It helps for a reader or writer to have knowledge of the subject that he or she is dealing with, but it isn’t necessary. Mainly, a strong reader and writer needs to be able to do more than just repeat or summarize the material. He or she needs to be able to interpret the material in an original manner and present an argument that is original as well. It is also better for them to be able to use a structure that isn’t exactly the same as the structure of the source. Students should also be able to read the material as an argument, rather than just reading it as a list of facts or a story. They need to be able to evaluate it. The ability to understand and interpret the context, the author’s purpose, and the effect on the audience are also important skills.
In order to create a strong argument, the rhetorical situation must be completely understood. The writer must understand and consider the “gaps” in this situation, and interpret what effects the gaps have. The question of “So what?” must always be answered as well, providing relevance of certain information included in the essay. Answering this question creates the argument.
As far as opinions and facts, Kantz states that they are both claims, and the writer must understand this. She also says that the only difference is in how they are received by the reader. The varying levels of truth allow the audience to interpret the validity of the source with or without proof.
Also, sources need to be integrated with these claims. These sources will again allow the audience to decipher whether the claim is fact or opinion. In other words, the source will establish the credibility of the claim that it is backing up. A claim without a source or some kind of proof to back it up is a weak statement and does not help to create an argument.
This also plays into the ethos that she wants the writer to create. Backing up claims with sources will develop the proper ethos for an author. This is how Said established himself in the documentary in orientalism.
Said can definitely be considered a role model for proper ethos. He was established by the narrator to begin with. So when the viewers are considering his ideas, they aren’t questioning his authority. Also, Said does an excellent job of analyzing the situation the world was in at the time. Not only does he analyze it, but he gives his opinion on why things were going the way they were.
In my sustained research essay, I plan to establish ethos in becoming as educated as possible on the topic at first. I have never been that interested in the war in Iraq, nor in international relations, so I need to educate myself more on these issues. Next, I plan to just make sure that I’m establishing the credibility of my sources. As far as research methods, I am planning on using online sources for most of it, since there is such a variety of sources I have access to from a computer. I’m not sure about what specific sources that I will be using yet, so my ethos will depend on research yet to come.
I hope to be able to effectively analyze my sources and the rhetorical situation involved. I want to recognize the gaps present here as well, and to consider them during my analysis. As far as what I hope to accomplish, I want establish a clear and credible argument, either about our democracy or our reasons for war in particular. I do see a few obstacles involved with this. Again, I have never been interested in the war in Iraq or politics at all, so I need to educate myself on the matter. Also, it seems that I have a slight problem with organizing many different complicated ideas in a clear, logical manner. I also need to learn to make my writing more concise. I think these are going to be the biggest obstacles.
July 15, 2008 at 5:55 am
Matt, You do a good job highlighting most of the important points that Kantz identifies in her article. One point I really want you to think a lot about is what Kantz was getting at with the need for students to make an “original” argument when they write. What was Kantz getting at here, why is this part of Kant’s essay so important, and how does Said model how to make an “original” argument? What specifically did Said do in order to come up with his “original” argument that you might mimic?
Also, in first line of your response, you wrote “It helps for a reader or writer to have knowledge of the subject that he or she is dealing with, but it isn’t necessary.” What do you mean by that exactly? Later in your response, you say that you need to become as educated as possible about your topic? Do you see how these two claims contradict each other? Can you explain???
Also, realize that in order to write a strong argument, you’ll need to do a lot more, as I am sure you recognize, than just establish credibility of your sources. Most importantly, you have to establish the credibility of your own ethos by conversing/interacting with your sources on the page–by synthesizing them and finding avenues into the conversation so you can add your important insights…Gone are the days, in other words, where you can rely on your credible sources to do the work for you. Now you have to make them work for you. I hope the Warporn essay I posed as a model might show you how I used sources in a variety of ways to make my own argument. I want you to attempt this same writing goal….Anyway, thanks. Laurie
July 17, 2008 at 1:51 am
What I meant was that it doesn’t matter if the writer is educated or not when they begin the project, as long as they at least learn as much as possible as they go. I should have put that in there. They do need to be educated, it’s just not necessary for them to start out that way.
July 17, 2008 at 4:59 pm
Okay. I just wanted to make sure that is what you intended. You are right….and its important to realize that because too often we don’t take on the challenge to write about something in fear of not knowing enough about it. But through deep research, we can become informed…