The Language of Argument

7 4

C H A P T E R 4 ■ T h e A r t o f C l o s e A n a l y s i s

[4]–[12]: Write labels.

[13]: What is the expected answer to this rhetorical question?

[14]: What kind of rhetorical device is this? What is its point?

[15]–[18]: Write labels.

[19]: Who is supposed to be asking this question?

[20]–[22]: Write labels.

[23]: What is the point of this definition?

[24]–[33]: Write labels.

[34]: Why does this author add this dependent clause?

[35]–[39]: Write labels.

[40]: What does this question imply in this context?

[41]–[58]: Write labels.

[59]: What is the expected answer to this rhetorical question?

Read the following passage from The Washington Post (November 25, 1997),

page A19. Then, for each of the numbered expressions, label the main

argumentative move, if any, using the same abbreviations as in Exercise I:

A PIECE OF “GOD’S HANDIWORK”

by Robert Redford

Just over a year ago, President Clinton created the Grand Staircase-Escalante

National Monument to [1] protect [2] once and for all some [3] of Utah’s

extraordinary red rock canyon country. In response to [4] plans of the Dutch

company Andalex to mine coal on the Kaiparowits Plateau, President Clinton

used his authority under the Antiquities Act to establish the new monument,

setting aside for protection what he described as “some of the most remarkable

land in the world.” I couldn’t agree more. [5] For over two decades, many have

fought battle after battle [6] to keep mining conglomerates from despoiling [7]

the unique treasures [8] of this stunning red rock canyon country. Now [9], we

thought at least some of it was safe.

Not so. Shocking [10] as it sounds, Clinton’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM)

has approved oil drilling within the monument. BLM has given Conoco Inc.,

a subsidiary of the corporate giant DuPont, permission to drill for oil and gas

in the heart [11] of the new monument. You may [12] wonder, as I do, how

can this happen? [13] Wasn’t the whole purpose of creating the monument to

preserve its colorful cliffs, sweeping arches and other extraordinary resources

[14] from large-scale mineral development? Didn’t the president say he

Exercise II

Source: Robert Redford, “A Piece of ‘God’s Handiwork’,” Washington Post, November 25,

1997, p. A19. Used by permission.

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