I don’t understand this English question and need help to study.

critical analysis/evaluation of “The Sources of Happiness,” whereby you will argue whether or not Cutler and the Dalai Lama present a convincing argument based on their establishment of logos, pathos, and ethos. This is a short essay (three pages), but it will be your first experience in using quotes and internal citations. Note that the only text you will be quoting is the primary text itself. Also note that this text is a chapter (not an article or story). I am posting a sample critical analysis so that you can see the general idea of how the format and development should look.

Outlining instructions for Critical Analysis (Evaluation)

An outline is your paper and your paper’s organization in a nutshell. Most of you are familiar with the outlining process. This is the format I want you to follow for this course:

THESIS/ARGUMENT: provide your thesis statement here. For an analysis, your thesis will indicate that what you are analyzing (your primary text, in other words) makes a convincing or compelling argument or not.

• Ground/Reason #1: This will include language regarding logos, pathos, or ethos (for example: Ground #1: The author establishes logos. OR: The author lacks proof of ethos).
  • Quote for support (proving logos has been established, for example).
  • [You may use as many quotes as you deem appropriate in the actual paper, but I want to see at least two for the critical analysis outline before I approve it. I expect that you will be using multiple quotes, but you can choose those as you rough draft.]
• Ground/Reason #2
  • See note above
• Ground/ Reason #3
  • See note above

Side notes: Remember that this is just an outline you will follow. The paper must include a full but short introduction and conclusion, and you must develop all body paragraphs per the Paragraph Development Checklist I provided you in “Notes on Writing and Argument.”

Critical Analysis instructions

The critical analysis will argue whether or not the primary text makes a convincing argument. Your grounds (reasons) will have something to do with the logos, pathos, and ethos that the author has (or has not) established in his or her text. So, your thesis statement will stipulate if you think the author’s argument is convincing, compelling, or reasonable and your reasons/grounds for your determination will either be because you see a balance of the rhetorical proofs (logos, pathos, ethos) or because you see a flaw, lack, or overkill of those appeals in some way.

Here is an example. Let’s say that you think the Letter from Birmingham Jail DOES make for a compelling argument. Then, your introduction will look something like this: In Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” he makes a convincing argument that it is never “unwise” nor “untimely” to do the right thing (page number goes here) through the use of a balance of logos, pathos, ethos. If you think he does NOT present an effective argument, then you will consider why, and your grounds might be something like: too much attempt at pathos, not enough of a balance of logos, and a skewed attempt at ethos. From an analytic perspective, you will find flaws, in other words, when considering that standard for “good” argument. (Also consult the $80 list in your notes for more detailed ground language when making this determination.)

Body paragraphs will draw on specific information from the reading itself to develop each of your grounds. Use the paragraph development checklist in your “Notes on Essay Writing and Argument” when writing these paragraphs.

For a 3 -4 page paper, you will spend one or two paragraphs on each ground. Your introduction and conclusion paragraphs must not exceed 1/3 of a page.

SaMPLE

Instances of aggressive driving, when a driver loses control of his or her temper and tries to take it out on another driver, can range from harmless gestures to deadly crashes. Regardless of the severity, road rage is always harmful to those involved. The article “Road Rage” was written by Jason Vest, Warren Cohen, and Mike Tharp. The authors argue that aggressive driving, also known as road rage, is becoming the normal way of driving for many people. The article also explores factors that contribute to aggressive driving and how they can be reduced. The authors effectively use ethos, logos, and pathos to show that road rage is a problem on the rise and something that must be dealt with.

There are several factors that contribute to this article’s ethical appeal. The authors are all professional journalists. The fact that it was written by three individuals rather than one also adds to the credibility. This article was published in the U.S News and World Report, a reputable news organization. The authors maintain a tempered tone throughout the article and critically evaluate statistics they use, “Lest one get unduly alarmed, it helps to put the AAA study’s numbers in context:” (Vest, Cohen, Tharp. 97). In addition, they reference several studies and statistics published by reputable sources such as the American Automobile Association (AAA), U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, and Texas Transportation Institute. This strengthens the ethical appeal because it shows the reader that the authors have done their research.

The authors use statistics and examples from the past to offer logical explanations about the causes behind aggressive driving. To illustrate just how much road rage has grown out of control, the authors share a statistic published by the American Automobile Association,

The rate of ‘aggressive driving’ incidents – defined as events in which an angry or impatient driver tries to kill or injure another driver after a traffic dispute – has risen by 51 percent since 1990. In those cases studied, 37 percent of offenders used firearms against other drivers, an additional 28 percent used other weapons, and 35 percent used their cars (96).

