♪ Something from the dust..

What’s a style of writing?

Most writers have a different, yet unique style of writing which defines their perspective on a topic. As shown in, “Backpacks Vs. Briefcases” and “Introduction Classical Rhetoric”, it has been proven that every writer or even a regular human being can have common ideas, however, can express the idea differently. Laura Carroll and Corbett are both authors who both agree on the idea of rhetorical analysis being a form of persuasion, but can have different impressions according to the reader. Laura Carroll’s has an reflective voice. This reflective voice is for reader to realize the awareness of their constant usage of rhetorical analysis based on our daily judgements, or a illustrative and explanatory style of writing. On the other hand, Corbett and Connors causes the reader to view the analysis in an intellectual and structural way making great usage of arguments, or a descriptive and analytical style of writing. Corbett puts what rhetorical analysis is in a logical way, which makes the essay easy to follow as if the reader is reading a map.

In the article, “Backpacks Vs. Briefcases”, Carroll starts off by creating a scenario where people make snap judgements based on only what we see, smell, or hear. Carroll illustrates what rhetorical analysis is to the reader and she relates rhetorical analysis to our daily situations such as judging a person from what type of clothing they wear, the cunning advertisement techniques used by the media, or simply convincing your mother to give you money. If a professor is wearing slacks, with a monotone voice, the first thing that would come to the student’s mind is boring, and strict. Whereas, we may judge the professor based on the handbag they use, fancy or casual. The media convinces people everyday to act in a particular way or smell in a certain way using a famous celebrity cologne.

Carroll then states how to fully understand the purpose of a rhetorical situation, one must identify the exigence, audience and constraints of the context. Exigence is what the author is attempting to accomplish. Audience is the group of people the author is trying to get the message across to. Constraints are obstacles that can prevent the exigence from getting across to the reader clearly. An author can also develop his voice throughout an article by using Aristotle’s three rhetorical appeals that can help attract and persuade the reader, pathos, ethos and logos. Pathos are emotional strategies whose purposes are to use the reader’s feelings in order to achieve their goal. Ethos are the humorous techniques used to attract the reader. Logos are proven statistics that may or may not work for  the reader, but can lure them to attempt the product or strategy. These three are effective factors of rhetorical analysis and Carroll uses these in order to illustrate and for the reader to clearly see what it is and how it is used. For example, managers of companies that rescue pets in floods advertise their company to beg for donations by effectively using pathos (rhetorical) which will capture the viewer’s attention. Therefore, rhetorical analysis is successful because the viewer is lured in and is more likely to donate to the company. This is Carroll’s illustrative style of writing. She describes real life situations and brings them to life in her writing.

At first, people are confused at what the concept of rhetorical analysis is, however we use it in our daily deeds as Carroll had discussed. She presented her purpose in a simple language where us, as a reader, are able to understand well what it is and why we use it. Instead of using complicated issues, she provided the reader with a direct situation where we are able to relate and connect. In other words, Carroll has an expository illustrative and explanatory style of writing. She makes great use of describing thoroughly everyday examples such as coming across a stranger on the street or in a classroom. People will evaluate what kind of person the stranger may be, and whether or not they are approachable. Simple situations like these help paint a picture for the reader. Carroll’s style of writing helps visual learners understand more clearly as to what her purpose of this essay is. She continues to demonstrate life situations and constantly refers back to what rhetorical analysis is and how it connects to the situation provided.  

Carroll also provides the effects of rhetorical analysis. A reader may perceive  what the

media is attempting to get across differently. The way we understand rhetorical messages may affect the outcome of society or our own personal ethics, thus Carroll’s explanatory style of writing. For example, a commercial launching a new men’s deodorant uses the slogan “..being irresistible to women if you use this product” in order to attract more customers to purchase this new product. Many people may respond differently to these type of messages produced in these persuasive commercials. One may immediately purchase this due to being desperate for women, or another person may simply bash the commercial for attempting to send false advertisement. This may affect the deodorant company positively or negatively depending on how customers perceive their advertisement. Carroll uses a rhetorical situation like this as an opportunity to draw a conclusion based on the given situation and support it using explanations of why or why not you agree with the dilemma at hand. After illustrating the different situations used by Carroll in my head, I am able to quickly connect as to how rhetorical analysis exists in our everyday lives. It is also a useful style of writing for a visual learner like myself, to see clearly how something functions.

However, in the other article, “Introduction: Classical Rhetoric for the Modern Student”, Corbett and Connors take a structural approach as to explaining what rhetorical analysis is. They have a descriptive and analytical style of writing. They describe what rhetorical analysis is with four formations: argumentation, exposition, description and narration. This is otherwise known as a structural style of writing. Argumentation was presented in an artistic and non- artistic way. The non- artistic way did not have a need for a supporting argument due to the already proven fact that explains the point of view. Whereas, the artistic way is when one argues based on an affirmative statement. Exposition is the technique of analyzing the purpose using what was given in the situation. Description is the images created by the results of analyzing what message the author is sending to the reader. Finally, narration is the conclusion of the plot that was overcome by, and provides the reader a summary of what was read.

Corbett and Connor’s analytical style of writing lay out a clear and functional map for what the reader must analyze in an essay. These guidelines help the reader discover the author’s purpose or message more quickly making great use of the four forms of discourse. They break down what rhetorical analysis is into different components, thus having the author analyze patterns in a piece of writing. Also, their descriptive style of writing places these four courses of analyzing an essay: argumentative, expository, description and narration, in chronological order. They select important information and sets it as a step towards the center of the writing, otherwise known as the purpose. It is all factual information for the reader to understand. After analyzing the Corbett and Connor’s essay, I can easily point out important facts in a piece of writing, in order to put it together and discover what the purpose is. The steps are easy to follow for a rhetorical situation.

Both authors as shown in the articles stated, have carved an impression of who they are or want to be as a writer. Carroll, Corbett, and Connors all explain what rhetorical analysis is in a straight-forward and simple way. Carroll does it in a reflective voice where the writing causes the reader to realize the type of daily judgements they make is the concept of what rhetorical analysis is based on using her explanatory and illustrative style of writing. Whereas Corbett and Connor demonstrate it in an academic and structural way that causes the reader to follow steps as they read and analyze situations. The impressions they leave behind in our minds are created by the writing style they use. The type of person Carroll is trying to be is a simple-minded, straight-forward and blunt type of writer. Corbett and Connor attempt to be neat and systematic writers by drawing a map out for readers to follow to analyze a piece of writing with their analytical and descriptive style of writing. As a reader, I would prefer Carroll’s style of writing. It provides me with a clear picture as to what rhetorical analysis is and it connects with the reader, me, in a more effective way than Corbett and Connors way of listing out the steps (analytical style).

Despite the fact that all three writers have a very different style of writing, the ideas that are presented are common. Both articles explain well what the concept and purpose of rhetorical analysis is. Rhetorical analysis is the breaking down of a particular piece and discovering the several layers that support the purpose of the writing. Different impressions have been made by both authors using identical common ground. The same content has been expressed in different ways as exemplified by Carroll, Connor and Corbett, and is referred to as the author’s writing style.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

1. Carroll, Laura Bolin.

“Backpacks vs Briefcases: Steps Toward Rhetorical Analysis.”

Writing Spaces: Readings on Writing, vol 1.

WAC Clearinghouse.

Colorado State University. 2010.

Web.

2.  Corbett, Edward P.J. and Robert J. Connors.

“Introduction.”

Classical Rhetoric for the Modern Student, 4th ed.

New York: Oxford UP, 1999. 1-26

University of Washington. Jan 2013.

Web.