Ben H.

Lone Survivor

In the book Lone Survivor by Markus Luttrell is about a Navy SEAL team that was involved in the fight of their lives in a dangerous operation in 2004. The goal of the operation was to find the whereabouts of one of Osama Bin Laden’s top officials. The mission was going smoothly until a group of goat herders stumble upon the SEALs position. This leaves Markus Luttrell and his men with the difficult decision to kill them or set them free. After much debate the team decides to set them free to avoid the backlash they would receive from the media, and to spare innocent lives. This leads the men to the most dangerous and ill prepared firefight of their lives that kills all but Markus. This novel is filled with rhetoric. It targets young adult men and women that could possibly be inspired to fight for our country in the war on terror. Also, this book aims to instill in its readers the bravery and patriotism shown by Luttrell and his men when they were facing almost certain death.

            One of the overarching themes throughout this novel was bravery. Markus and his men showed bravery in many different ways during the book. One example of this is when they made the decision to let the goat herders go. From the start, they knew that if the goat herders were set free, their first move would be to go tell the Taliban the position of the men. The SEALs were brave and let the innocent men go, knowing the mission and their lives were now in jeopardy. Another example of bravery is when Markus is in BUD training. This training is one of the most difficult training courses our troops go through with the hopes of becoming a Navy SEAL. Even though over half of the soldiers in this training dropped out, Markus stuck it out until the end putting his body to the grueling test. A third example is when Markus continues to fight even though he is the lone survivor left from his men. Instead of giving up and surrendering to the Taliban, he continues to fight and eventually escape over 100 men that are after him. If these examples of bravery weren’t enough, after Markus recovers he returns to do another two tours overseas. This book uses rhetoric to convey the bravery that not only Markus and his men displayed, but what all the men and women who fight for this country display to protect our freedom.

            This book has examples of Ethos, Pathos and Logos as it tells the tragic story of SEAL team 10, but most of the book has strong Pathos ties, as it ends in tragedy. While reading this book, one can’t help but feel for the families of these brave men who laid their lives on the line for the sake of their country. It tugs at the heartstrings when reading the very detailed battle scenes that result in the deaths of three Navy SEALs. It makes the reader want to stand up and support our troops in any way they can, and is like a call to action to the able bodied men and women to enlist and fight for our country. This story shows the urgency of the United States military to motivate and inspire people to fight in the war on terror, and help the world recover from the volatile state it is currently in. This book aims to show the true dangers of war to an audience that is both nervous and anxious about terrorism.

            This novel succeeds in accurately telling the tragic story of operation Redwing. It uses good rhetorical components that help to communicate the sacrifice these men gave and the bravery they showed in the face of battle. It also shows the urgency the US military to recruit more troops to help fight in the war on terror, and to show the nation as a whole a true glimpse at war. Some may argue that this book failed to convince young Americans to enlist or support or troops on the war on terror, but instead scared people away from the armed services, and gave further proof why we shouldn’t be involved in a war in Afghanistan. I believe that this only strengthens the goal of the US military to draw people to enlist, because it shows the bravery and brotherhood that the organization has. Also, the depiction of this mission should only enforce that the US must stop terrorism both at home and abroad. 

Max

Blink

In the book Blink, Malcolm Gladwell expresses concepts and ideas of why we as humans think the way we do. He narrows down topics of life and decision-making that can actually be made into a science that explains a lot about how we think. This book has extremely interesting studies on all areas of life that can be narrowed down to a simple decision making process that is effective immediately, before there is any other thought. This was so interesting because Gladwell expressed what he was communicating very well. It made any educated reader interested in what he was discussing and want to read on because of the interesting facts and studies throughout the book as well as because the book has potential to help people who want to know more about how people gather judgements and ideas or who are just interested in intriguing experiments and results.

First off, the book uses effective rhetoric by giving interesting facts and studies to the audience/readers. The message that is portrayed by gladwell is so interesting because it discusses a view to life and the decision making process that no one has ever looked at or made a best-selling book about before. It is a niche in the book industry as well as science itself. In the book, Gladwell talks about how most ways of doing things around certain people cause a person to judge someone without even realizing it. Gladwell talked about an experiment where there were people of all the same background, but were different races and genders. These people went to a car dealership and bargained for the lowest price for the same type of car for forty minutes. In the end, it turned out that the white male received the cheapest car price while the females and other ethnicities received a higher price for their vehicles. This shows that there is either some judgement that takes place inside the car dealer's head without them even knowing about it, or they are just racist and sexist. Realistically, the first idea is probably the better choice. Some will say that experiments like these are not accurate and are just coincidences that occur. This is not true because these were sophisticated studies that Gladwell took from outside resources of his own and there are also several studies like the one discussed above which have nearly the exact same results. All in all, interesting experiments like this one make it easy to enjoy the good rhetoric and message by the author.

In addition, the book also expresses ideas that are helpful to people who want to learn more about how judgements are made and what comes from the decision-making process. It is said in the reading that quick judgements come from past experiences relating to the thing that is being judged. The importance of this is that there is now an exact reason for why some people judge the way they do. They might have just had a bad experience with the same thing in the past if the judgement is negative. The opposite applies with the positive. Some people will argue that quick judgements come right away based on information that is immediately in front of someone. This is not the case because there are several studies that clearly connect the fact that past experiences influence the judgements that are made in any situation. They are not just based on what is at hand. Throughout all of the facts, lessons, and experiments in this book, there is an understanding that is gathered by the reader that expresses a great deal of knowledge that is valuable to whoever reads about it.

There are many things that readers have not known until they pick up a book. The way that they do pick up a book is if they enjoy reading it. If the book is enjoying to read, then there must be effective rhetoric within it to make sure that the entire spectrum of reader is received. Having interesting facts and studies throughout the book and giving potential to help people who want to know more about how people gather judgements and ideas makes this book a great piece of rhetoric. Gladwell makes the reader know that this book should stay on the bestseller list for much longer than it already has.

