Timing is Everything

            If I decide to write a letter to the editor for a political candidate after the election, this would not be good kairos, or timing as explained in our text book (Ramage 116). It seems that not only are logos, ethos, and pathos needed for an effective argument, but kairos is needed as well (Ramage 116). If we don’t have good timing, then a good argument may fall on deaf ears.The best argument you have ever heard cannot be effective without it. In Chapter six there is a photo of a young woman with a green leaf over her mouth and nose that makes a mask and the subtitle of the photo is “Fancy a breath of fresh air?” and in the lower right corner is a new Toyota Prius Hybrid which is a good example of a visual argument (Ramage 117). That argument would not be near as effective, say 10 years ago before there was a lot of publicity about the rising fuel prices, ozone depletion and green house gasses. In the very fine print, the ad explains how it has taken 30 years to build this type of car which runs on gas and electricity and gets over 60 miles per gallon which appeals to everyone who has ever paid more than a buck for a gallon of gas (Ramage 117). It also describes how there is no stopping to recharge batteries which appeals to anyone who has driven or commuted for a longer period than 15 minutes and last describes how there are little or no emissions(Ramage 117). Last, they argue that “If everyone drove a Prius, we’d all be able to breathe a little easier” which appeals to anyone and everyone who lives on this planet (Ramage 117).

Of course if this ad was put out at the time of the big recalls, then the kairos of Toyota could have been very bad indeed. The Toyota recalls were probably enough to put off buyers for even this energy savvy vehicle. To put this ad out at the time of all the recalls would mean that Toyota was not attuned to acting in the right way at the right moment; they would not have been from a rhetorical situation thinking very kairotically but if they were put out at the bigging of a big rise in fuel prices their kairos was good indeed (Ramage 118). 

Works Cited

Ramage, John D., John C. Bean and June Johnson. Writing Arguments:  A Rhetoric with Readings. New York:  Longman, 2010. Print.

Blog Response to “A Letter to Jim”

After reading Rebekah Taylor’s letter to her friend, I had a better understanding of the Rogerian approach to arguments (Ramage 143). She wrote in simple form something that is hard for me to put into words. Not the about being a vegetarian, but the simple argument that she wrote: her assignment in the form of a letter. The words flowed smoothly and it was very easy to understand. I read it several times and wished just once that I could get these arguments down and write something like it. The way Rebekah eases into her discussion of the arguments she has had with her friend is very empathetic. She makes her Rogerian argument very well by doing what should be done for this type of argument and that is by disarming any hostility by showing her respect for her friend’s view of eating meat (Ramage 140).  She strives to lessen the force of her argument by stating how and why she started being a vegetarian by stating her motivation is deeply rooted by her respect for animals (Ramage 143). When she puts it this way, she not only makes good use of ethos to make her point, but displays her pathos equally as well by focusing attention on the values and beliefs that she feels she has with her friend: the common bond of animal suffering and factory farms (Ramage 142). Her logos, the reason for not eating meat, is clearly defined by stating the difference in the way she was raised as opposed to the way her friend was raised and that it is (logically) clearly more healthy to be a vegetarian than to eat meat (Ramage 143).

            Although I was raised as a meat eater, I can clearly understand her point of view and she almost had me convinced that I need to become a vegetarian by the time I finished her short but very persuasive argument. Rebekah finishes her Rogerian argument with a compromise by proposing that her friend Jim buy meat from small independent local farmers and that she will earnestly consider whatever he writes in response. This completes the win-win negotiation of Rogerian arguments. She shows that she is respectful of her friend’s beliefs and in so doing show’s her understanding of his position.

            I only hope that with practice, I can write such simple but persuasive arguments. I believe this Rogerian argument is one of my favorites. The win-win negotiation appeals to me as a writer, as a person, and as someone who feels it is important to be heard. Arguments are definitely not as simplistic as I first thought when I started this class, and hopefully I will be able to grasp the concept better after a lot more practice.

Works Cited

Ramage, John D., John C. Bean and June Johnson. Writing Arguments:  A Rhetoric with             Readings. New York:  Longman, 2010. Print.

The Best Proposal

            I have never been a big contributor to national charities, mostly just local ones now and then when asked in person or on the phone when I felt I was unlucky enough to have answered the phone or door in an unguarded moment. That is why, when I donate year after year to this same charity, I know it is something that comes from my heart, and of course, I think this might be the best proposal argument I ever remember seeing/reading. That charity is familiar to most Americans, as they have an annual drive this time of year that matches any Christmas campaign by the Salvation Army. It is the March of Dimes and their familiar logos that accompany any correspondence always makes my heart skip a beat as it usually features a baby, tiny, sweet, innocent and full of promise.

            I know there are plenty of people who may think this charity is so big that they couldn’t possibly need my money, but I feel differently. Last year during their annual campaign, they brought a family to my office as a reminder of how the money donated helps families.  I remember a very sweet little girl, not a baby any longer that could actually function as a normal child. They let her family tell the story of how she may have not lived because she was born premature.  She is one of the reasons why I keep on giving. They not only help U.S. citizens, but they help on a global scale. The results show how effective a really good proposal argument can be.