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Rhetorical Analysis Of David Foster Wallace's This Is Water

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“This Is Water,” by David Foster Wallace establishes a mental discussion in his speech: Bide in an unconscious state (default-setting) or free ourselves from this “mental suicide” through rewiring our thinking. Wallace offers in-depth insight about one’s default-setting. Wallace argues that our default setting is self-centeredness and throughout his speech guides his audience — college graduates— through an intervention; The audience should re-determine on life’s priorities. Wallace is able to persuade his audience and develops his integrity through the help of perspective and imposes his ad hominem argument; Wallace criticizes the matter of remaining in one’s default setting through his point of view. Wallace lectures,“ certain of is...deluded,”

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