Isaiah

Blink

One of the best ways to get a message across to a specific audience is by doing that through a rhetoric piece. The three main elements of rhetoric literature provides the reader with a message, communicator, and audience. The author wants the audience to gain more knowledge towards a certain situation as well as change the state of the audience when introducing the new information. The perfect example of a literature artwork that possesses these elements would be Blink by Malcolm Gladwell. It is a book that tells the reader the process of decision making and instincts. Blink provides a reader with examples of logos, pathos and other literary devices. This book provides the reader with an effective rhetoric message.

So, throughout the book there are numerous of psychological tests that are the authors way of proving that short glimpses of things can tell a lot about a person or situation. The author is providing the element of logos through the experiments in the different studies. There is a psychologist named John Gottman who goes through various tests where he studies peoples behaviors. He gains knowledge of the people by observing them having a conversation for a few minutes, As they talk John is observing for facial expressions, body language, and gestures. John is so accurate with his analysis that “if he analyzes an hour (of a married couple talking), he can predict with 95 percent accuracy whether that couple will still be married fifteen years later. If he watches a couple for fifteen minutes, his success rate is around 90 percent” (Gladwell 10).  John is able to prove through careful examinations that he accurately can be able to predict things based upon observations in a short amount of time, and that he can just as well as when he takes more time to observe and think. In a way the author is providing the audience with a logos and ethos appeal. Malcolm uses logical reasons along with using experts to back up the reasons why the results ended up the way they did to give the reader assurance of the new data. Some could argue that the average person would never be able to read someones body language so accurately and be able to judge a person just from that. That would be a false assumption though. According to psychologist Nalini Ambady who gave students a video clip of teachers to judge how good of a teacher they were, “A person watching a silent two-second video clip of a teacher he or she has never met will reach conclusions about how good that teacher is that are very similar to those of a student who has sat in the teacher’s class for an entire semester” (7). Body language can be picked up by anyone if they pay attention to all the movements and signs. A persons body language is very informational and tells people a lot about a person. Malcolm effectively makes sure to give the reader perfect examples to assure the facts.

Also, there is evidence that people do not always make the right decision when evaluating something quickly. Gladwell brings up an example of the election of 1914 for the U.S. Senate which was a terrible election. A candidate named Warren Hardening, “at the time (was) about 35 years old. His head, features, shoulders and torso had a size that attracted attention; their proportions to each other made an effect which in any male at any place would justify more than the term handsome” (27). Everyone looked at his physical appearance and thought he was the perfect Senate without truly seeing if he was obligated to be a senator.  People would describe him as, “vague and ambivalent on matters of policy. His speeches were once described as “an army of pompous phrases moving over the landscape in search of an idea.”” (27). There is more than a person's physical appearance that should influence peoples votes. The most beauty people in the world are not always built to be leaders. Intelligence, leadership, and heart are not something that is always visible. Some could say that confidence is something that has to be visible in order to be a leader, but there is a thin line between confidence and cockiness. The main concept I feel like Malcolm wants the reader to grasp is to research things do not just believe everything you see.

Finally, I think Malcolm did a excellent job of using rhetoric effectively. He made sure to not only give us facts, but he provided a reliable source to back up the facts. I think after reading this book that I will start to notice things more often than I normally would not have. I’m gonna be a little more aware of certain expressions and body language.

Tiffany

Wild, by Cheryl Strayed, is an adventurous, unpredictable, and unforgettable novel. Cheryl Strayed decided to pack up and hike the Pacific Crest Trail after the death of her mother. She decided she wanted to leave and hike the trail because she was all alone and needed something to do with her life to try and move on. Many things happened in her life where she needed to start a new chapter. Her mother had just died; her siblings are distant with her, a divorce with her husband, and her drug use. This novel does use rhetoric effectively. It uses rhetoric effectively because it has a clear message, clear audience, and the story can happen in real life to that she’s trying to get the message across to.

         In this novel there is a clear message that is spread to a bunch of people that read it. Cheryl’s message in this novel was even when you’re going through a hard time you still have to believe in yourself and never give up. This message shows that there’s effective rhetoric in this novel. Even though she was having a very hard time with some of the things that were happening in her life, she wanted to try something new like hike the Pacific Crest Trail. She had perseverance and set her mind to achieve this goal she set for herself. During her hike she got hit with some obstacles. When the tough times hit in her life and even on her hike, she still didn't give up on herself. She pushed through it and continued to fight through what she was going through. This is an example of rhetoric in the novel because there is a clear message that is presented. It shows people that you shouldn’t give up on yourself even when times are tough. You have to keep your head up high and know that you will be okay in the end. That’s how Cheryl got through her hike on the Pacific Trail Crest. She knew that she was going to make it all the way to the end and try her hardest every single day she went hiking. She pushed all the way to the end and did what she wanted to achieve. People could argue though that she made some poor decisions as she was growing up. She got into drugs and fights with her husband. Not all of her bad decisions were her own fault. She did lose her mother and her siblings just disappeared from her life. Even though she made those poor decisions she still became very successful at the end of this novel. 

         As well as a clear message to this novel, Wild has a clear audience that it’s trying to get the message across to. This novel is suitable for teens and even adults can read it for an inspiring boost to help them achieve what they want to achieve. This shows rhetoric because when there’s an audience, the audience will read the rhetoric and try to understand it. This novel also relates to rhetoric because it’s a true story that can actually happen in real life. It happened to Cheryl and it can happen to other people as well. It’s rhetoric because this is reality. The reality of Cheryl’s experiences can happen to us people too. Everyone goes through multiple hard times in their life. When hard times hit you have to accept what’s happening and try not to give up on yourself and conquer whatever it might be. Cheryl had to learn to get over and move on from the problems she was having with her own family. She also had to get through the problems that were happening to her on her hiking adventure. Reading this novel, you get drawn into what’s happening and you can sometimes relate to some of the things that Cheryl went through with your own life. This novel was very effective in showing rhetoric.

         In conclusion, Wild showed effective rhetoric due to the clear message, clear audience, and how the story can happen in real life. This was a true story so that tells you that, things like this can happen to you. And when you’re going through a hard time always remember to never give up on yourself. You have to believe that you can get through whatever it is you’re going through. Reading this novel taught me this clear message and it’s a great example of rhetoric. It was a great novel that taught a sincere message and for people that haven’t read it, it will be a great read for you if you want some motivation.

