Summary Of The Unplanned Human Experiment

The Unplanned Human Experiment “Too spicy,” said Elijah, the son of Dr. Steingraber, after trying a food that some believe to be a stereotypical child’s favorite. In Steingraber’s essay, “But I Am a Child Who Does”, she writes about her accidental “human experiment”. Her experiment consists of her two children, Faith and Elijah, having a very particular food preference. Their taste perception was based solely on direct experience and was not exposed to any manipulating advertisements. However, she does not address that advertisements are righteously wrong. Steingraber’s experiment effectively argues that advertisements can impact a child’s view towards food by appealing to her readers’ emotions (pathos), logic (logos), uses an engaging tone,

Steingraber introduces her argument by appealing to the reader’s emotion to gain their trust. For example, she gets her readers to relate to her situation by writing directly to them: “Parents of toddlers are nodding furiously in recognition here……..” (Steingraber). Steingraber’s account mainly targeted parents, but has them share the same emotions that she has dealt with.

Steingraber shares another emotional situation to the reader: “….. No candy bars wait in the checkout lane, ready to spark a parent-child battle of wills” (Steingraber). Readers, mainly parents, will begin to reminisce about their child begging for the candy bar in the checkout line. Steingraber allows her readers to be in her position, and this will have them to understand and accept her argument much more efficiently. Sarcasm can be seen throughout Steingraber’s essay that appeals the reader’s emotion. She continues to share relatable stories to the reader by applying sarcasm and humor as she says, “Well, this is a watershed moment in parenting, I thought, as I handed each of my hungry children a little red and yellow sack, warm with food” (Steingraber). Steingraber uses sarcastic words to provoke joyful emotions, such as “watershed” and “little red and yellow sack”. Readers will grow fond to her argument by not only relating to the situation but also pleasing their

Her strategies enable the reader to feel and imagine the position that she is in, and this allows them to efficiently understand her argument. However, she does not demand the reader to hate advertisements, but allows them to draw conclusions on how effective they can be. While also stating her argument, she allows the reader to show sympathy and desire to her children in this “experiment” by thoroughly writing in an engaging and humorous tone. Steingraber finalizes her argument by counter-arguing that leaves the reader to believe this experiment was a “success”. Because of Steinbarger’s rhetorical devices, readers are able to grasp the idea of what advertisements can do to a person’s perception. Now it is up to the reader to experience this “experiment” instead of advertising