Analysis

These elements will help with the analysis of Leah McLaren’s article “Innocence lost: what did you do before the internet?”.

The rhetorical situation shows that the article was written by Leah McLaren, a Canadian writer and journalist based in London. McLaren’s article targets all readers interested in the future of technology, but also members of her own generation in general. 

The composition of the article shows that it mainly relies on contrast. McLaren focuses on examples related to life before and after the internet by contrasting the habits of past generations with the habits of younger people. 

The style of writing in lines 84-96 is neutral. The lines contain descriptive adjectives, which present life before the internet and suggest the need for self-improvement. 

When it comes to rhetorical devices, the article contains rhetorical questions, which help readers reflect on the topic. The article also contains several anecdotes related to the author’s past, as well as related to the lives of her children. 

Pathos and ethos are the main forms of appeal used by McLaren in her article. Pathos is mainly used when she presents stories related to her father and her children. Ethos is built with the help of the author’s personal experience, but particularly by providing data and opinions from experts on the topic. 

You can read a full analysis of the article in the following pages. 

Further help

Do you want additional help with analysis of non-fiction? See our general guide to non-fiction analysis.