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Black Men In Public Space Rhetorical Analysis

1610 Words7 Pages

Authors always have a message they wish to instill upon readers. That is, of course, the purpose of writing: to eloquently devise a message that can be easily interpreted by the public so that they can develop a better understanding of something that an author represents. The success of an author, then, in creating a powerful message, manifests itself in whether or not those who read the message decide to take action on the issue presented by the author. The success of Brent Staples in “Black Men and Public Space,” and Andrew Sullivan in “What is a Homosexual?” in conveying their messages come from the ways that the authors utilize various rhetorical devices and tone, elements which help to solidify the purpose of their essays. Overall, “Black Men in Public Space” proved to be more successful in conveying its message clearly and concisely, stemming from Staples’ manipulation of rhetorical devices and tone. It is apparent from reading both essays that the authors' purposes for writing their pieces are to inform readers of deeply rooted problems in society and the consequences of those problems on the people they affect. Staples explains in “Black Men in Public Space” how the unjust perception of black men as threats has not only pervaded society but also has caused an irrational fear of them. Staples writes to show …show more content…

Staples was able, by using these elements, to construct an essay that readers could connect with on a personal level, and resulting from this connection readers understand and support his argument. Sullivan’s essay, conversely, was flawed in that it did not connect with readers on an emotional level, which is the best way to garner support for an

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