Analysis

This analysis looks at key analytical elements for an interpretation of Robinson Meyer’s article “The Righteous Anger of the Parkland Shooting’s Teen Survivors”.

The text explores topics like social media activism and gun control, looking at how teenagers engage in political activism using social media in the case of a tragic event such as a mass shooting.

The writer of the article is Robinson Meyer, an established journalist who comes across as knowledgeable about the issues he discusses and whose attitude leans towards the political left, in line with The Atlantic’s orientation.

The target readers of the text are Americans who read the magazine, especially those who have progressive views and sympathise with the Democratic Party. The topic of the article suggests other potential readers could be all those concerned with gun control issues in the US.

The language of the article combines informal tweets with a formal commentary on the events. The writer’s tone is formal, and he relies on pathos and ethos to convey his arguments, along with rhetorical devices such as allusions, metaphors, and analogies.

The circumstances of the article are related to the Parkland high school shooting in February 2018 and the on-going debate about gun control in the US.

The writer's intention is to praise the survivors of Parkland shooting, raise awareness about the role of social media, convince the readers about the importance of gun control, and criticise the media and politicians.

You can read our analysis in the following pages.

Further help

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