The skill of multitasking is looked upon as a desirable trait to have, when in reality people really can't multitask effectively. Writer and literary critic William Deresiewicz presents to his freshman class at West Point that multitasking and the use of others ideas is ineffective for leaders and in fact concentration alone is what leads to a successful leadership. Deresiewicz poses rhetorical questions in order to encourage the students to open their eyes to new ideas, a combination of ethos and logos bouncing off one another to demonstrate the truth about multitasking and the use of absolute diction to present the only way to become a leader.
Throughout Deresiewicz’s speech, he shows his audience the overwhelmingly rightness of the facts …show more content…
Deresiewicz says to his audience “My first thought is never my best thought.” (4) First by using the word “never” Deresiewicz establishes that there is no arguing his claim. The word never tends to have a negative connotation to it so when it is placed next to the word “best” which has a positive connotation they juxtapose one another and highlight Deresiewicz statement. Deresiewicz follows that statement by saying “My first thought is always someone else's; it’s always what i've already heard about the subject, always the conventional wisdom.” (4) Deresiewicz repeats the absolute word always in order to make his audience remember and to emphasize significance of his point so that his particular audience doesn't take the claim lighty. Deresiewicz continues with “It's only by concentrating… that I arrive at an original idea.” (4) Because Deresiewicz use of absolute words he frames to his audiences quite directly that if and only if they are concentrated they can reach their own ideas. Because he does this so blatantly it convinces his audience that if they want to be a good leader the only way they can achieve this is purley through concentration. Using absolute words is a large risk because there are few things in life that are absolute so by
Throughout Deresiewicz’s speech, he shows his audience the overwhelmingly rightness of the facts …show more content…
Deresiewicz says to his audience “My first thought is never my best thought.” (4) First by using the word “never” Deresiewicz establishes that there is no arguing his claim. The word never tends to have a negative connotation to it so when it is placed next to the word “best” which has a positive connotation they juxtapose one another and highlight Deresiewicz statement. Deresiewicz follows that statement by saying “My first thought is always someone else's; it’s always what i've already heard about the subject, always the conventional wisdom.” (4) Deresiewicz repeats the absolute word always in order to make his audience remember and to emphasize significance of his point so that his particular audience doesn't take the claim lighty. Deresiewicz continues with “It's only by concentrating… that I arrive at an original idea.” (4) Because Deresiewicz use of absolute words he frames to his audiences quite directly that if and only if they are concentrated they can reach their own ideas. Because he does this so blatantly it convinces his audience that if they want to be a good leader the only way they can achieve this is purley through concentration. Using absolute words is a large risk because there are few things in life that are absolute so by