Peter

Lone Survivor

            I read the book Lone Survivor, and it is hard to read, because you know what is going to happen by the title; yet, it is an easy read and a delight to read in most other respects. Marcus Luttrell, the author, had a mission, and I would deem it an unqualified success. This books goal was to bring the readers and Americans into the realization of how tough it is for Seal Team 10, and Luttrell uses effective rhetoric to do so. The tale he tells is a very human one, compelling in all the best ways of a man and a writer.

            First off, Luttrell uses logos because he was the lone survivor who he is now writing about. He was the Seal that made it when his team was being pinned down by Afghanistan terrorists. But, it is not just a tale of a mission gone bad, though that is a tame way of describing how horribly wrong things went and the losses suffered. It is not just a tale of how he came to be a part of that group and his part in the mission. Those are in some ways only a secondary part to the greater goal: bringing the people of Seal Team 10 to life for the reader, making them people with whom you can identify, empathize, and see as the individuals they were. This would explain why readers have an amazing realization when reading this book because Luttrell uses pathos in his story because he is able to succeed in humanizing them.. Luttrell also uses pathos when the leader of an Afghan town helped him survive and kept him safe from the Taliban. This is pathos because you can only think about the people who aren't part of the Taliban who can only dream of a different life. When even in the best of times must eke out their existence in the harshest of conditions. Who will never know the comfort and liberty we do. The people who think that Luttrell's main goal was to bring to life the the people of Seal Team 10 are wrong. His goal was not just to show the battles and the losses because he spent time making sure that you ”knew” the characters and he portrayed them as normal people because a lot of people get distracted by their uniform to remember that they are everyday citizens and they have a family of their own and they have lives.                                                                                                                                                                Marcus Luttrell strikes home this idea that the Seals are real people by publishing this book in 2007. This was very clever of Luttrell because in 2007 the state of the world was focused on the increase of the number of American troops that then President Bush sent into Iraq to to provide security to Baghdad. So, at this time I believe the audience he had intended were the families of the military and the people who were not certain about whether they agreed with Bush's tactical plan or not. This was why it was an ideal time to share his story with the world, because the state of the audience would be scared or nervous, so they would be more sympathetic for the military and the people of Afghanistan. I think he published this book during this time period because he wanted to persuade people and show them what can happen and how dangerous it is to have soldiers over in the Middle East. For the people who don't think that he tried to publish his book at the same time as the increase of soldiers, you are wrong because he knew that the readers and audience of his literature works would be more susceptible to what he was saying and they would read more intently. Not to mention, it would help him with the sales of his book.                                                                                                                                                It is indeed a hard book to read, for the reader knows up front why it was written and what happens. Yet, it is a book that all should read, for there is much more to the story than death. There is much more than suffering. People owe it to the participants to read and know them, to appreciate them for what they were. Most of all, you owe it to yourself to read that larger story, to understand as best you can the people within, how they came to be there, what they believed, and how they lived and died, and to empathize however you can with those they left behind. In the end, the book thrills, horrifies and also punches home the simple message that individual acts of conscience can save lives, and even change the world.

Osmaan

Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell is a true portrayal of the story of 4 naval SEALs who are chosen to the trenches of Afghanistan in 2005. So you ask is this story good use of Rhetoric. My answer would be yes it is because the purpose is to educate, mainly young adults and middle aged people. This book will give you the ability to feel like you are right in the war with Marcus, Danny, Michael, and Matthew.  One thing that is cool about this book is that it is something have all of us have heard about and be all affectived by; Osama Bin Laden. These SEALs are given the difficult task to find and execute Osama.

One of the reason I think this book is such a great source of Rhetoric because it really conveys the messages in a great way. The audience is meant for young adults and middle ages men. The reason the I say that is because of the violence which attracts men and the aspect of war which also intrigue men I assume more then women. The message is something that you can’t forget. Doesn’t matter what people think of you or depict you as because you might not know who they really are in the inside This is just one of the main messages I got out of this book. This is comes from when Luttrell Navy SEALs team all die and then Marcus is left for himself while he is badly injured. You get a sense that he really doesn’t like the afghan people in the beginning. Marcus was found by an Afghani man who takes him to safety and saves his life not only do they save his life they grant him Lokhay which means that they had decided as a community to help, Shelter and protect with there lives for Marcus.  In the US the media seems to not depict the correct image of Afghani people because in America they seem to think that all so called “Brown People” are terrorist.  This is just one of the many messages but this one seemed to stick to me the most because of how true I think this stereotype is.

Rhetoric is used in this book a lot but one thing that you don’t see in this is book is bias. Since the person in the situation tells the book you are able to get more insight full information then you normally would. This would be called the communicator. Which is Marcus the Navy SEALs who is in all the action. The way it is written makes it seem so real and is nothing like we always hear on the news and other places. The state of the audience would most likely be teens around our age who are decided there future and some of them may decide to go to serve our country.  Some people may say that this book has no message or any rhetoric because it doesn’t have enough of a big picture message. I say sometimes a couple little messages have a bigger impact on a person’s life then one big message.

This will go down as one of my favorite book I have ever read because of true grit and heart. I really don’t read to many war type books but this really stuck a cord in me and I’m probably going read more of these types of books from here on out. Rhetoric was used in this book, maybe it didn’t hit you right away but by the end of it you finally got the message.

Cody

Lone Survivor

            Lone Survivor is an account of the untold heroic actions and tasks performed by Marcus Luttrell and his small group of U.S. Navy SEALs during their tour in Afghanistan. The novel explains how Luttrell became a SEAL, created friendships while overseas, and sharing their willingness and brotherhood in order to protect the very land they had sworn to defend against all enemies. Pinned down on a mountain by Taliban insurgents, Luttrell his comrades fought bravely, even while beat, shot, wounded, and through intense pain. Luttrell was the only survivor of this horrific encounter and lived to tell about it in this memoir. This novel is also an effective piece rhetoric, as Luttrell was extremely opinionated on the portrayal by the media of the wars in the Middle East.

