Villalva 1

David Villalva
Professor Zack De Piero
Writing 2
15 March, 2015
Putins Struggle for Dominance, What is Ukraine's future?

There are many different forms of genres and styles of writings throughout our society.
The ones being looked at today are from a scholarly peer reviewed journal and one from a online
news article. The topic that they both relate to are on the 2014 Ukrainian/Putin Crisis. A
professor of Political science, Alexander J. Motyel, in his article, Putins Zugzwang delves
deep into the issues that sparked this conflict in Eastern Europe and analyses the rhetorical
questions brought up by the speculation of the West and what implications this conflict may have
for the future. His paper has a very scholarly and direct tone filled with heavy diction that is not
oriented to a common audience. However Tim Tisdall, A news journalist from CNN writes the
article, Putin in Ukraine: Why would he stop in the face of weakness? His article is one
specifically to convey these ideas and speculations to the general audience that is interested in
the topic, but may not care for the deeper meanings of the political issue. It is important for
someone to understand why the specific genre of an article is key to the performance of the
piece. Evaluating the conventions and style of Motyels piece will help us better understand why
the scholarly peer reviewed article genre is more important at spreading information on a topic,
over Tisdall's article.

Tisdalls article is written in a news article format that you would commonly find
throught news source websites. The key feature of a news article is that it is a quick and easy to
follow read as opposed to Motyels, but it does show a simpler set of vocabulary and not a

Villalva 2

specific case of jargon set for any type of audiences. The key to the news article is that it is
generalized in format so that any type of reader can follow along. For example, It is not that
Putin is particularly clever -- on the contrary, his behavior suggests he is paranoid, impulsive and
insecure. But he has benefited from the greater weaknesses of his opponents.(CNN) It is
sentences like these that formulate this article, in order to comprehend the dilemma between
Putin and The West it has been broadened out for the audience to understand. Another example
of this, Poland feels particularly vulnerable (just look at the map). So, too, do the much-bullied
Baltic states, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. (CNN) Parts like these in the article also displays
the lack of higher vocabulary or political jargon that would be seen in the academic article
written by Motyel. This article has been broken up into key sections as well which is something
that you do not see in the Academic article. As you scroll through the whole article you notice
how There also sections dividing key ideas into separate paragraphs throughout the article like
Deep divisions. These are in a larger text size and in bold to stand out to the audience the key
ideas of the following paragraph. This is an important style that completes this news article genre
because this is something that is straightforward but is necessary in this article in order to
continue its sustained generalizations and summary format for its readers.
The major drawback with the generalizations of Tisdalls article is that it is just that,
generalized. His article is not as detailed and specific as opposed to Motyels. On the one hand it
provides the issue on the Ukrainian problem in a very direct and un quarrelsome fashion; but it
does leave the reader who would like to know more with questions about the problem in a more
in depth level. Tisdall goes throughout his pieces explaining and showing the ideas both sides to
the crisis may have but does not real answer the questions he is posing. For example, towards the
end of his article he states. Maybe a new peace pact will be agreed later this week in Minsk.

Villalva 3

Maybe it will even be made to stick, assuming Moscow can be trusted. Putin may decide to bank
his winnings. On the other hand, if he does not like the deal, he can walk away. Putin knows he
has the upper hand. So why stop now?(CNN)
It is very heavily opinionated by the author but he does not attempt to give a definite
answer on what may occur for the future of the crisis. Instead, he decides to leave the reader with
further questioning and pondering on the issue. This is a style of the news article genre since the
author of these articles mostly make it based on their opinion. This indeed is a way to get the
audience engaged on the topic, but may not be as well suited in giving total factual information
on the topic that some audiences may have come for. Although this article was helpful in giving
a brief introduction to the Crisis, it does not successfully explain or give an in depth, large scope
view to the entire problem that engulfs the Ukrainian crisis and Putins motives. This lessens the
effectiveness of the article because it does not give a full factual picture on the crisis as Motyels
piece does.

Motyels article is written in an academic journal setting. It is clear that it was written for
it peers and people that have an in depth understanding of politics. It is littered with Political
jargon and dense vocabulary that is not meant for a quick read through. None of this means that
dtente is impossible, but it does mean that rapprochement is extremely unlikely for as long as
Putin remains in power.(pg.60) After a quick look up of the meaning of Detente and
rapprochement I understood what the context of this sentence. This of course does not work for
a general audience who would lack the knowledge of understanding sentences riddled with
dictionary terms throughout. It nonetheless provides very concise reading for a specific group
of readers.