They later go on to explain that while the total number of car accidents have been steadily declining, instances of road rage have been increasing. The article cites Sandra Ball-Rokeach, co-director of the University of Southern California’s Media and Injury Prevention Program, who states, “Aggressive driving is now the most common way of driving… It’s not just a few crazies – it’s a subculture of driving” (96). In addition, they point out that most instances of road rage are not violent outbursts, but rather, less violent actions such as cutting another driver off. The use of creditable facts strengthens the logical appeal because it shows that the authors have done their research on the topic and can be trusted.

After establishing the presence of road rage, the authors continue to utilize logos to explain the reasons behind this rise in aggressive behavior. A major cause is simply the fact that there are more and more cars on the road. The authors state, “Since 1987, the number of miles of roads has increased just 1 percent while the miles driven have shot up by 35 percent.” (97). Another contributor has been the shift in job locations from cities to suburbs. As a result, more people must rely on cars rather than public transportation. The article states, “Suburb-to-suburb commutes now account for 44 percent of all metropolitan traffic versus 20 percent for suburb-to-downtown travel.” (98). The increase in woman and international drivers also adds to the traffic congestion problem. The use of facts and explanation of possible contributors to road rage adds to the logical appeal because it makes sense to readers. However, from a logical stand point, more congestion on the road does not necessarily transform a peaceful driver into a dangerous maniac. According to the article, that transformation happens because, with all the luxuries we enjoy in our cars today, drivers feel as if they are in their own little bubble. They don’t see other drivers as humans who make mistakes, but rather as someone who is purposely trying to harm or inconvenience them. The authors suggest that the highest occurrences of road rage happen just before traffic comes to a complete stop, “when traffic density is high but cars are still moving briskly. That’s when cutting someone off or forcing someone out of a lane can make the difference (or so it seems) between being on time and being late.” (98). This makes sense and is something many people can relate to, because the idea that someone has wronged or inconvenienced you is at the heart of road rage.

A major aspect of the emotional appeal utilized by the authors are true stories about road rage and its harmful effects. The article begins by sharing several stories about aggressive driving; some humorous, others tragic. For example, “… Robin Ficker – an attorney and ex-state legislator – knocked the glasses off a pregnant woman after she had the temerity to ask him why he bumped her Jeep with his.” (96). Another instance recounted by the authors tells of a teenage boy who was tailgating another driver; “Vern Smally… [persuaded] him to pull over; Smalley decided that, rather than merely scold the lad, he would shoot him (And he did. Fatally – after the youth had threatened him.)” (96). These stories both help to grab readers’ attention and allow them to fully grasp the harm that can result from uncontrolled road rage. The article states that, “Fear of (and participation in) aggressive driving has grown so much that in a poll last year residents of Maryland, Washington D.C., and Virginia listed it as a bigger concern than drunk driving.” (96). Another story shows how road rage can also cause harm to innocent bystanders. The article states, “…a dispute over a lane change was settled with a high-speed duel that ended when both drivers lost control and crossed the center lane, killing two innocent motorists” (96). All of these stories demonstrate how road rage often begins with some petty instigation, yet spirals out of control and leads to significant loss. They cause readers to feel pity towards the victims of road rage and anger towards those whose actions caused harm. The stories illustrate how this loss of life is needless, which creates a strong desire in readers to want to prevent these tragedies.

The article also utilizes more general scenarios everyone can relate to, such as retaliating by breaking suddenly, tailgating, or giving a hostile gesture. These help the readers to feel a personal connection to the issues surrounding road rage because everyone has experienced the anger that comes when they are unjustly cut off or inconvenienced while driving. The authors share an account from a Los Angeles psychologist which details an angry confrontation one of his patients was involved in, “They pulled off the road and started running toward each other to fight, but then they recognized each other as neighbors” (99). These general stories help readers to feel as if they have a personal stake in this issue. It allows readers to see that aggressive driving and its effects are something that can happen not only to strangers, but to them as well. It gives them an even stronger reason to care about the issues being discussed.

The article concludes with another apple to pathos, namely, offering drivers hope that road rage can be reduced. The authors state, “the real key to reducing road rage lies deep within each of us” (100). While driver education seems to help, a change of viewpoint seems to offer the greatest chance of significantly reducing the frequency of road rage outbursts. It is crucial to, “remember that other drivers ‘are people with feelings. Let us not humiliate them with our aggression’” (100).

The article utilizes both stories and statistics to convince readers that instances of aggressive driving in America are increasing. It is convincing because it strikes a balance between emotional and factual appeals. The anecdotes allow readers to feel a personal connection to the issue, and the facts make the article believable. It ends with a call to action, an effective emotional appeal that gives readers hope that change can be made and that road rage, and the tragedies that often accompany it, can be reduced.

Works Cited

Vest, Jason, et al. “Road Rage” A Civil Word, edited by Elizabeth Long, Pearson, 2002, pp. 95-

100.