            Luttrell’s main message in the novel is to reveal the untold acts of valor and hardships his men (and all other American soldiers) endured overseas. Since he feels not many people know what really happened, he wanted to convey and communicate his story to a new audience, the everyday American citizen, as a way to possibly change their prospective on the war. The state of the audience was most likely not sure what to believe before reading the novel. Much of the world also viewed American soldiers as cold hearted killers, and he wanted to change that.
           

            Along with the heroism in the novel, Luttrell expresses his extreme dislike to the American liberal media. According to Luttrell, the American media uses pathological appeals to spin what is really happening and show the American soldiers as unethical villains out to kill everyone in their path. This could be due to the unpopularity of the war, and in hypothetical terms, being unpopular with something unpopular is "popular". To Luttrell, this was very important and urgent to change. He utilizes himself as the expert and logically addresses the media’s portrayals. He relates the SEALs and himself as battered, broken, and shattered from what they endured, and how horrifying it is to lose a comrade in battles. He explains that he did not want the war more than anyone else. He doesn’t hate the citizens of Iraq and Afghanistan. But he promised that when needed, he will answer the nation’s call, and he did.

​            Lone Survivor is fantastic piece of American literature and rhetoric that will be read for many years to come. It truly effectively answers the war’s unanswered questions about what the members of the military endured overseas in the Middle East. Luttrell effectively argues his views against the media and provides a firsthand prospective of the war. He has persuaded much of the audience though his appeals and offers the most clear, effective, communication on his points. People who do not even enjoy reading will not be able to put this book down. All Americans confused or disoriented about what happened in the Middle East should pick up this great novel. 

Andrew

Blink

Blink is one of the most popular nonfiction novels in the country. The book isn’t some harrowing tale of real-world adventure, or even insightful self-help; the majority of the book consists of long stories and statistics. What is it about Malcolm Gladwell’s writing that entrances people about charts and anecdotes? The answer is in his writing.

Before we can look at what Malcolm does, we first have to understand who reads it. Malcolm’s readers are looking for a book that gives inspiration, guidance, or in Blink’s case; a book that speaks on human potential. Blink is all about thin-slicing, that quick glance, the first impression, that sets in stone our impression of an experience. In the book, Malcolm shows how we all have this superpower of perception. That is what draws people in to listen. Malcolm’s audience—in a marvelous trick of rhetoric—reads Blink with a certain exigence, trying to unlock the secret of snap-judgment as seen in the book. Having an alluring topic isn’t enough to build a good book.

Having an alluring topic isn’t enough to build a good book. The way the message in Blink is told really makes this book what it is. Blink is about thin slicing, but you read the book as a series of short stories. The structure of the novel makes it seem like the chapters are unrelated, yet the whole book just… flows. Malcolm’s style of writing is smart, efficient, and even conversational. The book is chock full of statistics but because Malcolm is a great communicator, his complex message is broken into something a little easier to chew. Reading Blink makes you feel smart, and that isn’t far from the truth. Malcolm’s writing takes something intrinsically complex and let’s any layman really understand it. That is the magic of Blink, and why people love it.

Blink is heralded as a great example of nonfiction writing. The novel is smart, complex, and somehow manages to be an easy read. Critics for Blink aren’t that hard to find. Despite Malcolm’s brilliant examples, many believe that we shouldn’t put so much stock into thin slicing. The biggest argument is that careful analysis is right more often than first impressions. Even Malcolm’s examples have scenarios where a first impression is right but careful analysis proves it. Whatever side of the fence you are on; Blink is a masterpiece of nonfiction writing. Despite its faults, it still manages to speak on a truly fascinating topic: human potential. Only good rhetoric can help explain something as fast as the blink of an eye.

Marley

Wild

            Wild; spontaneous, unpredictable, against the norm, and unforgiving. All of these adjectives describe Cheryl Strayed, a determined, strong hearted woman on the quest to hike the Pacific Crest Trail. Wild, by Cheryl Strayed, is a non-fiction novel that takes the reader through the unpredictable and unimaginable journey of the Pacific Crest Trail. Strayed overcame many obstacles that she was facing in life. Her mother’s death, a divorce, and drug use are all challenges that led Strayed to begin the journey of a lifetime. Being a New York Times Best Seller gives the novel the respect that it deserves. Wild is a very effective piece of rhetoric, and conveys its message clearly.

            Never give up. Many think of this as an unoriginal and overused cliché, but for the novel Wild, those three words have a very powerful meaning. By narrating her whole journey, Strayed captivates the attention of the readers and hooks them in. I believe the message of the novel is that even when times are hard, never ever give up. Strayed demonstrated this many times in the novel, as she faced the ups and downs of life. The death of her mother is what brought Strayeds whole world down. Shortly after her mother’s death came a divorce, and after that came the Pacific Crest Trail. During her journey through the PCT, there were countless times when Strayed had wanted to give up. Her boots were too small, her feet were destroyed beyond repair, running out of water, and snow. No matter how much she wanted to give up and just return to her normal life, she couldn’t. There was no home to go back to, and she had to prove to herself that she could do the impossible. Only when Strayed finished the trail, she could start a new life of her own. This message could reach out to anyone who has had similar life problems, or just can relate in any possible way. The fact that the message of the novel is so clear, demonstrates a good use of rhetoric.

            You will laugh, cry, and become a complete emotional wreck right along with Cheryl Strayed. Her novel brings the love, the hate, and every other possible emotion. The strong use of emotion is what makes the novel so captivating. It’s almost like you, as a reader, are hiking the PCT with Strayed. The emotion and feelings are what brings the reader into the novel. If the reader is hooked, then the book was effective.

            Strayed has overcome the largest obstacles ever imaginable, and she came out on top. She has accomplished a tremendous feat, and not many others can say the same. Her journey was inspiring and influential. However, everything is just a matter of opinion. Some readers may have thought that the novel was not inspiring at all, but rather a huge letdown. It could be thought at times the book was repetitive, and just a way for readers to feel bad for Strayed. In my opinion, that was not the point of the book. The point of the book was to see a strong woman conquer her fears, and come out successful doing so. She learned from her mistakes, and because of that, Strayed has transformed into a better person in the end.

