Clive Thompson's Introduction To Rhetorical Strategies

The essays of Carr and boyd are all structured fairly similarly. The author explains the problem and then describes the effects the problem results in, also known as the cause and effect organizational strategy (“Introduction to Rhetorical Strategies”). One example of this organizational strategy is in Nicholas Carr’s essay when he discusses the Internet and how it is affecting him personally, he shares, “They [the Internet] supply the stuff of thought, but they also shape the process of thought. And what the Net seems to be doing is chipping away my capacity for concentration and contemplation” (Carr 315). Carr makes it clear that the cause of the issue in this quote is the Internet, and the effects that the Internet have on him specifically,

is a lack of concentration. This quote represents just one use of the cause and effect organizational strategy in Nicholas Carr’s essay, strengthening his argument by making his point clear and precise which overall results in a more persuasive essay. Danah boyd also utilizes the cause and effect organizational strategy in her literary works when she explains the outcome of prohibiting children from using technology completely. Boyd explains how one father not only eliminated all forms of technology and social media from his son’s life, but he also restricted him to only socialize with trusted friends and family (boyd 97). After she explains the catalyst of the issue, boyd continues to state how the son then began to interact with other students at school during inappropriate times and also found ways to access the Internet without his father knowing. From this example of cause and effect, boyd supports her claim that young people need social media and the Internet to fulfill the social interactions that they are craving. Boyd’s stellar use of the cause and effect organizational strategy, solidifies her argument and strengthens her claims by clearly explaining what the issue is and what it is caused by.
On the contrary, Clive Thompson uses the problem and solution organizational strategy in an unconventional way.

Typically, with this strategy, the author will introduce and issue, following with what can be done to fix it (“Introduction to Rhetorical Strategies”). Clive Thompson however, addresses what many people believe the problem to be, but then however incorporates his claim into a solution. To further explain, in Thompson’s essay, he states that the common argument is whether it is the human brain or the computer that is more powerful and intelligent. Thompson then refutes this argument while simultaneously offering the solution that neither one is more powerful than the other. He instead introduces the idea that the two combined and working together create the most powerful unit. Although, Thompson did not use the problem and solution organizational strategy in an ordinary way, it was still undeniably

successful.
After analyzing the literary works of Nicholas Carr, Clive Thompson, and dana boyd, it is evident that some authors were more successful at certain organizational and rhetorical strategies than others. Specifically, Nicholas Carr’s essay was immensely lacking logos, data, or any numerical values, ultimately weakening his argument since logos is something that most educated readers look for when they are reading a persuasive essay. In addition to that, another one of Carr’s weaknesses in his essay was sharing his own credibility, also referred to as ethos. It is important for the reader to know that the person who is writing the essay has some knowledge or expertise that make them a credible author. When it comes to the usage of organizational strategies, Carr, Thompson, and boyd all used them rather effectively, whether it was the strategy of cause and effect or problem and solution. All of the authors used the strategies to their advantage, making their claims clear and supporting their claims with evidence and examples. With regards to the rhetorical strategy of exemplification, once again all of the authors were extremely successful. However, boyd used examples that were relatable to the audience, making her overall argument more intriguing to her targeted audience. Nicholas Carr, on the other hand, also used the rhetorical strategy of using authorities or well-known names in his examples, something which no other author attempted. Carr’s use of authorities and exemplification not only strengthened his argument, but also made it more captivating for the reading, leaving Thompson in last when it comes to the comparison of the authors success in their use of rhetorical strategies.
In the game of soccer, one player may be the fastest person in the league, while another player is outstanding at doing tricks with their feet.

For writing , it is the same thing, some writers excel at incorporating lots of data and statistics, while others are experts at getting the audience to feel the same way they do. However, this does not mean that one author is better than another, it just means everyone has their strengths and everyone has their weaknesses. When it comes to the literary works of Nicholas Carr, Clive Thompson, and danah boyd, each author has strategies they could improve upon, but overall, they each composed a successful, effective, and persuasive

argument.