ipl-logo

Rhetorical Analysis Of Scott Sawyer's Argument Against Racism

734 Words3 Pages

Scott Sawyer’s opinion piece published in the Gladstone Observer on the 25th of January 2014, employs an informal tone to argue against the unnecessary racism often exhibited on Australia Day. The piece follows a train of thought as it transitions from an impartial positive tone to stern and disgusted. The article “Ditch the racism and enjoy Australia Day as it should be” states it’s contention in it’s title, clearly and concisely, continuing on to position the Australian population to agree to it’s contention using rhetorical questions, emotive and inclusive language and appeal to patriotism.

The article displays a cartoon image of a cave man looking puzzled at a stone wheel, contemplating its existence and use. The image acts as a metaphor …show more content…

He employs the technique of retelling an anecdote in an informal positive tone, giving readers the illusion they know and understand him on a personal level, making them more inclined to be persuaded by his argument. Sawyer shifts his attention to how others celebrate Australia Day, focusing on those who see the occasion as an opportunity to exhibit racism towards anyone who isn’t Australian. His snarky tone demonstrates his distaste towards the common occurrence which after the friendly anecdote, encourages readers to agree. He follows on with his distaste, asserting that exerting “hate at someone based on their skin colour or culture, because it’s “Straya Day”” doesn't seem necessary. “Why do people let themselves get so hot under the collar about these things?” he poses in a rhetorical question linked to the previous quote, manipulating readers to agree as they assume the answer is …show more content…

“What a disgrace!” he states before labelling those who exhibit unnecessary violent behaviour “sub-human scumbags who deserve to rot” further demonstrating his disgust towards the matter by using emotive and colourful language. These phrases gain reader attention, drawing their focus even deeper into the current topic. Continuing with the informal language, Sawyer claims in simple terms “I don't think it’s Australian”. The casual tone causes readers to feel as though they are in a conversation with the writer rather than reader an article, making them more inclined to be in agreement. The reader is drawn to further be in consonant as Sawyer affirms “no-one wants to be picking their lifeless mate up out of the gutter”, appealing to emotion and fear of loss, compelling readers to be persuaded to a further

Show More
Related

  • Red Dog To The Australian Film Depiction

    123 Words  | 1 Pages

    “The world is a funny place, no? Sometimes you pick your dog. Sometimes your dog picks you.” (Vanno). Good morning/afternoon ladies and gentlemen, I am here to convey the film Red Dog to the Australian film celebration.

    Read More

  • David Rowe's Political Cartoon 'Operation Sovereign Borders'

    905 Words  | 4 Pages

    In David Rowe’s political cartoon ordinary aspects express extraordinary significance, to decisively convey his negative impression of the Abbott government. The relativity of the context to the cartoon is linked through the illustration of the infamous red budgie smugglers, relating Tony Abbott’s influence. In addition to the the bow on the trunks symbolising the ‘tying’ of parties to the issue; the conjunction of ‘garbage’, consisting of fish heads, symbolises both the Abbott government’s straining of information of border security and the ’Operation Sovereign Borders’ catching illegal immigrants. David Rowe incorporates Australians’ response to the issue in his political cartoon through the metaphorical symbolism to characterise Australians as

    Read More

  • White Australian Policy

    933 Words  | 4 Pages

    Other countries were also critical of the casual racism that this policy created. The intention of this essay is to argue that the White Australian policy had a significant impact on Australian culture and Australian attitude towards multiculturalism. Furthermore, this essay intends to prove that the White Australia Policy was a tragedy for Australian Multiculturalism. The White Australian policy included such acts as: the immigration restrictions act 1901 and the Pacific Islanders Labourers act 1901.

    Read More

  • Summer Heights High Analysis

    1131 Words  | 5 Pages

    Summer Heights High is an Australian TV mockumentary mini-series; created in 2007, focusing on the 3 main characters: Jonah, Mr G and Ja’mie, all three are played by the creator of the show, Chris Lilley. Each characters are depicted through the use of satirical elements, such: stereotypes, hyperbole, irony, juxtaposition and sarcasm. Chris Lilley, uses satirical devices to poke fun at the modern stereotypes of the education system to create comedy and show how these stereotypes are unnecessary as most of the time, they are incorrect. Jonah Takalua, a destructive and disobedient Tongan year 8 student, challenges the stereotypes of islanders behaviours and their attitudes with hyperbole and sarcasm. Jonah’s character was written with Hyperbole

    Read More

  • Identity And Identity In Thomas King's Short Story 'Borders'

    608 Words  | 3 Pages

    You tell me, and I won’t put it down on the form, No-one will know but you and me”. It’s obvious that the author, Thomas King, is trying to make awareness about the treatment of Aboriginals are facing in

    Read More

  • Albert Means: The Most Important Quotes

    760 Words  | 4 Pages

    I sound like an Aussie but I smell like Thai food. I live in Australia but my house is a Thai restaurant.’ (page 3) Albert calls himself a fake Aussie because he is the ‘same same, but different.’

