Kylia McCoy

Intermediate Writing
ENGL 2010-407
20 June 2018

Final Consultation Project: Rhetorical Reflection

Part One: Rhetorical Reading

In my experience, rhetorically reading is generally a very active form of reading. In the majority
of written pieces we are able to passively read the piece; this allows us to get a good sense of the
information without dedicating too much time, effort, or energy. Passively reading to me, is more of a
scanning rather than a reading, you scan across the words fast and get the general idea. Maybe you miss
the exact wording, but you understand what it’s saying nonetheless. This is different then Rhetorically
Reading because in Rhetorical Reading one must dedicate the extra time, effort, and energy. While you
have to put more in, you also get more out; you can really get a sense of not only the idea, but also the
context, structure, purpose, etc.

My favorite example of this comes from a personal favorite author; Stephen King. In many of his
books, someone could easily skim or quickly read through it. While they might understand that it is a
monster horror, they might not understand the deeper more covert meaning to the story. King is well
known for hiding deep meaning about human nature in his seemingly normal books. “It” is a good
example of this; one might read it once and quickly grasp the idea; a monster that feeds on children and
members of a small town every few years. Although, until someone examines each detail, image, and use
of language they may miss the bigger picture. Those who read actively read that book often argue that
rather then it simply be a monster story, it is a story of how each character experiences their trauma,
disease, and “issues.”

While that explains the importance of actively reading, and even Reading like a Writer, it doesn’t
expressly represent ​rhetoric​. Rhetoric, of course, is using speech to convey a message with intent to
persuade or impress. So lets shift to a far more “charged” topic; something political, or maybe an
argument for/against something. Rhetoric gives a writer the tools to appear knowledgeable, influential,
understanding, etc. Over the course of the unit, and semester, we have learned how to analyse these tools
and pick away at the “flowery” outer layer to figure out what they’re really saying, what they really want
out of the piece, and what they actually know. One example of this is genre; we can look at what genre a
piece is to gain some insight as to what they hope to accomplish. That’s to say, writing an open letter
versus a scholarly article can have a radical effect on the outcome of the article. While scholarly articles
look more professional, and you can easily gain some Ethos with the audience, Open Letters might be
more inviting, more relaxed and reach a wider audience, it can also play heavily on Pathos. Whereas a
scholarly article might seem too “charged” if it was drawing on your emotions rather than logic and
credibility.
Part Two: Rhetorical Analysis of an Issue of Debate

At this time, my understanding of a the full Rhetoric Context can be oversimplified into a few
words; the speaker, the audience, the subject, the genre, the environment, and the purpose. First, the
speaker. When you look to a piece, it is important to figure out who the author is for a multitude of
reasons. For one, they might have particular knowledge, credentials or connections to the piece that can
have a great influence on the piece. For example, a professor of psychology writing on depression will
have a radically different effect on the paper as compared to a student or psychology. The audience is also
very important, while a professor might have a very different take or effect on the piece, so does the
audience. For a similar reason, if we know the audience then we can know the full meaning to the piece.
Is that professor writing for his students? If so, the intensity of the article might be far less, or easier to
understand, even less so if it is for the general public. Whereas if he is submitting this to other professors,
professionals, or psychologists then it will be far more of an intense article, with more jargon, statistics
and specificity. In my topic I choose to write about Borderline Personality Disorder, who I am does effect
the piece. For one, I have the disorder, so I have a connection to the topic that does affect how I wrote the
paper. Also, my intended article for the paper was other members of the mental health world; students,
professionals, and patients. That did radically affect the way I wrote the paper, if I had intended that paper
to be read by the general public I would have to delve deeper into jargon, definitions, diagnosis criteria,
and so forth. This would limit my ability to effectively write a reasonable length paper of this topic,
unfortunately though this means I exclude some readers.

