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A Rhetorical Analysis Of The New Greatest Generation By Joel Stein

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An opinion may be appealing to the ear; however, appealingness does not make a statement accurate. In Joel Stein's article, “The New Greatest Generation,” his overall message is generalized to the idea of what effect do millennials have on society. In the first portion of his writing, Stein criticizes millennials’ ways of life using statistical data and stereotypes the entire generation as indolent and self­centered. The second portion of Stein’s article is a counterargument that millennials are not a fruitless generation, and that their way of life may be beneficial to all. Stein creates a compelling argument, however his counter argument is entirely opinionated making his writing an unreliable source. Overall, Stein’s argument that millennials are successful is flawed because of his lack of factual evidence and his questionable remarks. …show more content…

Stein voices, “They’re not a new species; they’ve just mutated to adapt to their environment” (31). Stein is claiming that millennials are only molding to their environment to thrive. So, if millennials have to mutate to their surroundings, why don’t the older generations have to as well? People from previous generations dwell in the same area as millennials; however they do not change their character for their environment. Stein is insinuating that millennials are only self­absorbed and indolent because society made their environment made them that way; so why aren’t older generations being affected by society as well? Stein does not provide any reliable source to assist this point or any other. Repeatedly throughout his argument, he shares appealing characteristics that millennials supposedly obtain. However, without factual confirmation, all appealing characteristics surely turn into just an opinion. Another example Stein uses involves the use of

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In the essay “The New Greatest Generation” by Joel Stein, Stein discusses characteristics of the millennials that he admires. First, Stein thinks the millennials “could be a great force for a positive change (Stein 572).” Stein may think this is so because of the data he has received from Tom Brokaw. Brokaw says, the millennials are “inventing new apps and embraces the whole economy.” Also, Stein may think millennials will make a positive change because they are “more accepting of differences (Stein 572).”

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