- He shows the stakes of the question by demonstrating the popularity of
video games. His evidence is a sales figure and a poll from the U.S.
Department of Health. - He shows that play is important to brain development. His evidence is a
scientific study from the journal Nature. Ends with another question to
move the argument forward. - He shows that typical explanations for the destructive nature of video
games are silly. As evidence, he provides a ridiculous headline. He argues
against this interpretation with comically exaggerated examples. - He provides his own explanation for the shortcomings of video games. He
appeals to the reader’s experience to argue that video games are less
beneficial than real-life games.
As we said previously, we’re going to write about the beginning, middle, and
end of the passage. We now know the argument and pieces of evidence we will
discuss. Next, let’s delve into the rhetorical choices Krumpf makes throughout
his essay.
But First: What Exactly Is Rhetoric?
Rhetoric = the subtleties of the author’s language.
—Samantha
When you talk about a writer’s rhetoric, you are talking about why a writer
writes this way as opposed to some other way.
When Fizzlethwaite writes that hyacinths add “a much needed touch of class
to countless portraits simply by standing in the background,” she is making a
choice to express an idea in a particular way. She could have expressed this same
idea like so: “Hyacinths are often seen in the backgrounds of portraits, where
they have the effect of making the image prettier.” Same idea, but said
differently. Why is the first one better? Why is the phrase “a touch of class”
more fun to read? Why do we enjoy that they are “standing in the background”?
When we answer these questions, we are talking about rhetoric. In this example,
we might say that “a much needed touch of class” is cheeky, a bit ironic, a little
funny. By personifying the hyacinths, we are given the slightly ridiculous image
of flowers as low-paid background actors. The addition of that adverb “simply”
emphasizes how effortlessly they expend their charm.