Running head: Rhetorical Analysis 1

Rhetorical Analysis:

Built to Fail

by Randy K. Trani and Robert K.Irvine

Abraham Apodaca

The University of Texas at El Paso

RWS 1301

Dr. Vierra

October 19, 2018

Rhetorical Analysis 2

Abstract

Randy K. Trani and Robert K. Irvine believe the American education system is a mess,

they provide many details explaining just how this can possibly be true. The two authors use the

rhetorical analysis to provide proof and make the reader feel for their cause. By using Ethos,

Pathos and Logos the authors effectively provided perfect examples for all of the three elements.

Logos being used as the logic, showing the reader how simple and in plain sight this issue has

been, but also provide excellent examples of logos by making the reader connect emotionally to

the reading. Ethos was presented a lot since these two authors are professors and have everyday

experience with the field.

Rhetorical Analysis 3

Rhetorical Analysis

The rhetorical analysis has been used for such a long time that it is almost impossible to Commented [VP1]: good opening

miss it, using three key appeals. The three emotional appeals being ethos being the ethics, logos

providing the emotional appeal and logos to provide logic. Both authors used the rhetorical

analysis effectively to provide proof. Mike Rose (1980) explains his view of how writers

compose, expressing just how many rules to the writing process there is and many people might

have their own process as well (p.782). He continues to use many situations where certain

techniques did not help students or even himself, Rose used a problem-solving procedure that Formatted: Highlight

“hamstrings” him. He explains how not asking specific questions can lead to a poor or half-

finished, when composing an essay, a writer must use feedback which he describes as a

“information-processor’s dream” (p.792). By acknowledging the audience, a writer can see what

kind of people he should ask for feedback, by asking professors and teacher assistants, a student Formatted: Highlight

will have the perfect feedback because that is indeed who the essay is meant for. Wardel and

Downs (2007) in this essay both authors propose, theorize, demonstrate. This situation explicitly

recognizes the difficulty of teaching a universal academic discourse and rejects that as a goal for

first-year composition, and focuses to improve a student’s understanding of writing, rhetoric,

language, and literacy in a class where that is topically oriented (p.447). Providing these new

methods to a class that reading and writing is the main goal, that encourages more realistic and

experienced conceptions of writing. What is your thesis?

What is the claim of the book? What genre does it belong to?

What is a genre?

Discussion

Need a topic sentence that ties in with your thesis, which is on rhetorical analysis of a

monograph. How well to you believe that the author addressed his audience? What is your
Rhetorical Analysis 4

definition of audience? Who is your source? The audience that Trani and Irvine are trying to

impact is professors and selected officials of the education program, mostly any person in the

field of education. Since both of these professors have careers in education it is quite obvious at

some points of the reading. Robert K. Irvine has been a professor at the University of Eastern

Oregon and he explains just how professors treat their jobs and students, he explains that this

book focuses on the flaws of the American education system and therefore it is intended for

people associated with that field to pursue the audience to change or evolve.

Pathos was used efficiently in Trani and Irvine (2014) through the effective emotion Commented [VP2]: good topic sentence; now, who is your
source for pathos? Repeat for ethos and logos
brought by the author. Pathos is the appeal that evokes emotion, what the author makes the

audience feel. They explain how the American system of education is broken and cannot be

repaired (xiii). By expressing just how they feel about the education program they provide an

emotional bridge between the author and writer the two authors effectively show their emotion

by providing examples of students who have tried but just never succeed in the system they say

is built for a student to fail (p17). Another example of pathos is just how they explain that a

student barely has any control during the education, explaining it as a man going on Ski's for the

first time, nervously waiting to go down the mountain but once he does, everything is up to

different factors, gravity, physics and body. They compare this man on skis to a student entering

education (p.48).

Trani and Irvine use logos quite a lot since they are trying to prove a point. Logos is the

appeal of logic; the author will pursue the audience using logic. They explain how a system as

large as the American education system can be improved by simple tactics, the go on to explain

that there are many factors that prevent students from thriving in school, one being social

standing and living environment (p.1). The two professors explain that an educational system is
Rhetorical Analysis 5

overdue, a new system must be out, not just for students in college but students from lower

education, because it indeed starts from there (p.63). The authors explain how each country

focuses on educating the young and graduates, they compare the United States with the rest of

the countries that provide information about their education system and show the reader how

simple it is to change, they explain how countries like Hong Kong and South Korea constantly

renew their methods, they explain that it is logical for systems to evolve but the American

education system remains as it once was (p.94-95).

Ethos is shown effectively by Trani and Irvine by explaining that the history of the

education system is based on a historical process that to them has been deliberate, part accidental

and wholly amalgamated (p.9). Ethos is the appeal of ethics, the credibility of the precentor.

Irvine a professor at the eastern Oregon university provides excellent ethos to the issue.

Although they both Trani and Irvine believe that these problems must be illuminated, even if

they believe the system is not deliberate from top to bottom but express that all these procedures

are outdated, and it is time for improvements (p.10). They both continue to explain how this was

not approached in a scientific way but more of an intent to find support, not surprisingly a critic

might say the two professors found it (p.103).

Conclusion Commented [VP3]: This should appear on the next page;

you should be okay after you expand your intro and add to
The rhetorical analysis is clearly presented in Built to Fail by using ethos, pathos and your discussion

logos. The two authors use the rhetorical analysis to explain that the American education system

is outdated. With Robert K. Irvine and Randy K. Trani both being professors and understanding

the situation sets a perfect example to the educators by personal experience. Pathos and logos are

used in such a way to make the reader feel and understand the problem and by both being experts

in the field it provides excellent ethos to the reading.

Rhetorical Analysis 6

References

Trani, R. K. and Irvine R.K. (2014), Built to Fail: Structural Deficiencies and Students failure.

Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield.

Wardle E. and Downs D. (2011), Writing about Writing: A College Reader. Boston: Bedford/St

Martin’s.