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Rhetorical Analysis: Not By Math Alone

Decent Essays

The Washington Post is one of the nation’s oldest newspaper platforms for writers to inform their audience about problems in our country. One of America’s traditional practices is its bureaucratic system of democracy. In Sandra O’ Connor and Roy Romer’s article “Not by Math Alone”, the authors’ appeal to logical reasoning and emotion persuades the audience about the lack of civic education for students in school. Through well-detailed statistics and data, the authors attempt to impose rationality upon their readers regarding the importance of student participation for the government. According to the last national civics assessment in 1998, about “two-thirds of 12th -graders scored below proficient” while only “9 percent could list…benefits …show more content…

Moreover, the authors’ inductive reasoning connects the falling rate to the reduced effect of civic learning. By adopting a more logical approach, the authors are able to support their assertion and stress upon the reader the severity of the problem. Similarly, the authors’ appeal to emotion also plays a crucial role in conveying the necessity to encourage students to learn about their government. History shows the reader that America “has long exemplified democratic practice to the rest of the world” and has a duty to maintain those reputable values in the future generations. Democracy in which the country started upon cannot uphold without the contribution of the people it governs. Due to the authors’ emphasis on the continuation of the country’s practices, a sense of pride will develop in the reader for being in line for such partaking. The author’s usage of emotionally connotative words such as “patriotic” and “American” induces an emotive response for the reader to reinforce the call for change. Moreover, the audience will feel compelled to reform the school system for the preservation of a political ideal. Such diction amplifies the author’s attempt in striking a passionate reaction. As the authors conclude their persuasion with the imagery

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