Blog Entry #1 ENG 107

“The more we know about how to analyze situations and draw informed conclusions, the better we can become about making savvy judgments about the people, situations and media we encounter” (Carroll, 46).

In the article “Backpacks vs. Briefcases: Steps toward Rhetorical Analysis“, I have learned that on the subject of rhetoric, it is everywhere. It is in social media, the food we eat, our favorite movies, and even how we dress. As human beings, we do not even think about rhetoric analysis, it is more of like a second nature. That is what I find so fascinating about rhetorical analysis. Looking at a person who walks in the room, we make vast judgment on how this person really is.

I have recently checked out a book from the library and it is called Powder Monkey. It takes place in the year 1800 and Britain was at war with the French. A thirteen year-old boy named Samuel Witchall is revealing his story about how he was referred to as a “powder monkey”. Samuel loved the sea and always wanted to work on a crew ship for the Royal Navy, but his father would not let him. Instead his father said he could work as a ship’s boy as a merchantmen. As I said he loved the sea and embraced the ocean. “…, I would climb to the top of the foremast, and, with my face full of wind, could make-believe I was flying over the sea like a great white gull. I loved the dawn and dusk best” ( Dowswell 17). When it comes to the subject of rhetoric, Sam shows so much imagery in the way he speaks about the ocean. Not just in this text but also in others. I feel if I have met Samuel Witchall in person (which I highly doubt), I feel he would want to explain to me why taking any opportunity to sail the seven sea’s would be best thing that could ever happen to a human being. He would most definitely use ethos, pathos, and logos to tell me why it is the best thing in the world.

I usually do not like to read. Actually I hate it. But I believe and proven myself that I can actually be interested in a book and analyse the book whether I am finished with it or not.