http://mittromneycentral.com/2011/09/28/rick-perrys-problem-with-the-truth/
I think this one would be a good option to analyze because it is an opinion based blog, and uses many forms of rhetoric. The author, Jade Wyatt's only credentials seem to be that she(?) is a republican, who supports Mitt Romney, and is allowed to write on mittromneycentral.com. Her issue, in this particular blog, is whether of not Mitt Romney is a better candidate than Rick Perry for the republican presidential nomination. And she does so in interesting ways by comparing quotes from both candidates and other respectable citizens showing Perry as a liar. Her audience is people who are decided republicans who are deciding between Rick Perry and Mitt Romney for president.
She is trying to persuade people as to who is the better republican candidate, Mitt Romney and Rick Perry, her option is Mitt Romney. She uses a couple strategies to persuade her readers, one is that she compares Rick Perrys version of Mitt Romney's quote, and Romneys real quote. She also quotes other well known political people, choosing ones that show how Perry is a 'liar'. This makes her audience think that Romney is obviously a better choice because not only does she show Perry as a liar, but she quotes other, more well known people who also think that Perry is a liar. She wants the audience to believe and think this way so they will vote for Romney when the time comes. She wants them to feel the same way as she does.
I believe that this blog will be a good thing to analyze because this will be an issue that is very relevant to the coming year. This will be a topic that will be passionate for a lot of people. I think it is a good choice as it shows the freedom in America that we have to be able to express our own opinions about the issues at hand.
ReplyDeleteI find it really interesting that her way to convince people to vote for Romney is because Perry is a "liar." Maybe her evidence really is valid, but to call out the bad things in someone else (Perry) to convince you why you should choose the other person (Romney) seems so mediocre. I never understand how in politics the politicians duke it out between each other and show how the OTHER person is bad, and that's why you should vote for them. Because just showing how someone is bad, doesn't mean that the other person is good.
ReplyDeleteMaybe this author does show strengths in Romney too in her article, but just from what you said about her calling Perry a liar wouldn't convince me to choose Romney.
This is an interesting article, Brian. My first worry is that you might have a hard time writing an in-depth analysis; most of the article consists of quotes, with very little of the author's actual written rhetoric. That said, the author is still making an argument with other forms of rhetoric that could be analyzed, so this might work. Just be wary of the limitations of this article.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I agree with Jen: keep in mind the effect that this rhetoric has on the audience, and whether or not that effect is ultimately effectIVE or not.