Characteristics of the text
In order to better understand the text “Our America” by LeAlan Jones, it is also important for you to be aware of the way the sender presents his arguments.
Open argumentation
LeAlan Jones uses direct argumentation to support his view. This means that he directly states his opinion, using first-person pronouns, markers like “I believe” (p. 135, l.9), and addressing the readers directly, calling for action or asking rhetorical questions:
...
Rhetorical devices
By rhetorical devices, we refer to several techniques employed to engage the audience, to catch readers’ attention and emphasize the main arguments. Here are some of the rhetorical devices employed by LeAlan Jones in “Our America”:
- anaphora
- colloquial
- euphemism
- hyperboles and overstatements
- litotes
- rhetorical questions
- sarcasm and irony
Forms of appeal
There are three main ways by which a sender can appeal to the audience/receiver: ethos, logos and pathos. Ethos means the sender supports his ideas and arguments by reference to authority, community and collective values. Logos refers to the use of logical arguments to support a line of reasoning and pathos implies the use of feelings and emotional language to appeal to an audience.
In “Our America” by LeAlan Jones, the author resorts to pathos and ethos. His appeal is to the audience’s feelings and empathy as well as to moral norms and ideas of community.
...
Choice of words
LeAlan Jones uses simple words to transmit his message. He does not use specialized terms, as he talks about a situation that affects the general society.
...
Figurative language
Though most of the times the author uses words with their literal meaning, which make the text quite clear, he also employs figurative language, creating metaphors and analogies.
...
