RKeshia Smith Public Document Rhetorical analysis Quality not Sexual Preference For my writing class students had

to make a public document for an issue we are passionate about, or something we want to change. I chose to write a letter to President Obama. I think a letter is the best way to get the President attention because I think he will take the time to read it. Also I chose to write it to him because he is the most powerful man in the world and he can change anything. I wrote a letter to President Barack Obama explaining to him a few of my issues. My main issue was people are getting fired because they are either gay or transgender. I explain that people should only be judge the quality of their work not who they chose to love. There are three rhetorical appeals that show up in this letter, Ethos, Pathos, and Logos. These three appeals make the letter livelier and let the reader connect with the writer. Some of these devices were used effectively and some werent. To begin to analyze this letter we first need to know my background. I am an 18 year old college student. This is important in developing ethos, and establishing credibility. I do not have any credibility. I am not a lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) so I do not know what they actually go through. I would have been credible if I was apart the LGBT community and was on a job hunt then I would know if companies were discriminating because I was LGBT. Most of the information I know about this issue comes from research. I first heard about this when I was stopped outside the student center. Now I know enough information to write about it.

While writing this letter I was attempting to connect with the President emotionally. If he connected emotionally then it would be easy for him to be one my side. This device is called pathos. I made my first appeal to pathos at the beginning of the letter when I stated, We write to urge you to build on your record as the strongest president in U.S. history This showing him that I am one of his supporters and think he is the best President. In a way I am saying that even if he makes the wrong cause I will still support him no matter what. By saying that it is a great way to grab the readers attention. I also used pathos when I told the story about the guy at my high school. Telling a sad story like that is a good way to get the President emotionally involved. Hearing a personal story makes everything more realistic. I made the logical argument that people should not be fired or harassed because of who they choose to love. This means that no one should be discriminated because of their sexual preference. Everything should be based on the quality of their work. I made another argument stating, Many more companies will take this positive step once you approve the executive order that you staff has already drafted. This is saying that most companies will change their ways towards LGBT after they see President Obama approve of it. Instead of just companies changing their ways. If I have gotten people to sign the petition then it would have should that there are people who support LGBT and want them to have an equal chance as others. In conclusion, writing a letter to President Obama was a great way to get in contact with him and express to him my concerns. The entire letter is focused on facts. It would have been more effective if gave more than facts, maybe a personal experience. Even though I am not a part of the LGBT community I know enough information to write to the President. Writing a petition would been a great way to show that people wanted to this change. This project would have been more effective if I reached out to broader audience.