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay On Australia Day

    978 Words  | 4 Pages

    Celebrating Australia day is like holding a party without inviting the hosts. While many Australians celebrate this holiday, they have little knowledge behind the events that occurred and why it is celebrated. If I’m honest, I haven’t been brought up, like many of my generation, to understand and acknowledge the events which occurred on this day. Instead for as long as I can remember I have seen the day as a public holiday where mum drags us to a boring family gathering, to play backyard cricket and observe the adults consume excessive amounts of alcoholic beverages. According to a poll conducted by Review Partners, much of the Australian population are unable to accurately name the event

    Read More

  • Stan Grant's Speech: Racism Is Destroying The Australian Dream

    458 Words  | 2 Pages

    The effect of this is not only seen in the engagement of the audience, who are seemingly majority white, but also in the mammoth reception of his speech online. Receiving millions of views and strengthening public engagement into the discussion of racism in Australia today. Grants display of passionate emotional rhetoric and a pure sincerity for his beliefs present a strong case for his argument. His powerful statements reveal a permeant scare on the face of Australia, and shameful history that still permeates

    Read More

  • Racism Is Destroying The Australian Dream Speech Analysis

    652 Words  | 3 Pages

    This article discusses the speech given by an Indigenous journalist, Stan Grant who participated in a debate where he spoke for the motion “Racism is destroying the Australian Dream’’. Hence, the main points of this article are mostly evidence given by Grant in his debate to support his idea that the Australian Dream is indeed rooted in racism. One of the main points is that the indigenous Australians are often excluded and disregarded as non-Australians simply due to their race and skin colour. Grant pointed out the incident where AFL player Adam Goodes was publicly jeered and told that he did not belong to his country as he was not an Australian despite the fact that Australia indeed is the land of his ancestors.

    Read More

  • Be Good Little Migrants Essay

    690 Words  | 3 Pages

    The descriptive language, “cheap, exotic food” even tries to ridicule the cultural food which migrants were expected to prepare for the Australians. “Cheap, exotic food” is a connotation for unsatisfactory food. “Feed the mainstream”, hints that regardless of a migrant’s new identity, they were still considered as different from the majority. The quote, “We’ve given you opportunity for family reunion, equality, and status, though your colour could be wrong” uses racial imagery to create a picture in the audience’s mind of the “incorrect” coloured Australians. This statement maintains the concept of migrants never being able to be fully considered Australian.

    Read More

  • How Does The Poem Feliks Skrzynecki Relate To Belonging

    684 Words  | 3 Pages

    I didn’t hear you shout?” The use of humour in Culotta’s confusion of the slang “shout” asserts a light-hearted mood that broadcasts Nino’s determination to be submerged into the Australian way of

    Read More

  • Stereotypes In Australia Day Barbeque And Farming Family

    516 Words  | 3 Pages

    Stereotypes have helped to build Australia’s identity, some true and some false. Different images such as Text One: “Australia Day Barbeque” and Text Two: “Farming Family” provide representations of Australian identity however they are different in how they represent Australia. There are some similarities, for example in both texts a sense of togetherness is present. When comparing both texts the Australian identity is represented with similar attitudes, values and beliefs, the pictures also reinforce particular stereotypes. These images also portray a side of the Australian culture that is privileged rather than those who are marginalised.

    Read More

  • Essay On Australia Day

    820 Words  | 4 Pages

    Should Australia change the date of Australia Day? Some of you may be wondering why this is such a controversial issue and some of you might already know. If you don’t know why I’ll tell you. The date that we celebrate Australia Day is not the date we became our own country, you may be thinking “so what?” well I’ll tell you, the day we are celebrating is the day Great Britain invaded Australia and the start of when they tortured and killed thousands of the Australian indigenous people, there are multiple dates available that were important to Australia or represent Australia and this date has no monument recognizing the day

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of The New Jim Crow

    223 Words  | 1 Pages

    The piece of writing which I felt was unsuccessful for me was the Rhetorical Analysis of an article relating to a topic from our course book The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander. This piece of writing was difficult for me to organize my ideas around. The article that I decided to use for my rhetorical analysis highlighted mass incarceration among African American and the effect of civil liberties being are taken away from these individuals. I had a lot of repetition because many of the examples I used demonstrated more than one type of appeal. I found myself repeating what the purpose of the example was and how it demonstrated proper use of ethos, pathos, and logos.

    Read More

  • On The Jellicoe Road Analysis

    725 Words  | 3 Pages

    Language is used to establish the characters Australian heritage through their slang and speaking patterns; “Other times it’s a few to the gut and presto…” “Oh bloody wonderful”– Jonah (pages 113 and 125). Writing techniques are used to develop the characters along with the theme. Similes and comparisons are used on multiple occasions throughout the

    Read More

More about Rhetorical Analysis Of Scott Sawyer's Argument Against Racism

Open Document