a mutual agreement among conflicting groups. Other people might disagree, arguing that compromise is unfair to those who have already been in the upper position. Deborah Tannen’s article, “ Why is ‘Compromise’ Now a Dirty Word? ”, published on Politico, a famous website for political issues on June 15, 2011, discusses her opinions about compromise from the current political perspective. This text is effective in using pathos to convince readers that why people show no interest in using the word compromise nowadays.
Tannen mentions that compromise was easy to achieve in the past. In order to support her point, she uses former senator Henry Clay’s example (Deborah Tannen, 146). Dated back to the 1800s, when there …show more content…
In terms of explaining why it is hard to compromise nowadays, the author compares the political figures from different time periods. One of them is former senator Henry Clay, also known as “ ‘the great compromiser’ ” (146). Thanks to his “ Missouri Compromise”, the Civil War was postponed (146). However, in today’s politics, “ ‘compromise is the companion of losers’ ” (145). Through the different attitudes towards politics, we are able to indicate why it is hard to compromise. In addition, the author compares the connotations over time (145). The culture of not compromise spread from political arena to our daily life. When compromise represents “sell me out” in non-political settings, we have no wonder why people complain President Barack Obama about his compromise on universal health coverage
Professor Ray
English 1A 1243
08/27/2016
Assignment 1
Rhetorical Analysis of “ Why is‘Compromise’ Now a Dirty Word? ”
When it comes to compromise, what is the first thing that comes out from your mind? Is it an advantage or disadvantage? The answers to this question vary from people to people, regions to regions. People who regard compromise as an advantage, say that compromise helps reach a mutual agreement among conflicting groups. Other people might disagree, arguing that compromise is unfair to those who have already been in the upper position. Deborah Tannen’s article, “ Why is ‘Compromise’ Now a Dirty Word? ”, published on Politico, a famous website for political issues on June 15, 2011, discusses her opinions about compromise from the current political perspective. This text is effective in using pathos to convince readers that why people show no interest in using the word compromise nowadays.
Tannen mentions that compromise was easy to achieve in the past. In order to support her point, she uses former senator Henry Clay’s example (Deborah Tannen, 146). Dated back to the 1800s, when there …show more content…
In terms of explaining why it is hard to compromise nowadays, the author compares the political figures from different time periods. One of them is former senator Henry Clay, also known as “ ‘the great compromiser’ ” (146). Thanks to his “ Missouri Compromise”, the Civil War was postponed (146). However, in today’s politics, “ ‘compromise is the companion of losers’ ” (145). Through the different attitudes towards politics, we are able to indicate why it is hard to compromise. In addition, the author compares the connotations over time (145). The culture of not compromise spread from political arena to our daily life. When compromise represents “sell me out” in non-political settings, we have no wonder why people complain President Barack Obama about his compromise on universal health coverage