Michael

Lone Survivor

The novel Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell took place in 2004 during operation Redwing, a Navy SEAL operation, which was located in the Afghanistan Pakistan border. Four very well-trained Navy SEALs were sent to that location to do some recon on locating Bin Laden’s right-hand man Shamrack. During their mission some Afghan goat herders discovered them lying in the bush, the four SEAL’s were then forced to make the decision of their life, either kill them or let them go. They made a difficult decision, and took the moral side by letting them leave with their lives. The moral action they took led to the fiercest unmatched firefight of their lives, leading to three American deaths and around 100 Taliban deaths. This fierce battle left the lone survivor Marcus Luttrell.  Within this novel there are many cases of rhetoric placed upon its pages. Overall the use of the rhetoric tactics were emotional and inspiring and was aimed more towards individuals of the ages 16 to 35. These individuals were chosen because they could help support war efforts against terrorist insurgents and Taliban in hopes to help ensure safety to the American homeland.

            Within this novel a main theme that popped significantly was inspiration.  There were numerous inspirational moments throughout this novel that seemed like rhetoric.  One of the moments was during Marcus’s intense BUD’s training to become a SEAL, he gave all of his energy, sleep, and put his physical well-being on the line to continue the training while almost 2/3’s of the applicants had dropped out.  He was trying to promote the honor, integrity, and perks that come along with becoming a Navy SEAL.  He was also very talkative about his political beliefs throughout the novel with him describing why the republicans were without a doubt were correct at defending America by invading Iraq and Afghanistan.  Another very inspirational moment that occurred in the novel was when they had first been noticed by Afghan goat herders on their top secret mission.  When they were noticed they strategized over the benefit for themselves by killing the Afghans, but they didn’t want to do it because they didn’t want to kill the innocent or end up on the liberal news back in America.  Their moral act seemed to have more justified by the chance of Aljazeera news reporting what they did back in America.  In the novel Marcus said multiple times that he regretted his decision of letting them live.  A third inspiring rhetorical moment occurred during their firefight when they were all shot up with broken bones and they did not stop apprehending the enemy because they were hard core American soldiers who would not give up to the enemies of America.  A fourth example is after the main battle is over and Marcus returns home and recovers from his injuries he then returns to two more tours in Iraq because he wanted revenge for the death of his fellow comrades and the 9/11 attack.  These examples give readers an Ethos, Pathos, and Logos message and an urgency to go to war for American and stand up for your fellow Americans and the security of the country itself.

            In this novel Pathos was a very prominent subject in many cases that causes a great amount of feeling for what they went through.  The use of Pathos was a good use of rhetoric to make the reader want to get involved.  The majority of the emotional parts of this novel took place during the epic firefight of a battle of four against around 200.  One very emotional part took place when Dietz was suppressing the enemy and he was shot multiple times including getting his thumb shot off, he still apprehended the enemy taking a blow to the knee were Marcus picked him up and put him on his back where he then died in Marcus’s hands.  This was a very bad moral buster that made the audience very sad of the SEAL’s situation.  Then Murphy sacrificed himself by climbing to the top of the cliff so he could radio in help to save the two remaining SEAL’s.  This courageous act was very emotional and very rhetorical in proving the bravery of the combatants who fight for America.  Then Axe took a bullet to the head which left Marcus all by himself to hide from the rest of the Taliban soldiers.  Marcus was then paralyzed from waist down for a few hours after taking shrapnel to the legs from a Rocket Propelled Grenade.  All of these incidents were great rhetorical strengths that are very motivating and help rely the message from this novel.

            Almost all the rhetorical examples from this novel covered all the necessary themes and exigence to be an effective rhetorical message.  The communicator is the US military relying the message to help support war efforts to people who may want to fight or to motivate people who are already fighting.  The state of the world was appropriate for this message to come out because of the hatred of terrorists because of the heinous acts they committed against the innocent.  The other side may argue that this book is not intended to get people to enlist but just to use this as a recollection to be put in the history books and to show the integrity and the toughness of the US military.  I feel this novel is rhetorical to get more people involved in the war because it explains all the steps it takes to become a solider and can make you feel invincible by being an American soldier.  Also this book is very politically bias by representing many religious and right or left winged beliefs.      

Catherine

Wild

Wild by Cheryl Strayed is a compelling novel that follows the true story of Cheryl’s life.  She is writing about herself trying to tell her story to anyone willing to listen, especially those struggling with the decisions they made or through tragedy in their life.  Her message is that it does not matter what mistakes you have made as long as they can be learned from and have an overall positive outcome.  She brings this up in the moment she reflects on her life knowing that being on the trail is where she needs to be and feels that even though so much bad has happened in her life it got her to this magnificent place.

            I myself go on trips similar every summer and I can relate to both the mental and the physical impact the hardship, wilderness, and solitary can have.  Even those who cannot easily relate to the change she goes through, most have experienced something she went through growing up.  She was raised by a singe mother, love for her siblings who grew apart, wrong choices in men, a death in the family, or involvement in drugs.  If none of that applies to one, the inner conflict she suffers on a day to day basis while on the trail.

            Out of everything that Cheryl did and went through she was able to start over.  She worked through all of the choices she made and the bad things that happened in her life such as her mother’s death and made amends.  She got over her lost marriage, felt content with a guy just being with him, started a new family, and never went back to heroine.  If someone like Strayed who had no experience and very little knowledge of what she was doing while being practically alone with very little money on her endeavor can make her own happy ending, everyone has a chance.  Speaking from experience what Strayed did was less about skill and physical strength and more about mental strength.  It was that kind of mental strength development that gave her the ability to change her life around.  She knew what she had to do in her gut and she did it.

            This is a strong piece of rhetoric that shows that it is never to late to change our life around and take control.  She stresses that every part of our life is crucial and when we have a gut feeling we have to do what we need to even if the moment to do so is not there we must create it ourselves.  I hope many people, especially young adults, get the chance to read this book in order to be able to empower themselves to do what they need to in order to better themselves and their lives.

