Sheldon

Cory sheldon

English 111

Bill Reader

5/1/23

Review essay

Procrastination is a common problem for many people, and it can be difficult to

overcome. Two authors who have written about this issue are Adam Grant and James

Surowiecki. In Grant's article "Why You Shouldn't Feel Bad About Procrastination," he

argues that procrastination can actually be beneficial in some cases. Surowiecki, on the

other hand, takes a different approach in his article "Later: What Does Procrastination

Tell Us About Ourselves?" He suggests that procrastination is a sign of deeper issues

and should be addressed. In this essay, we will compare and contrast three rhetorical

strategies used by these two authors in their articles about procrastination.

One rhetorical strategy that both authors use is anecdote. Grant uses anecdotes to

illustrate his point that procrastination can sometimes lead to better outcomes. For

example, he tells the story of how Martin Luther King Jr. procrastinated writing his

famous "I Have a Dream" speech until the night before he was supposed to give it.

Grant argues that this last-minute writing allowed King to tap into his emotions and

deliver a more powerful speech. Similarly, Surowiecki uses anecdotes to demonstrate

how procrastination can be harmful. He tells the story of a student who procrastinated
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writing a paper and ended up staying up all night to finish it, only to receive a lower

grade than he would have if he had started earlier. These anecdotes are effective in

engaging the reader and helping to illustrate the authors' points.

Another rhetorical strategy used by both authors is the use of expert testimony.

Grant cites research by psychologists who have found that procrastination can

sometimes be a useful tool. For example, one study found that people who

procrastinated on a creative task came up with more innovative ideas than those who

started the task right away. Surowiecki also uses expert testimony to support his

argument that procrastination can be problematic. He cites research that shows that

people who procrastinate tend to be more stressed and less healthy than those who do

not procrastinate. The use of expert testimony adds credibility to the authors' arguments

and helps to convince the reader of their points.

A third rhetorical strategy used by both authors is rhetorical questions. Grant uses

rhetorical questions to challenge the reader's assumptions about procrastination. For

example, he asks, "What if procrastination is a sign that you're taking the problem

seriously?" He then goes on to argue that procrastination can sometimes be a helpful

tool for problem-solving. Surowiecki uses rhetorical questions to prompt the reader to

reflect on their own procrastination habits. For example, he asks, "What is it about a

task that makes us put it off?" He then suggests that procrastination can be a sign of

deeper psychological issues that need to be addressed. The use of rhetorical questions

is an effective way to engage the reader and encourage them to think critically about the

topic at hand.
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Both Grant and Surowiecki use a variety of rhetorical strategies to make their

arguments about procrastination. While they both use anecdotes, expert testimony, and

rhetorical questions, they use these strategies in different ways. Grant uses anecdotes

and rhetorical questions to challenge the reader's assumptions about procrastination

and argue that it can sometimes be beneficial. Surowiecki uses these strategies to

prompt the reader to reflect on their own procrastination habits and suggest that it can

be a sign of deeper issues. However, both authors use expert testimony to support their

arguments and add credibility to their claims.

In conclusion, while Grant and Surowiecki both write about procrastination, they

have different approaches to the topic. Grant argues that procrastination can sometimes

be helpful, while Surowiecki suggests that it is a sign of deeper issues. Both authors use

a variety of rhetorical strategies to make their arguments, including anecdotes