Thresa Vinson
RWS 280
Professor Copeland
3 March 2015
Project 1
Malcom Gladwell uses rhetorical devices as a method to persuade his readers. His use of different characteristics and techniques in his writings help support and explain his arguments. Throughout Gladwell’s three articles, “Small Change,” “Offensive Play,” and “Harlan Kentucky,” he gets his point across by the use of story telling, tone, and research. He uses pathos, ethos, and logos as a way to connect with his readers so that they easily understand the arguments he is making. In the following paragraphs I will examine the techniques that Gladwell uses throughout his writings and explain the impact these techniques have on his audience.
Part of what makes Gladwell’s articles so great, and what separates his writing from other academic essays, is his use of story telling. Gladwell involves relatable stories into his articles to evoke an emotional response from his readers. By introducing a main character and leading readers through important events in their life, they can relate to the story and better understand the argument. In Gladwell’s article “Offensive Play,” he introduces Kyle Turley, who was an offensive lineman in the NFL. Gladwell then goes on to write about the many brain injuries Turley has had throughout his football career and the effect that that has had on his life. In Gladwell’s interview with Turley, Turley expresses the intensity of his football practices. He states, “fifteen to eighteen plays in a row sometimes. Every play: collision, collision, collision. By the time you get to the other end of the field, you’re seeing spots. You feel like you are going to black out” (Pg. 2 P.1). Gladwell tells this story so that readers can feel a connection to Turner, and feel worried for him when he discusses these experiences. Gladwell provokes this same emotion from his readers when he later tells the story of the dogfights that Michael Vick had involvement in. He describes the violence involved in the fight between the two dogs, Snow and Black, by saying, “Snow goes straight for the throat and grabs hold with her razor-sharp teeth. Almost immediately, blood flows from Blacks throat.” Dogfighting is something that is looked down upon by most Americans because most of the fights either end in death, serious injury. Readers become emotionally involved in this story and provoke the same sense of worry for the dogs, as they did for Turley when he explains dangers of his football practices. Gladwell chose to include these two stories in his article because they share a common connection when it comes to the emotional response of his readers.
Gladwell uses the same method of story telling in his article “Small Change.” He begins the article with a detailed description of the revolutionary movement of the sit-ins in Greensboro, North Carolina. He tells the story of how one of the four African Americans who chose to sit at the lunch counter said, “I’d like s cup of coffee, please (Pg. 1 P.1),” and the waitress replied by saying, “we don’t serve negroes here” (pg.1 P.1). Gladwell chose to tell this story because it was an important time in history that many Americans know about. Gladwell is aware of his audience and tells this story because he knows it will naturally create an emotional response from his readers. Gladwells’ use of story telling is a very effective tool when appealing to emotions, and he does a great job of utilizing that tool in all of his writings.
Along with delivering his arguments through telling stories, Gladwell uses an academic tone throughout his writings that gives readers the sense that he is reliable and trustworthy. Gladwell does a great job of portraying his knowledge and understanding of the topic by his use of tone. For instance, in the article ‘Small Change” states, “Because networks don’t have a centralized leadership structure… They cant think streatgically; they are chronically prone to conflict and error” (Pg.7 P.3).