Rhetorical Analysis Of In Defense Of Male Clutter, By Steve Almond

Everyone has their own opinion on “clutter.” Some may consider it to be a waste of space and others may think that it has value. Author Steve Almond, believes that clutter is something that needs to be treasured; he explains this in his article “In Defense of Male Clutter” published in 2014 in Real Simple Magazine. Throughout the article he argues the importance of (AMJ) accumulated male junk. Almond begins connecting with the audience by using a variety of emotional appeals, logical reasoning, and establishing credibility, thus his argument is strong. Almond effectively uses the appeal to pathos to prove his point. He helps persuade by using strong, emotional word choices and phrases such as “lovingly,” “passionately,” “part of me,” and “peaceful,” The variety of word choices gives the readers a better mental picture of what he is persuading. He also

Throughout his article there are many times that he gives good explanations to persuade the readers. Almond uses another source other than himself to make his dispute credible. He explains, “My friend Owen for instance has chosen to outfit his basement with many of the accessories from is fraternity years.” This source helps the audience understand that Almond is not the only person that values items from the past. He goes on to give Owen’s wife’s opinion, “Does his wife approve of his neon beer signs and the machine used to chill Jägermeister? I would guess no. But she recognizes the genuine emotional needs these objects fulfill and she lets it ride.” This gives the readers a mental picture of someone that understands the need for AMJ. The article also has good logical reasoning; he says, “Can this stuff really be said to possess sentimental value? No, this constitutes the AMJ that represents our hopes for the future.” This statement proposes rational thinking for keeping AMJ, which helps the audience to accept his