Strategies Used By Greg Lukianoff And The Coddling Of The American Mind

Writing can be an effective way in persuading an audience. Creating a connection to the audience is a difficult task, but if rhetorical writing is used correctly, one's writing can be impactful and effective. The authors, Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt, of "The Coddling of the American Mind" use rhetorical strategies to evoke interest, and to assist in bringing across meaning to the reader. Some of the effects used include data, quotes from ancient philosophers, and specific word connotation. The rhetorical strategies used by Haidt and Lukianoff are for the most part unsuccessful in convincing college administration that shielding students does more harm than good. They unfairly use a negative-sided word choice, extreme examples, and they

For example, according to the article, Lukianoff is, ". . .CEO of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education", and Haidt is, ". . .a social psychologist who studies the American culture wars"(Basictenets). CEO is a powerful position, giving an authoritative look to his stance, and a social psychologist should be a reliable source for analyzing behavior. Another use of the ethos effect is by including quotes from ancient Philosophers such as Socrates, Buddha, and Marcus Aurelius. Haidt and Lukianoff quoted Buddha, “Our life is the creation of our mind"(ThinkingCure). Quotes like this are to insert authority into the reader. The ethos effect can be an effective way for writers to gain respect, credibility, and authority from their

The word choice in this article is clearly meant for a negative emotion. Words like violate, danger, and rape are used in attempt to bring out an uncomfortable feeling. For example, according to the article, Jeannie Suk wrote in the New Yorker about Harvard students telling their professors, ". . .not to teach rape law—or, in one case, even use the word violate (as in “that violates the law”) lest it cause students distress"(1,SomethingStr). The authors also use alarming instances in attempt to evoke emotion. One example being the phrases that will trigger certain ethnicities. The article states, ". . .by some campus guidelines, it is a microaggression to ask an Asian American or Latino American 'Where were you born?'"(TriggerWarnings). Other extreme examples are used to bring attention to the issue as well. Another reason this writing might bring worry to college professors and others, are the expressions like, "It prepares them[students] poorly for professional life"(Basictenets). Professors are responsible for teaching content that will be useful for students to succeed in life after college. The authors are trying to reach college administration's emotions through the pathos