Genesis Gutierrez

Professor Jordan Windholz

Composition II - R34
14 September 2010

Logical Expression vs. Rhetorical Expression

A statement usually comes across as truth or factual. However, this is not the case for all
statements. There are two categorizes in which a statement is part of. The first statement reads:
All mammals are warm-blooded. A seal is a mammal. Therefore a seal is warm-blooded. This
statement is true because the first sentence classifies all mammals warm blooded. Therefore, the
seal, which is a mammal, will be warm-blooded as well. This in turn is a logical thought because
it can be reinforced by each sentence in the statement. As for the second statement, which reads:
Children need to live near nature to care about the environment. My cousins grew up in the city.
Therefore my cousins do not care about the environment, it is not very logical. This sentence is
primarily opinion based and therefore defined as rhetorical. In all, the last sentence is not
composed well, which makes it indifferent to the reality that it is too broad and not true. Both
these sentences possess the difference of opinion and fact.

The spectrum of logical and rhetorical thoughts is still obvious even in statements that contain
facts. Take for example the following statement:
TWA Flight 800 and Swissair Flight 111 both crashed shortly after
taking off from JFK airport in New York City in 1996 and 1998, respectively. No one
knows what caused either crash. However, since both planes evidently had an explosion
occur, which was triggered by electrical and electronic malfunctions, both followed the
same flight path, and both left JFK at around 8:30pm on a Wednesday night, a strong
probability exists that both crashes were caused by some Wednesday night, regularly
occurring electro-magnetic interference over the Long Island Sound.

This statement does contain factual evidence of both fight crashes. However, it is influencing the
idea that the plane crashes were due to the day of the week. All together, the brief article does
not have factual evidence of its thesis. As well, the main idea that two flight tragedies, which
occur two years apart are relevant because they were merely on the same day of the week, is not
a strong enough argument to be justified. Accordingly, because a statement contains a fact does
not make it logical or reasonable. On the other hand, the following statement is rational:
The Mayor of New York City has defended the spraying of pesticides against West Nile
virus. He argues that humans are more important than other organisms, such as insects,
animals, and plants. Still, many object to the spraying, which they believe to be harmful
to humans and not just insects, animals and plants. They cite, for example, the sudden
drop in the lobster population within Long Island Sound over the past year; those that
make their living off of
lobstering claim that the pesticides have not only killed the lobsters, but also their
livelihood.

This brief description give the cause and effects of a pesticide issue. The conclusion is that the
pesticides are negatively effecting laborer associated with lobster fishing. This statement can be
proven through statistics so it is considered logical.
Both pairs of statements lie on two different spectrum, away from each other. One is
rhetorical, which is broad and persuasive, and the other logical. Logical thinking is rational and
involves an in depth analyses of what is truth and can be closely related to philosophy. In
continuation, along with logical thinking comes logical writing. Logical writing takes the ideas
or thoughts and creates statements that express these beliefs more concisely. Logical thinking, as
well as logical writing, involve clarity and a close relationship with the audience. The logical
form of expression has greater respect and appreciation in society than that of rhetorical.