Analysis
In this section, you can get an overview of the analysis of Kevin Love’s essay “Everyone Is Going Through Something”.
The rhetorical situation of the text is that Kevin Love, the sender, is a professional athlete who shares the story of a panic attack that he suffered during a basketball game. The intended receivers of the text are especially those men and boys who might be hesitant to seek help for their own psychological issues.
The text’s composition is centered around the account of Love’s panic attack, though he also adds observations that make it clear that his message is intended to be more general, such as reflections on problematic ideals of masculinity. The title of the essay is catchy and helps readers understand Love’s central message.
Love’s style is fairly informal, as he makes frequent use of everyday expressions and contractions. This helps his account come across as more personal and engaging. The personal effect is also strengthened by Love's use of first-person pronouns.
Love relies on a few well-chosen rhetorical devices to communicate his message more effectively. For example, he occasionally employs direct address to reach out to his target audience of people who are hesitant to speak out about their mental issues, and presents rhetorical questions to help readers follow his thoughts.
Ethos and pathos are the most dominant forms of appeal, while logos plays a less prominent role. Love builds ethos by being honest and open about his personal experiences, and by presenting himself as a caring individual who is interested in helping others. He builds pathos by giving detailed descriptions of some of the difficult emotions he has been struggling with.
Finally, note that the STX English A exam assignment from 3rd of December, 2019, asks you to focus on how the writer engages the reader. We have not created a specific page for this focus point, because it may be relevant to include a variety of analysis points covered elsewhere in the guide. For example, style of language, rhetorical devices and forms of appeal may all play a role in engaging the reader, and it may also be relevant to bring in some observations about the rhetorical situation.
You can read the full analysis in the following pages!