Rhetorical Analysis: I Will Always Write Back

Particular Purposes An author’s purpose is often revealed through the rhetorical strategies that he/she uses throughout their piece. David Sheff uses anecdotes and emotional appeal in order to achieve his purpose: to give a different view on the disease that is addiction. Similarly, Caitlin Alifirenka, Martin Ganda, and Liz Welch use emotional appeal and contrast of perspective in I Will Always Write Back to convey the message that standard of living should not limit a person’s capabilities. David Sheff’s memoir contains emotional appeal to achieve its purpose. It is packed with heart-wrenching moments that make the reader feel his pain. For instance, Sheff is always worried sick when his son disappears without saying where he’s going. One particular time, when Jasper asks where his older brother is, Sheff responds, “with more emotion than I intended to betray: ‘We don’t know.’ Jasper begins to cry” (Sheff 101). This moment makes the audience feel for Sheff and his family, because it is a new side of the common addiction story that has more impact emotionally than one may think. People hear the side of the addict themselves so much more often, that the parents’ point of view is more shocking and emotional. Thus, they are able to understand better because they can relate to his normal family, that is going through an abnormal

Sheff uses anecdotes and emotional appeal in order to give a new point of view on addiction. Similarly, Caitlin Alifirenka, Martin Ganda, and Liz Welch use emotional appeal and contrast of perspective in I Will Always Write Back to convey the message that standard of living should not limit a person’s capabilities. While the purposes of the two are vastly diverse, similar rhetorical strategies still assisted the memoirs in conveying their respective