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Valedictori Best In Class By Margaret Talbot

846 Words4 Pages

Upon hearing the word “valedictorian,” many visualise an incredibly intelligent, studious young person who must be better than the rest, which to some can seem unfair--rewarding one student in front of so many hardworking others-- it’s a bit discouraging. On the other hand, one thing a valedictorian can do is write an impressive essay. In Margaret Talbot’s article “Best in Class,” she illustrates her idea that the idealistic of valedictorian isn’t necessarily awful, but can be improved upon in order to appeal to a larger group of hardworking people. Talbot uses various testimonies and anecdotes from previous students throughout her piece in order to establish her logos and/or ethos. For starters, the first example Talbot pulls is from a former …show more content…

At Cleveland High School...there will be thirty two valedictorians this year…” (226). Straight off the bat Talbot adds credit to her ethos by adding in a fact that completely contrasts the last in terms of style: a one-valedictorian-takes-all system versus a system where many hardworking students benefit together, ultimately acknowledging both sides rather sticking to the one she favours. In doing this, Talbot is allowing the readers to decipher for themselves which of these systems juxtaposed is better, or statistically/by other anecdotal opinions which is better, because, again, the majourity of this piece is written through the stories and evidences of other people. Talbot then goes on to denote being valedictorian by adding in points saying it “isn’t entirely suited to a brutally competitive age… [but] it seems sad to abolish the tradition--and faintly ridiculous to honour too large a group” (231). Again, Talbot strikes back at the cause, now putting stances to combat both systems of educational choosings. This objective bluntness adds an incredible amount of ethos to her persona, and seemingly, at this point in the reading, Talbot has no opinion--but alas, she does. However, her point isn’t the point, rather the point is how Talbot is utilising anecdotes not only to shape herself, but everything. Everything being the reader’s opinion, ease of literary flow, objectiveness, combatting previous stances, etcetera. After all, this “everything” establishes how credible she is as an

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