Issue Paper: The First Search

plannedparenthood.org
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/school-dress-code/
http://www.centerforpubliceducation.org/Main-Menu/Public-education/The-law-and-its-influence-on-public-school-districts-An-overview/Religion-and-Public-Schools.html

Although these sites were easy to find, that doesn't mean that they are necessarily the best sources for me to use. Planned Parenthood may have trustworthy information, but it likely has a strong bias. Huffington Post is reliable, but because it has many journalists writing for it, there is likely a variety in the quality of articles. Center for public education seems to have good information, but I'm not sure how trust worthy that source is.
For a start to deciding what issue I wish to discuss, these sites will likely help me start thinking about some good ideas, but they probably won't end up in my final draft.

the STUFF.

"God, Darwin and My Biology Class"
This writer focused on using scientific information, as well as a comparison of his views to another to convince his audience that God should not be included in a biology class. The scientific information is helpful, because it shows that he not only knows what he's talking about, but gives the audience some helpful knowledge on the subject.
He also compares his views to others who try combining God with science. I don't think this was as successful because it discounts an entire idea with very little evidence to back up his conclusion that it is wrong.

"My Right to Death with Dignity"
I felt like the personal experience used in this essay was the very strongest rhetorical strategy. Being that it is such a unique and personal circumstance to be in, only someone who is going through it really understands, or has the right to talk about it. Her use of statistics on which states allow for Death with Dignity and those which do not are also helpful to support her argument by showing the audience the truth behind how few people really get this option.

"I Have a Dream"
Repetition was used throughout this speech. It helped drive ideas in and also give people something to remember. He used many familiar songs and situations to help draw from people's emotions.

"Ballot or Bullet"
Malcolm X appealed to people's emotions and logic through showing how other options were not getting them anywhere. He gave stats on how communities become slums and the very bluntly says that if you think it will ever work, then you're dumb. This bluntness appeals to his audience's emotions and calls them to change in a very direct way.

Rhetorical Analysis Thesis Statement

Abigail Napier

Kaleigh Spooner

Writing 150

4 October 2015

Rhetorical Analysis Thesis Statement

            Fifty-two years after John F. Kennedy gave his speech declaring how his faith would impact his presidency, Mitt Romney gave an extraordinarily similar speech. While both had the same goal of convincing America that their own personal religion would not sway their decisions for the greater good of the nation they took different approaches to achieve this goal.

            Kennedy’s audience was Protestant ministers who were fearful that if Kennedy won the presidency, the Catholic church would hold sway over Kennedy and therefore over the country. He started out with a very effective foil comparing this issue with the other much more pressing issues that plagued the country at that time. He also used repetition of sentence structure to give his arguments strength as well as the motif of “this is the America I believe in” throughout his speech to tie his various arguments together. While he does mention in passing other religions, there isn’t too strong of an argument for how he would relate or interact with them.

            Romney uses a strong chiasmus of “freedom requires religion, just as religion requires freedom.” This strong rhetorical statement accurately introduces the rest of his speech. Romney may be at an advantage because he is able to allude to Kennedy, but he goes beyond that and alludes to the founding fathers and Lincoln. He also uses repetitions in his individual arguments which gives them strength.

            Both Kennedy and Romney’s speeches had strong points. Kennedy’s speech appeals more strongly to his secondary audience but fails to allude enough to others. Romney appeals strongly to those before him, but his argument would be far less effective to an atheist.