Rosa

                

Wild

The book Wild by Cheryl Strayed, focuses on Cheryl’s life journey. With her life heading in a downwards spiral, she goes on a dangerous and adventurous hiking trip. This book has many messages conveyed, one of them being life’s difficulties.  This book also shows that with time, one can heal themselves.         

                This book is a great example of rhetoric because the author was successful in communicating their message. One of the main messages was life’s difficulties. Cheryl was having her life fall apart with her mother passing away and her divorce with her husband. To her it seemed as though she had nowhere to turn to. She decided to go on a hiking trip. She did this because she didn’t think she had anything to lose so she might as well be adventurous and live life to its fullest. The author used herself as the communicator and her life being the message, communicating to the audience that life may be difficult, but there’s always many different ways to look at life. This book shows that there are ways that one can escape these difficulties and life and find a way to make them simpler.

                Cheryl was having trouble coping with what was going on in her life. She needed something to pull herself back. Another example of rhetoric from this book is the author’s successful message of pulling your life back together and finding solutions to your problems. The author was a successful communicator in communicating to the audience, being people going through midlife crises, that you can find solutions to your issues with time. Some may argue that people going through their midlife crises can’t just pick up their life and go on a hiking trip to pull their life back together and find solutions. The author is communicating more than that. You don’t have to go on a hiking trip to solve your problems in life, but finding a way to take a break and look at the outlook of your life can be a great way to solve these problems

                Overall Cheryl Strayed’s book Wild is a successful piece of rhetoric. The book was successful in communicating that life has many difficulties and finding a finding a way to escape for a moment can help you.

Ben G.

The Monuments Men

            There are three main components to writing in order to make its rhetoric successful: A communicator, the message, and its intended audience. It is a challenge for many authors to correctly use these components, and be able to write an interesting novel that grasps the reader’s emotions, and draw them into the story. However, the novel The Monuments Men correctly and effectively uses all three components to give a message to its readers, which tells the story of 15 men who travel throughout the frontline in Europe during WWII in an attempt to retrieve precious stolen artwork. Robert M. Edsel, the author of this novel uses rhetoric to appeal to its readers emotions, and be able to connect with its readers in other ways. This is a great feat considering it’s a daring challenge to write a story that takes place in the second world war, and be able to get a younger audience to understand the hardships many people endured during the war. With Robert M. Edsel’s powerful writing style, he is able to draw in audiences of all ages to try and take a glance at a story of men trying their best to preserve history’s most important art-work, while fighting the biggest war seen in history. All of these components that are used in The Monuments Men make it possible to tell the story in a movie-like quality, and make it evident that this novel is a perfect example of a good use of rhetoric.

One large component to an effective rhetoric presentation in literature is the message that the communicator is portraying. There are a few messages that are evident when reading The Monuments Men, but the most prominent one is that once any item, or building with historical significance is destroyed, it will have an impact for hundreds of years to come. From an important piece of artwork that translates the cultures of its time period, to a synagogue that has been in use for hundreds of years, this book shows the importance of preserving pieces of our history to benefit people of all races, age groups, and backgrounds because they can all see a part of their history with these artworks. The men and women who are trying to protect these historical pieces are not only saving it for their peers to enjoy, but for the generations to come.          

The Monuments Men is able to draw its readers into getting a feel of the struggles of many men during World War Two. By an effective use of Ethos, Pathos, and Logos, the novel appeals not only to art connoisseurs interested in a novel about a struggle over the world’s art, but also people interested in a war novel. When reading this novel, you are thrown into the perspectives of the men who travel around looking at different structures, examining damages, and trying to find where artwork was stored by Nazis. It gives a real time display of the Allied advancement on the frontlines, and descriptions of many of the battles fought. The novel makes use of violence, soldiers feeling homesick, and how the war impacts the civilians who live in these European cities. This makes it possible for the author to effectively describe the terrors of war throughout the book by giving small details throughout the novel, which makes you understand the gravity of the situation that the Monuments Men are in. 

The Monuments Men is a novel that takes a lot of time to read with its grand total of 426 pages. However, with its interesting story that it presents, the novel seems to fly by as you become more and more intrigued with all of its characters’ personalities and traits. The story evolves from character to character, and from each piece of the puzzle that is solved in the mystery of where the famous pieces of artwork at being stored by the Nazis. The rhetoric that is being used in this novel produces a wonderful story of war, political conflicts, and a treasure hunt that takes place over the European continent. It has a powerful messages that informs many people of the importances of art, and the reason why it needs to be preserved for future generations.

           

            

Annie

Wild

If the message of a book is trying to convince you on how to solve your problems, what makes you believe that the way the author is saying is right? In Wild by Cheryl Strayed, she tells her story of her long hike on the Pacific Crest Trail. She decides to go on this journey so she can cope with the recent troubles in her life that have to do with her family and drugs. She wants to show the audience her way of dealing with the issues, and how it is successful in the end. This book has effective rhetoric and communicates the message completely because as the communicator the author is useful since it is her own story, and the audience that this book is for can relate easily to her problems.

A big part of rhetoric is the communicator. In this book it is obvious that Strayed is the communicator of the message that she is trying to show through her book. She wants people to see that when life gets you down you have to take it upon yourself to fix it. The author, as the communicator, shows reliability because she was the one who went through the experience. The audience sees that she is successful in the end by finally being able to cope with the tragedies in her life. Some people might disagree and say that the author is not a credible source because she isn’t a professional, and her method of dealing with her problems might not be the greatest idea for everyone else in her position. While this is true, the audience should look at her story as a more general idea and see that when dealing with her problems she had to free her mind and find peace within herself. The audience should not look specifically at hiking the Pacific Crest Trail to overcome their problems. As a person that has gone through this journey, Cheryl Strayed is a great communicator, and makes this book’s message effective.

Another part of rhetoric is the audience. For Strayed’s book the audience are people in their twenties who are going through rough times in their life. These kinds of people would relate to Strayed and the struggle she had in her life. Throughout the book she mentioned she had trouble with drug abuse, a divorce, her mom’s death, and her family getting split apart. Any one with similar problems can agree with how hard it is. The fact that the audience can relate so much to the communicator also makes the book very effective in its job to persuade the audience. They feel the connection with the author which allows them to believe in Strayed and be persuaded by her message.

