Jaclyn Lynch
Heather Trahan
15ENG101-041
Essay 2-Rhetorical Analysis
19 October 2009
Changing the World With Words
People all over the world write in order to make a change, whether they are attempting to change their reader’s opinion or affect society as a whole. Writing doesn’t have to be an essay or book; it could be a movie, song, or a poem. In Mary Pipher’s “Writing To Connect”, a chapter from her book entitled Writing to Change the World, she discusses the many ways used to influence her audience. Pipher uses pathos to engage her individual readers, while still allowing them to see the big picture.
Pipher recalls when she lost her childhood innocence after reading The Diary of Anne Frank. She finally realized that the world was not as pleasant as she once thought. Many years later, she visits the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. and is haunted by a video of Anne waving enthusiastically to a passing wedding parade. She is very moved by the writing of Anne, noting “Her writing has lived on to give us all a sense of the potential largesse of the human soul, even in worst-case scenarios. It also reminds us that, behind the statistics about war and genocide, there are thousands of good people we have a responsibility to help.” (Pipher 202) She goes on to name many authors and their writings, which have changed the minds and opinions of people all over the world throughout history.
In “Writing To Connect,” Mary Pipher uses pathos to engage her reader with well-known examples of writing. Many people have read The Diary of Anne Frank, or at least heard her terrifying story of growing up during the Holocaust. Pipher relates to readers by revealing her personal reaction to the novel, and later to her visit to the Holocaust Museum. She also tells about her father, who fought in World War II, and his “Law of 26.” This rule states that for every result you expect, there are 26 results that you did not expect. (202) Many families have a relative that has fought in a war and heard stories of their experiences, allowing them to relate to this. This idea also opens readers’ imaginations by presenting a new idea.
No matter what your interests are or what kind of background you have, you can find an example to relate to from Pipher’s essay. If you like music, she mentions Bob Dylan’s song “Blowin’ in the Wind”, which was used in protests. (202) If you are more of a television person, she notes the documentary “Super Size Me”, which worked to influence McDonald’s healthier menu changes. (206) Readers who enjoy politics can connect to her references to Watergate and President John Kennedy’s movements. (204-205) By using examples from many different types of writing and genres, Pipher successfully relates to a wide range of readers.