Rhetorical Analysis Of Being Poor By John Stalzi

After reading John Scalzi’s online article "Being Poor”, I noticed a strong sense of compassion was conveyed to his audience. This provocation of compassion was demonstrated by the copious number of comments responding to Scalzi’s article. Therefore, the ability to receive hundreds of emotional responses makes it critical to base my essay on Scalzi’s use of the rhetorical persuasion form, pathos. Numerous appeals to pathos are evident within John Scalzi's touching article, each of which is skillfully employed by the writer to illustrate vivid images, thus conveying a sense of pathos to the reader through stirring emotional content. The main argument discussed in John Scalzi’s online article “Being Poor”, that the impecunious endure a constant

John Scalzi employs the repetition of “Being poor is…” (John Scalzi) to emphasize and clarify his main argument. The recursive presence of identical sentence starters, followed by materialistic and emotional impacts of being poor, establishes a basis for pathos. Moreover, repetition creates a lack of alternation in the sentence openers. Consequently, a greater sympathetic response builds within the reader in view of the fact repetition is stripping distracting content from the article. Rather than focusing on a specific phrase in the evocation of pathos, Scalzi utilizes the general by providing numerous examples of hardship and despair. Therefore, Scalzi creates an image of overwhelming challenges as a reflection of the poor’s sense of hopelessness in overcoming their hardships. Repetition’s effect in Scalzi’s article is further demonstrated by the dozens of comments following a similar repetitive style in terms of expressing personal struggles with being poor. This in itself demonstrates evidence of pathos as numerous members of Scalzi’s audience were convinced to express their personal challenges with poverty, providing noteworthy evidence of emotional responses. Thus, a notable contribution is provided towards Scalzi’s argument as the perspective from the life of the poor is expanded, providing an advanced understanding, within the audience, of the prevailing sense of despair and hopelessness among the

Implied meanings within Scalzi’s article provide a glimpse into a harsh reality which is often overlooked by those who have never endured its daily struggles. Focusing on numerous examples of hardships enables the author to accomplish this task. Furthermore, these hardships are transformed into incredibly impactful messages by coupling pathos with dreary implications. Scalzi uses the statement “Being poor is hoping the toothache goes away.” (John Scalzi) as a demonstration of this striking effect. The implication in the prior sentence being that paying for treatment is simply not an option because it is unaffordable. Scalzi uses this writing technique to encourage the reader to sympathize with his subject, for it allows the reader to better understand the grounds behind the poor’s sense of despair. In doing so, he addresses his main argument as the reader is persuaded to place themselves in the subject’s circumstances. This method elicits a powerful sympathetic response since the reader is influenced to consider the subject’s distressing experiences. Scalzi repeats this method in the statement “Being poor is a cough that doesn’t go away.” (John Scalzi). Focus is once again drawn to the complications arising from a lack of wealth. The author utilizes an implication, that an individual can’t afford the medication to alleviate a cough, to