The communicator and the audience is what makes the rhetoric in this book so effective. The communicator is credible and reliable, and the audience can easily relate to the author. Both these concepts help Strayed show the message she wants to convey through her book, and why it worked so well. Obviously her way is not for everyone, but it definitely can help someone going through hard times find an answer to help solve their personal problems.

Jack

Lone Survivor

            The story Lone Survivor draws you in with its detailed story and wonderful descriptions. The Message of the story was to tell people of 4 brave navy seals who decided to try and let their prisoners go even if it meant that they’d get into a tight situation. The good thing about this story is it’s a well written book that draws the attention of anyone between history buffs to go army people to the average Joe looking for a fast paced adventure. The book is overall quite amazing to the point you can’t set it down.

            To start off, the war in Afghanistan is one that is fought dirty. There are people who oppose the war and there are people who support it. They say the war shouldn’t be fought and we should pull out. The sad part is, is that they blame the soldiers for fighting. In reality the soldiers can only fight where they are sent, they can’t choose where to go. Then you take a look at the state of the world. People out there don’t believe it’s ethical to be fighting but this story tells about how they try and do the right thing even at the cost of their lives.

            The story is credible due to being a firsthand account of the only survivor of a mission of four. The story starts out introducing each character, and explaining a back story proving that there people just like you and me. Then he describes the timeline of events going from launch at base to his final retrieval going back to base. Even though it’s a good exciting story, it’s a sad one where it shows in detail how each one sacrificed their lives fighting till the end to try and save each other. The whole story is just a mix of a fast paced war story with elements that are touching.

            The story explains how hard it is to be a marine, it shows examples of the decisions you can face, and it tells the story of four Navy Seals who had to live with the choice that they made. All in this entire story tells the account of a real world event which has much controversy, hopefully clearing up some ideas that are had about the operations that take place. The story was a good read and it captivates you into staying up in the night and finishing it all in one sitting (or just watch the movie).

Ryan L.

Lone Survivor

LutTELL Me Some More

Lone Survivor: The eyewitness account of Operation Red Wings and the lost heroes of SEAL team 10, authored by Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell, uses effective rhetoric from cover to cover. The book, as a medium for the rhetoric shared by Mr. Luttrell, puts the reader in his shoes, becoming very situational as the reader turns its pages. Luttrell uses all three parts of the rhetorical triangle to get his message through to the reader. Furthermore, he takes advantage of the rhetorical terms much like other bestselling authors do too. Overall, Luttrell’s account in rural

Afghanistan includes very effective rhetoric and was a great read.

Lone Survivor uses effective rhetoric because the book has an effective communicator: former Navy SEAL and current author Marcus Luttrell. Because this book tells the story in a first person perspective, the lens through which Marcus Luttrell lived, credibility is establish. Luttrell is an accomplished Navy SEAL (SEALS are some of the most trustworthy and correct men) with an impressive array of metals and the skill in combat to back it up. Furthermore, Luttrell tells the story and expresses his opinions in an eloquent fashion. Saying it right and saying it well are two things Luttrell does, specifically in the core of the book when he retells Operation Red Wings. Although the plot is militaristic and combat oriented, the author uses details in a fluid manner, not too overwhelmingly goory and specific, but neither lacking specifics or correct details. A great example is when Luttrell describes his relationship with the village elders and child after he is brutally injured. As a SEAL and as an author, Luttrell explains the bond he established in great detail and how he established this bond, using the skills he learned in BUD/S to do. However, not all people agree that Luttrell was an effective communicator. Luttrell is a SEAL, not an accomplished author and his credibility as a writer is often challenged. Although he has a college degree, he lacks the English and writing skills other authors have. But, in my mind, Luttrell is effective as an author primarily because Lone Survivor is a firsthand account,

which he remembers in detail.

Marcus Luttrell uses effective rhetoric in Lone Survivor because he recognizes the four keys of the rhetorical situation. Luttrell exposes the exigence of Operation Red Wings and explains why the SEALs had to do what they did. Prior to going into detail about the operation, Lutrell briefs the issue to the audience in a biased but informative manner: Ahmad Shah and his militia has full control of Nangahar and ignores the demands from the Afghan parliament. Lutrell acts as more of documentarian than an author when he explains the purpose of the mission: to wipe out the ACM and Shah. This sort of lecture on what and why is very effective and adds to the rhetoric already included in the book. Luttrell also recalls the state of the world, not only among the SEALs but also among the Afghan community in Nangahar, who wanted its leader wiped out. But some might say Luttrell did not capture the state of the world because he was not a resident of the province Shah ruled; he did not fully understand the circumstance. However, SEALs and Luttrell are in direct contact with the Afghan villagers where Shah’s wrath is seen. Luttrell understands and sees firsthand the lack of progress seen in Nangahar and the elders’ frustration with Shah. Critics might also argue that Luttrell’s rhetoric is ineffective because of his bias as a SEAL. He sees the state of the audience and the exigence differently than the readers of the book due. However, I would disagree with this claim because the authors account puts the reader in the shoes of Mr. Luttrell and the American people. This is a prime example of effective rhetoric because Lone Survivor includes a rational exchange of opposing viewpoints, not only Luttrell’s viewpoints.

Pluto described rhetoric as the art of winning the soul by discourse. Marcus Luttrell’s story of being a lone survivor fulfills all the requirements as a medium. He not only is an effective communicator but also an effective author because he understands and exposes all parts of the rhetorical situation. Lone  Survivor was both a great book and used effective rhetoric to satisfy its readers. 

Lauren

Wild  

            A New York Times Best Selling book takes you through an adventure of a lifetime; at every turn there was an unpredictable plot twist, making you fall more in love with the book with each word.  Cheryl Strayed, the author, shares her miraculous story through her book Wild, where she vividly describes her journey in hiking across the Pacific Crest Trail, in order to help find the person she wants to be in the future.

