A Brush With Reality: Surprises In The Tube Summary

In “A Brush with Reality: Surprises in the Tube” by David Bodanis, the audience or reader is informed about how toothpaste in made, the ingredients which are used to make it and even a suggested alternative which would bring about the same result. Bodanis wastes no time sharing his view of the product, using vivid and illustrative expressions to describe its appalling ingredients. His arguments force us to consider whether or not this common household item should be used. He also uses imagery to allow his readers to have a sense of familiarity with the topic. One such expression is found when he says, “It’s there because people like to have a big gob of toothpaste to spread on the brush”. Bodanis also utilizes our sense of smell when he states, “This is the

He starts off with an interesting relatable scenario while clearly stating his topic, the components of toothpaste, then her states an ingredient, explains what the ingredient is used for and gives a description of it while furthering his argument. The author makes an incomplete statement, “Water mostly, 30 to 45 percent in most brands: ordinary, everyday simple tap water”, which creates an effect of a pause, allowing the reader to think about the injustice of paying for a product that is more than one thirds full of plain water. Juxtaposition, a powerful rhetorical device was used where the author compares two things, toothpaste and water, “studies show that brushing with just plain water will often do as a good job.” If the opinion of readers change as Bodanis would hope, he gives a practical and cheaper alternative. A second rhetorical device used is hypophora, where the author raises a question but ends up answering it himself to add effect and prove his point, “Is that