Villalva 4

Reading through this article, there is the heaviness of its tone and diction as opposed to
the CNN article. It is as if wading through a very thick pool of a viscous substance and as you go
deeper into the article you are entrenched further and further into its topic. For example, but the
reality of imperialism on Europes doorstep, and the possibility of Russias expansion to the EUs
borders, limits the degree to which economic interests can determine Western strategy. Even proappeasement types like Schmidt might find Russias occupation of northeastern Estonia, which is
inhabited by Russians, less than verstndlich.(pg. 60) It is clear that this article is not written to
appeal to general readers. However, The audience that is engaged by this article have a much
better understanding of the topic in question as opposed to the readers of Tisdalls article.
Motyel goes to a greater extent to persuade and delve the readers into the issue at hand by
raising them key points, questions that were the reasons why his audience were attracted to his
paper in the first place! to find the answers to the questions given. What makes Motyels article
stand out from Tisdalls is that he is very good at adding his personal tone to the piece which also
contributes in making his paper successful at conveying its issue on to the reader. For instance,
he explains to the reader how Putin behaves for his people and why he cannot back down from
the confrontation at hand now, ...would-be strongman who rips off his shirt to the delight of
adoring Russian crowds, he dares not look or sound weak,while being hard-pressed to pursue
policies that benefit Russia.(pg.59)There are many examples of his own personal touch
through his essay that not only explain the larger issue that he is conveying in his paragraphs, but
they also lighten up the mood and give a sense of a picture to the audience what he is explaining.
---The overall goal in Motyels piece it to persuade the reader, in the sense that he or she should
care for the topic at hand. He does this not only by entertaining the reader with these detailed
imagery on the issues he is explaining but by also being direct and informative on the topic. In an

Villalva 5

essay written by Lunsford called Styles in argument he points out the importance of having
very detailed word structuring in order to further one's argument to the audience. In this case,
Motyels persuasion of his audience to understand and care for the ukrainian crisr and Putins
role in it. vivid concrete and specific words work better in arguments than abstract and general
ones. (pg.311) This is a very powerful move undergone by Motyel because it definitely grabs
the readers attention and even entertains them with his ideas. It keeps the reader thoroughly
engaged and constantly thinking as they read, hmm this is interesting, what could this all mean?
I want to know more. This is exactly the kind of response and thought provoking sense you
would want in your audience if you are someone that is trying to persuade in in your argument,
but more importantly as someone who would like to disseminate critical information on a topic
that not too many people are keenly aware about or have no apathy towards.
Tisdalls article attempts to do this but it only comes off as if he is trying to downplay his
argument and topic. It is clear in Motyels article that is written with complex structure in mind,
although the writer may not know it, someone that is not used to reading these types of academic
journals may have a difficulty getting through it. Motyel does a great job compensating through
his constant use of dashes. It greatly improved the flow of reading through the dense clutter of
vocabulary and ideas that made up his paper, although Tisdall did not need to employ these
types of moves due to the simpleness of his article, it made his article lackluster compared to
Motyels.
After reading both of these articles again, it is understandable that through each of the
articles separate genre they were written to specifically appeal to different types of audiences.
The News article by Tisdall is as as one that is simple, un complex, and shortened to attain the
readers attention to the Ukrainian crisis. The main feature you are left feeling Motyels article as

Villalva 6

opposed to Tisdalls is that the information and thought provoking feelings are prolonged and
leave you with a sense of really trying to figure out the plans between these factions and what
will be the outcome of this dilemma in Eastern Europe. Of course the CNN article does this as
well but not to the extent or connection that Motyels article evokes.
Tisdalls article was created for this purpose, to explain to the reader the dilemma in hand
and what may be done now. This does have a negative effect on this article because it is easy to
point out that it does not go in depth on the issue as the Motyels does. This makes the Academic
article much more persuasive by its tone of voice. But it can also be said that the CNN news
article is more persuasive as well, since it is reaching out to a vast array of readers than the
academic article would. These articles may have been on the same topic and used the same
rhetorical strategies, but in the end it is the form of genre that has determined which article is the
most persuasive. It is the Academic Article written by Motyel that is most successful at
conveying the Ukrainian crisis to its audience, even though it may be to a select few, it was
written in a well rounded and scholarly way that helped Motyel explain Putins possible moves
and further schemes in regards to the way the Ukrainian crisis may be dealt.

Villalva 7

Works Cited

CNN.Tisdall, Simon. Putin in Ukraine:Why would he stop in the face of

weakness?.N.p. Web. 11 Feb.2015.
Motyl, Alexander J. Putins Zugzwang World Affairs. Jul/Aug 2014, Vol. 177 issue 2,
p56-65.Web. 11 Feb.2015
Lunsford, Style in arguments Writing spaces: Readings on Writing. Vol. 1 . Santa
Barbara: Alternative Digital Printing, 2015. 309-325. Print