The Subject of a paper is very important to analysis the paper rhetorically. If we do not have some
idea of the topic beforehand, it can be very difficult to understand the paper itself. This is because, in a
way, the Subject is the central most point of any given piece, it’s why the author and audience are there.
The Subject affects how we can write about any given topic, it affects how people can read the article too.
For instance, if someone decided to write a paper on abortion, they would be forced to write in a far
different way then if they had chosen to write about a religion. While one might play into the other, and
maybe make an appearance in the paper, they are written very differently because the subject of any given
essay has to be tiptoed around in a sense. I like to think of this as being like, going into a museum. You
can stand near a beautiful piece, you can photograph, draw, write about anything in it. But you cannot
touch it. You’re “stealing” a segment of it, but you still have to be very careful how you approach that,
should you push too hard you can destroy it. If you’re trying to draw it, maybe that comes through as with
such a heavy hand you can’t fully erase what you previously put. Should an author immediately state
something crucial or sensitive in the first sentence of the paper, they might lose the trust of the audience
for the next five, ten or even five hundred pages. Imagine opening an abortion article to the first line being
“abortion is wrong”, that severely limits and polarizes your audience, and even if throughout your essay
you explain how much good it can do, the audience is still unsure of what you say. It is important to know
the subject so that one can know how to properly step around it, gain the knowledge they need without
causing the essay to appear poorly written, polarizing, and so forth.
 Next then, should be the Purpose. As previously mentioned, you don’t want to polarize your
audience… until you do. Deciding the point of the article, why you’re dedicating so much time to the
topic and audience, has a vast ocean of effects on the paper. If you write with the intent to persuade your
audience to side with you, like most rhetoric is, then that means to some degree you’ll be writing to make
your subject appear more beneficial, appealing, etc. Going back to abortion, there’s good and bad on both
sides, but if you’re persuading your audience that it is good; you’ll likely leave out most of the negative
things or attempt to discredit them. This is incredibly important when analysing a piece of rhetoric
because if you can recognize that someone is trying to persuade you, then you can recognize the tools
they’re using,the things they’re purposely saying, or not saying. By analysing why they are or aren’t
saying these things you can decipher their true opinion on the matter, and what you believe to be the right
opinion on it. Many people will blindly follow their team, or someone who appears to be knowledgeable,
when in reality they might only be using specific tools to make you believe that they are right without
fully looking into this. For a writer this can be very helpful, you can even sneakily write it in such a way
that causes your audience to side with their opposing view, and not even know it! In my paper, I had the
intention to persuade the reader to believe that mental health patients deserve fair treatment regardless of
their disorder. By using my experiences, the potential experiences and general knowledge of my audience,
and the subject at large, I was able to say a lot in very few words. But, my intention peaked through, as it
does with any writer.

Genre is also very important to analysing a piece. As mentioned previously, using a particular
genre to write a paper, you can adopt a pre-made set of tools to seamlessly create a persuading piece. For
example, if someone were to read a scholarly article written by a professor they might automatically
assume the author was knowledgeable and trustworthy. This means they can say less, and still make their
point. This also means that more advanced sets of data, statistics, and jargon will be implemented easier.
Whereas a poet might have a harder time persuading an audience that they are “enough” to talk about the
topic at hand. But they will be able to adopt a set of emotionally bound tools easier. For example, a poet
can write a poem that an audience is already predisposed to assume will be emotional or “deep” without
there actually being as much there. For example, in my paper, I chose to write a more formal piece
because it would flow better with my topic. My topic is about something that is very cut and dry; a set of
criteria, laws, medical exceptions, and so forth. Since I’m using very little emotional appeal in my paper it
wouldn’t be as beneficial to divulge time to preparing for an emotionally powerful line, whereas it might
be more beneficial to divulge time in finding extra sources, stories, and so forth. This will make the
content flow better with the subject. By using an emotionally strong genre, I’m using unnecessary tools
and making it effectively harder to persuade. It’s like using a flat head screwdriver in a Phillips screw. It
might get the job done, but you’ll end up taking way more time trying to get it to work then if you would
just use a proper tool.

Lastly, we have the Environment. The environment also plays a big role in the paper, because it
takes your paper, a micro piece of literature, and force it into a macro world. A paper can be very
thorough but it is still affected by what is happening in the world at the time. For example, two people
write a paper each about why abortion should be legal. The first, a suffragette in the 1910’s, and the
second, a feminist in the 2010’s. Within these hundred years, the environment has changed drastically,
especially around the topic of Women’s rights. The first woman may have immediately been dismissed,
or maybe even institutionalized or been endangered by the audience and public reaction. The second may
have been ignored by some, probably didn’t experience too much fear for their safety, and maybe they
even were able to collect a band of supporters behind them. Unfortunately, the paper is only as effective
as the environment lets it be. If the culture will not allow the author to have a conversation about their
topic, then they aren’t able to do much more.
When we analyze a paper, we should look into the recent events and issues around the topic. This will
allow us to have a much stronger sense of why this article was written, the intention behind writing it, and
the truth to the subject. For example, in my paper I discussed stories of recent victims who were turned
away by their mental health providers. If the culture around the topic recently began to talk about mental
health discrimination, or disorder discrimination then that could have a big effect on how my paper is
perceived. Let’s say I wrote a paper on why a patient shouldn’t be discriminated against on the basis of
their diagnosis. Well, three weeks before this paper was written, a bill was introduced in the American
Psychological Association, or through the U.S. Government, stating that discrimination on the basis of a
particular type of mental disorder was unethical and should be prosecuted, or looked into. That would
have a very big impact on my paper; readers would automatically assume the paper is in favor of that bill,
even if it’s never said, or ever meant to be.
Kylia McCoy
Intermediate Writing: ENGL 2010-407
16 June, 2018