            Anyone who has read this book will know that her use of pathos really draws you in and makes you not want to stop reading. The emotions that Strayed writes with helps paint an unforgettable picture in your head; it makes you feel for what she is going through. There is a part of the book where she tells us about the last breaths of her mom’s life and how painful it was to watch her pass away. Strayed makes you stop and think about how you would react if your mom suddenly passed away, it makes you wonder how you would cope with it all. Strayed not only explains her emotional roller coaster but also makes it so you feel the emotions that she felt at one time in her life, you will laugh, cry and become angry just like she had. Although, some may say that her emotions may have gotten in the way of the real message of the book. They feel that they covered up what she was really trying to prove with the message. On the other hand though I feel that the emotions is what adds to the message, it is what makes the message more believable.

            Strayed targets young girls to read her book but more specifically young girls who are going through a hard time. She conveys a message to them, that when things get tough you don’t want to lose yourself with in it. This meaning that, you want to stay grounded and continue being yourself, don’t change yourself because of the hard times. When you do lose yourself though, sometimes you need to take a step back and finding your self again. For Strayed that was hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, but the challenge for finding herself was learning not to give up when the going gets tough. Some may say though that Strayed hiked the Pacific Crest Trail to run away from the problems she had instead of facing them. Yes, she did leave her problems behind but she did it to help make herself a better person, because before then she was doing stuff that she would regret in the future.

Exciting, emotional and intense are only some of the ways one could sum up this book. Cheryl Strayed really tries to connect to the audience through using a pathos appeal. At the same time, she makes the book have a good message thet many can use in there own lives, today. She is very easy to relate to and is a great role model for struggling young girls. Strayed teaches you not to give up, no matter the circumstances. I Highly recommend this book to anyone girl or boy because it is truly an inspiring story that you shouldn’t miss out on.

Garrett

Lone Survivor

            The war in Afghanistan might be the start of a new enemy for America; terror. The author, Marcus Luttrell, communicates his message of what really happened in Afghanistan and how it differed from the events that the American public had heard. He describes how the Liberal media picks up on the Taliban media that is used to criticize the SEALs and enrage Afghans. This book also has a deeper meaning, showing not only what the war was actually like, but also through the eyes of a U.S. Navy SEAL. It describes the horrors of war and death, and it uses strong language to accurately depict the actions the four men took.

            This book has a couple debates between the four men and makes the reader think about what he or she might do in the same situation. For example, when the men have captured the goat herders and are deciding what their options are, it makes one think about what the right thing to do strategically, morally, and ethically is. To correctly analyze these decisions one would have to know about the subject and be experienced, so this book seems to be written for teenagers and older, also judging upon the language that is used. That is just a base age; one should also be familiar with the topics to make any justifiable decisions.

            Reading this book in school is more beneficial to an understanding of the book than reading this book outside of school. Reading in school has required someone to analyze points and do assignments accordingly. While someone might argue that he or she does analyze the book when reading for pleasure, he or she usually cannot communicate with other readers of the same book to get an alternate interpretation of a point or event in the book. If a single person is reading the book then the state of the audience would be very ineffective because it could drastically vary depending on the one person.

            In conclusion, this book is an effective use of rhetoric because the author is credible, he has a clear message that he communicates to a certain age group, and the book has a deeper meaning that the readers have to analyze. He is also effective in his use of pathos and logos, giving many examples that spark different emotions. When this book was written, the author had correctly assessed the state of the world by assuming that the world was concerned with the war in Afghanistan. He had a clear theme in this book, which was inspiration, which he had received from all his characters to write the book. He was inspired to write about glorified people from his childhood to his training and finally to the intense firefight.

Ryan P.

Lone Survivor 

            Marcus Lutrell successfully uses many different techniques to efficiently and powerfully communicate a message in his novel “Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of Seal Team 10.” The first, most important, technique Lutrell implements is the state of the world and the exigence of war in the Middle East. The second rhetoric that Lutrell puts to use is “pathos” and the emotional side strongly tied to war, violence, and death of American Soldiers. Throughout his eyewitness account of Operation Redwing, Lutrell successfully uses rhetoric to communicate a message to the audience.

            The first rhetoric technique that contributes to Lutrell’s message is the state of the world and exigence. As we continue to have American military presence in the Middle East, Lutrell’s story plays off the exigence of the current situation. He also uses the state of the world in his descriptions of the loss of American lives to war. In addition to this, he explores the state of the world in the soldiers’ enthusiasm to go to war writing, “I can state with absolute certainty that all six of us were excited by the prospect, looking forward to doing our job out there in the open, confident of our ultimate success, sure of our training, experience, and judgment" (Lutrell 15). Some may argue that there is a diminishing exigence in terms of this event. However, war is always existent in society and the exigence of it will never fade.

            Lutrell also uses the power of “pathos” and strong emotion towards the story to help in communicating his message. A large portion of the story is dedicated to the lone survivor driving around the United States visiting the families of his fallen comrades. Lutrell uses so much time in this novel for this examination of survivor’s guilt and he uses this emotion to communicate with his audience. During his character’s trips to the homes of his fellow soldiers he writes, "I tried to get a hold of myself. But again in my mind I heard that terrible, terrible scream, the same one that awakens me, bullying its way into my solitary dreams, night after night, the confirmation of guilt. The endless guilt of the survivor" (Lutrell 4). In particular, Lutrell is able to target the audience of men and women who are either in or have family in the army. In a broader audience, he is able to communicate to any American who loves his country and hurts to see people dying to keep it safe.

            Marcus Lutrell uses effective rhetoric in his novel “Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of Seal Team 10” and successfully communicates his message to the audience. First off, Lutrell uses the exigence of war and state of the world to his advantage in the story. Secondly, his ability to flawlessly add to the preexisting emotion related to war and the loss of American Soldiers is successful use of rhetoric. Throughout his novel, Lutrell uses both of these rhetoric techniques successfully to communicate the powerful message of the losses of war to his audience.

Hi 2014 Rhetoric!

Hello Students! 

We'll use this blog to post our SSR non-fiction book reviews and give each other feedback and high praise for a job well done. Maybe you'll find your next favorite book on this list. Enjoy!