In the story I Just Wanna Be Average by Mike Rose, the author introduces the reader to an educational system where students find being mediocre easier than trying to excel. Rose attends a school for underprivileged children in Los Angeles where most teachers had “little training” in their subjects. Rose explains how an ambitious young teacher basically saved him and “gave [him] a way to feel special about using [his] mind”.
Reading the introduction, and the use of strong vocabulary throughout the story, shows Rose furthered his education beyond this vocational school. This creates a good amount of ethos for the reader. Pathos appeal comes about when he describes how teachers “had no idea of how to engage the imaginations of us kids who were scuttling along at the bottom of the pond”. Someone who has attended a public school might be able to relate to how that might have felt to Rose. In contrast Rose introduces his best teacher who would “teach his heart out”.
The writing uses a combination of casual and formal writing. He uses “big words” throughout the story, but also uses slang and “new wave shibboleths” or trendy phrases or jargon to make his points clear.
Wow, nice job of expressing the rhetoric used in the writing of the authors. You mentioned that Mike Rose used a vocabulary that suggested he has futhered his education, thus the Ethos effect. This is a great connection that had not entered my mind.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing,
Maddi
This was a great analysis mike. I think by you pointing out the Pathos side of Rose's essay in the book made me think alot more about it. The comment about how writing being casual and informal is something that I agree with. I that both of the sections because I can relate to them with my high school experience and I can see that you did too.
ReplyDelete