Open Letter

To those of you who stand in the back. To those of you who sit quietly hoping no one notices
you. To those of you who suffer silently, as the world turns faster than you can run. To those of you who
feel left behind, like you missed the lecture on growing up. To those of who you run faster than the world
turns, who feel alone, to those of you who will clear the path. You’re not alone. It’s scary, yes, but you’re
not alone.

To those of who us who are alone, and scared, we’re there for you, even if your words fall on deaf
ears, and you struggle to scream what you need to say, you’re not alone. The world may turn it’s back on
you, but it’s only because their scared too. Of what you will become, the good you will do, all the places
you will go… We feel left behind too, we feel the sting of loneliness too…

But I promise, you are not alone, as you feel your feet fall from under you, as you feel the water
rise faster than you can swim, as the days turn to nights, and your own mind fights against you. This
world will outrun you if you let it, this world will drown you if you let it.

One man can’t do everything, but you’re not one man. Look to the people around you, and take
their hands; two is better than one. When they feel their feet soar, they will carry you with them, and
when they feel tired and weakened, you can pull them along. We are a social creature, your pain is mine,
stand beside me and hold my hand, and nothing will out run us.
Kylia McCoy
Intermediate Writing: ENGL 2010-407
1 July, 2018
Revision #1

Open Letter

To those of you who stand in the back. To those of you who sit quietly hoping no one notices
you. To those of you who suffer silently. As the world turns faster than you can run. To those of you who
feel left behind. Like you missed the lecture on growing up. To those of who you run faster than the world
turns. Who feel alone. To those of you who will clear the path for us.

You’re not alone. It’s scary, yes, but you’re not alone.

To those of who us who are alone, and scared. We’re there for you. Even if your words fall on
deaf ears. And you struggle to scream what you need to say. You’re not alone. The world may turn it’s
back on you, but it’s only because they’re scared too. Of what you will become, the good you will do, all
the places you will go. We feel left behind too, we feel the sting of loneliness too. But I promise, you are
not alone, as you feel your feet fall from under you. As you feel the water rise faster than you can swim,.
As the days turn to nights, and your own mind fights against you.

This world will outrun you if you let it. This world will drown you if you let it.

No ​one​ can do everything, but your not ​one.​ Look to the people around you, and take their hands;
two​ is better than ​one.​ When they feel their feet soar, they will carry you with them, and when they feel
tired and weakened, you can pull them along.

We are social beings, your pain is mine. Stand beside me and hold my hand, nothing will out run us.
Kylia McCoy
Intermediate Writing: ENGL 2010-407
1 July, 2018
Revision #3

Alone

Crunch

New year, new year… Yet it feels so old, it feels the same. I feel lost, standing in front of the same house
I’ve visited for years. What happened? Where did the childhood joy of new beginnings go? Birthdays,
New Years, they all fly by… Like a routine, like any normal Monday. January 3rd, and I’m ready for next
year; next year will be different. But isn't that what we always say? Next year, next week… anything but
now. God forbid we put the work in now, procrastination… that’s our anthem.

Artificial taps, one swipe… I can’t hide for long.

Crunch

Snow blanketed lawns, poorly shoveled sidewalks, icy roads… The night is silent, echos stolen by the
snow. The air was still, I feel choked by the stillness, where did the wind go? Did it leave the silent little
town too? Blew away with the childhood joy?

Crunch

The neighboring houses glowed warmly with the artificial light that warms their hands more than their
hearts. The house that stood before me, dark, cold, and empty. Lights on, TV flickering, people talking…
Yet somehow it was empty and cold. Is this what love looks like? Is love the glowing warm of the
neighboring houses, silent and detached? Or is it the bickering, flickering, and withering of the little cold
empty house?

