For our first assignment, the Rhetorical Analysis Essay, my class was assigned to read and analyze different short texts written on the topic of the English language and how language is conveyed. The purpose of the essay is to elaborate what the author Amy Tan is portraying  in her short text. I had to show what she’s presenting to her audience and the strategies she’s doing to make her argument. I have to explain why she makes this argument for her audience and what impact it’s supposed to make on her viewers. The text I had to analyze is titled, “Mother Tongue.” Amy Tan’s short text is about how language is used differently and the nature of the English language is different with everyone. The story of Amy’s life with her mother in relation to the English language, and different experiences allowed me to redirect her audience. I gained experience analyzing her story and trying to understand the impact of rhetorical situations, especially an author’s intended audience, purpose, and rhetorical appeals. In this assignment I was able to write a piece of writing that interpreted the message for the audience. My essay demonstrates my newly developed skills in rhetorically analyzing texts.

Draft

Amy Tan, an American writer famous for her novel The Joy Club and other novels implies that people label ‘broken english’ on foreigners. She explains the difficulties it creates when many people from across the world aren’t familiar with the English language. In this text Amy Tan in her own words explains that English literature is more diverse than we think. That the English Language is for everyone. There is no correct way of speaking the English language. The author uses ethos as a way to establish her business and make the audience believe in her stand on her argument better. She then uses pathos by sharing her personal life and experiences when it is related to her mother and her ‘broken english’. Her mother is the vocal point in her speech as she describes her feelings towards her mother and the way she speaks.This was her influence as being the daughter of an Asian immigrant with a broken accent. She uses her own personal story as the stronghold to push her audience in understanding her point of view on her life. With her experience it builds a more sense of trust between her viewers while remaining firm in her stand.

The author makes the claim that the English Language is used by a variety of people and can be spoken by anyone. It is a language that is shared in diverse cultures. Amy Tan is professional while using the three forms of argument in her speech. By using logos, pathos, and ethos, she creates validation for her audience to see that they can trust her and believe in her argument. It works best for the audience she’s reaching for making her argument all the more better to agree with. As important as her claims are within her argument, there is no opposing view mentioned in her argument which doesn’t make it more effective to make her statement across.  

Final Draft

     

Amy Tan, an American writer famous for her novel The Joy Club and other novels implies that people label ‘broken english’ on foreigners. She explains the difficulties it creates when many people from across the world aren’t familiar with the English language. In this text Amy Tan in her own words explains that English literature is more diverse than we think. That the English Language is for everyone. There is no correct way of speaking the English language. The author uses ethos as a way to establish her business and make the audience believe in her stand on her argument better. She then uses pathos by sharing her personal life and experiences when it is related to her mother and her ‘broken english’. Her mother is the vocal point in her speech as she describes her feelings towards her mother and the way she speaks.This was her influence as being the daughter of an Asian immigrant with a broken accent. She uses her own personal story as the stronghold to push her audience in understanding her point of view on her life. With her experience it builds a more sense of trust between her viewers while remaining firm in her stand.

The author makes the claim that the English Language is used by a variety of people and can be spoken by anyone. It is a language that is shared in diverse cultures. Amy Tan is professional while using the three forms of argument in her speech. By using logos, pathos, and ethos, she creates validation for her audience to see that they can trust her and believe in her argument.Overall her argument strives to reach people of many different nationalities within the United States by reinforcing the values that there is no perfect English in society. The English language is adaptable for anyone to use. It works best for the audience she’s reaching for making her argument all the more better to agree with. As important as her claims are within her argument, there is no opposing view mentioned in her argument which doesn’t make it more effective to make her statement across.  

In conclusion, Amy Tan created an inspiring argument that she values greatly based on her experience and personal story. She uses this to add validation to her argument.