Word Count: 996 Having the ability to persuade a person to an opinion that is not their own, is a powerful tool

to have possession of. In my opinion, rhetoric is a persuasive technique in which the author has a goal of persuading the audience with facts and arguments that fit the topic. Rhetoric is using words that are unique, but also eloquent and they give the writing spice. Rhetoric makes arguments more beautiful instead of less bland. Rhetoric can be twisted to saying that a person is using it to corrupt or use false words, but that definition stems from political fraud and using it to disrupt and falsity the beliefs of the audience. In writing, and in everyday language, rhetoric is used. There are several different rhetoric devices, according to Robert A. Harris, the author of A Handbook of Rhetoric Devices. A couple of these maneuvers are analogies and personification. An analogy, compares two things, which are alike in several respects, for the purpose of explaining or clarifying some unfamiliar or difficult idea or object by showing how the idea or object is similar to some familiar one (Harris 5). An analogy is helpful because it allows the author to demonstrate the point they are making, by giving examples and clarifying points for the audience. Another rhetoric device named by Harris is personification (5). Personification is giving an inanimate object a personality and human characteristics, such as a voice or opinion. This could be done by saying that a flower looks friendly or that one sort of procedure in a hospital is friendlier than another. It gives the reader a way to sort out what the author is describing, and makes it easier to understand the argument. In the work by Deidre M. Hughes, Writing Outside the Box: Critical Action and the Composition Classroom, there were several research projects highlighted in the reading, but of these projects I found the project on Tension Myositis Syndrome and how to effectively treat and diagnosis it by Chris Ramisch to be the most valuable. It is not that the other projects did not tremendously impact each students own life, but it is that this project was medically based on a condition that he personally had, and through research, he was able to come to some sort of conclusion and diagnosis for himself. Tension Myositis Syndrome (TMS) is a muscle and soft-tissue pain caused by tension and unexpressed emotions, especially anger (Smith 6). Chris had been suffering many years with the pain and because it is a physiological and physiological issue, doctors were missing the diagnosis and Chris was suffering because he was not receiving any treatment or conclusion to what was wrong with him, and where the pain was coming from (Smith 6). Through this project, Chris was able to find information that was vital to his health. In closing of his project, Chris said, I satisfy the writing requirements of the class, but I also got information that is of incredible importance to my own health (Smith 6). By being able to pick his own topic and do research that was valuable to him, the student, he was able to connect with it and discover valuable information that was vital to his own health and will also bring awareness to the issue, and what other people might be dealing with. The Hughes article challenged my view on what research really is and what its overall purpose is. Growing up in a public school setting, research papers were always a dreaded assignment that left me feeling baffled and frustrated. I would always finish the assignment because it was due, but I wouldnt finish it with a feeling of pride. Knowing that I get to pick my research assignment, and I that I get to focus on what instill passion in my life brings a refreshed sense of excitement and relief. My view on what the purpose of research is was challenged because I looked at it as supporting my beliefs and thoughts, but its really about looking about my communitys feelings and ideas and forming my own belief system from them. Towards the end of the reading, Hughes says When students inquire in their community, and then reflect upon what they learn, they see life from another individuals perspective. Many students express how their beliefs, stereotypes and prejudices are challenged by interacting with other citizens. In turn, this causes them to rethink their biases (12). By doing this research, I hope that I am able to let go of some preformed notions and ideas of my research topic, and learn new perspectives.

Perhaps youd rather hold yourself other impossibly high standards of writers long dead. Or perhaps youd rather not waste time writing something that will go unpublished, unnoticed and unread. You have received no encouragement from anyone else, and so you would never think of encouraging yourself. Or you choose to be a realist. Youre smart enough to see your talent is limited, your gift too small to pursue. You can convince yourself of all this or you can listen to your imagination instead. You can fire yourself up with words and voices. You can look out into the world teeming with stories and cast your net (Goodman 310). Through this quote, it gives me freedom in my writing. It gives me freedom to not feel abashed for how I view things, because of my own self telling me that I cant do it. I am able to look at the broad scope of my writing and realize that I can write without feeling inhibited by my own set limits, and I will be able to write smoothly without stuttering my ideas all over the page, because Im not sure if they are allowed to be together. This post by Goodman is a freedom from being chained by standards that are set by yourself, and without these standards, writing can be the creative outlet that its supposed to be. This weeks vocabulary words come from the reading by Goodman and they are sanctimonious and teeming (310). Definitions: Sanctimonious: pretending to be morally better than other people Teeming: bring forth Sentences: Though the pastors daughter sanctimonious behavior fooled her parents, her sister was on to her games and trickery. After winning the first basketball game of the season, the UC Bearcats were teeming with pride and couldnt wait to celebrate. Works Cited Goodman, Allegra. Calling the Inner Critic and Getting to Work. New York Times, 12 Marc. 2001. Web. 28 Jan 2014. Harris, Robert A. A Handbook of Rhetoric Devices. (5 Jan 2010): 5. ViritualSalt. Web. 28 Jan 2014. Hughes, Diedre M. Writing Outside the Box: Critical Action and the Composition Classroom. 1998. Print. "sanctimonious." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, 2011.Web. 28 Jan 2014. "teeming." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, 2011.Web. 28 Jan 2014.