Crunch

Flicker

Plastic Santas and rainbow lights flicker on the white snow. Remnants of a happier time. The residue of
lonely Christmases fill the night, squeezing through the stifling air. Childhood loneliness filled with
plastic santas, plastic dolls, and plastic people consumes me. Consumes the neighborhood. The warm
glows, the empty house, and me.

Consumed

Crunch

Flicker
Inside that empty house sat Alone. A prisoner in an open room, a prisoner in the open air. Alone, a bird
that could fly away, and yet one that was caged. One that longed to move on to the Sunny Future. And
yet, there she sat, in that empty cold little house. And yet, there I stood, in the stifling, snowy, dark night.
Conjured are the images of “two ships passing in the night” with nothing more than a wave or whistle. I
always felt bad for that, for her, a lonely ship that travels Alone. One who left the fleet, did she have a
fleet to begin with?

Crunch

Footprints scaring the crunching, frozen snow. I smirk. Alone will scowl. Perfect blankets of snow, a
small smile would cross her face before the loneliness, quiet, and darkness returned. The perfect blankets
of frozen winter nights, frozen blankets - Alone was always Alone. The only one who loved the blankets
that chilled you.

“Snowy blankets, and snow banks… They’re beautiful, they’re oxymorons.” She’d say. “What is a
blanket for? To warm you, and yet snow blankets chill you. It’s beautiful. The snow does what it wants,
become what it wants.” She’d say. And I’ll pay, even if only in a look, I’ll pay.

Crunch

Worst though, was the lingering darkness, sadness, and pain in her eyes. The looks of betrayal, and the
looks of disappointment. Blank looks, empty smiles, and darkened lowered eyes are a skill of hers. An
artificial ding stole my attention.

Alone; “Door’s open” the bright screen told me.

Flicker, Blink, Darkness

I don’t reply. Intrusive thoughts make me scowl. She can’t even meet me at the door?

Crunch

I step onto the little porch. Somehow, little plants grow between the cracking concrete. An old ​welcome
mat sits there, covered in mud, water, and loneliness. Welcome to the bickering, flickering, and withering
house. Welcome to a dark, empty, and cold house. Standing before me, looking down on me, looking at
me with judgment, a looming judgment stood a black windowless door. Conjured are the images of
gateways to worlds unlike ours, gates to Midworld, New Canaan, and All-World. This one doesn’t hold
such cheery adventures though, A looming windowless door that leads to a Lonely world, like ours. Far to
like ours.

Thump, Thump

Kicking the frozen blanket from my feet, turning the knob… and hesitating. I could hear Alone in my
mind, the inevitable lecture I’ll get for trudging through her snowy blanket. “Leave it alone, let it be!”
she’ll say. Mad that the polished, perfect snow is now crunched.
Sigh

I wonder if that’s what she wants too… to be left Alone…

Click

The knob turns, and I walk through the door. Darkness greets me, and a flickering TV Screen.
Uncomfortably I say hello to him. Greed sits, watching the TV, crunches louder than the snowy night
crept from the chip bag at his side. I walk through the living room, into the kitchen, Lier stands by the
fridge, beer in hand. I smile, a lying smile for him, for a man who doesn’t deserve a smile or a beer.

Creek

I step up the moaning, creaking, old stairs. One… Two… Three doors. One open, one shut. Both with
lights turned off, and silence from within. End of the hall, door shut, light seeping from the cracks, music
blasting from the walls. Alone.

Knock, Knock

Door opens, Alone stands there, scowl on face.

“I told you the door was open.” She growls at me. I roll my eyes, isn’t it polite to knock? “I told you I
have a headache.” She growls again and steps aside to let me into the cold, bright bedroom. I sigh, she
never told me that. Why the music, why the lights if you have a headache? “I told you to be here over an
hour ago.” She rolls her eyes and sits on her little bed.

“And I told you I’d be here when I can, ​I was with my family​… Nice to see you too by the way.” I say
back and look around, awkwardly standing near her door.

Tap, Tap

My foot hits the floor, two, three, four times. My patience is dwindling. “What did you want me to come
over for?” My eyes lock onto the scattered clothes and garbage on the floor. I never liked coming into this
room… Alone doesn’t clean. Did she even want me here?

Sigh

She is always surrounded by people and yet she is always Alone.

I stand three feet away, looking at her now, and she’s still Alone.

And so was I… I was Alone.

I am Alone.