Analysis of Essay by Dinesh D’Souza on America
Dinesh D’Souza constructs an argument in his essay “What’s so great about America” that is convincing to the average reader. His essay was published 15 years ago and American culture has seen some changes since then. However, nothing that he mentions specifically in the essay has changed drastically. His extrinsic ethos is strong because he is from India and the audience may perceive that he can compare his knowledge of living elsewhere to an immigrant’s knowledge. This view of looking at America from an outsider’s point of view and how others view living in America is essential in D’Souza’s fundamental argument. He compares living in America to living in other less developed countries and appeals to the common citizen in his style, logic, and development of his essay. His arguments are sound and he convinces the average citizen that America is the best place to live, although his lack of facts and statistics to back up his statements could be seen as a weakness.
D’Souza constructs his argument by using
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rhetorical elements and strategies to persuade the audience that living in America is better than living elsewhere. D’Souza argues that America is the best place for immigrants to come live because everyone has an equal social status unlike other countries, America has good road systems and hospitals and other infrastructure, that ordinary Americans have comforts that other people living elsewhere don’t experience, and finally that we enjoy security and dignity in life. The author’s word choice and style of writing appeals to the average citizen. He makes his arguments effective by using powerful words that we identify with. For example, throughout the essay he refers to the common, average citizen as “ordinary”. His use of the word “ordinary” in describing most Americans may make some ask the question who is included in the group ordinary? He doesn’t say average. But when he states, “The point is that the United States is a country where the ordinary guy has a good life.” The reader begins to question if he/she has a good life compared to others living elsewhere. He also uses pathos with his descriptions of girls who have “torn clothes” and sick people with no medical treatment, no food and no education. This refers to countries who suffer from poverty and aren’t given any other choices. The author’s use of logic or logos makes the argument appeal to the common person. He backs his statements up with quotes and examples. For instance, he quotes the following in his essay: Sociologist Werner Sombart, CBS and the reaction of the Soviet Union to its broadcast, and a friend from Bombay, India as well. In addition, he uses Bill Gates as an example in one paragraph. Most readers can identify with his examples and by using Bill Gates and references that would be common knowledge, he pulls the average citizen in and keeps it simple. Most readers tend to block out too much jargon and too many statistics or references to unknown experts. By keeping his logic simple, and discussing deodorant, toilet paper and diapers, he appeals to his target audience. D’Souza uses a specific order or development in his essay that makes his argument more effective.
His arguments build from appealing to the what an ordinary citizen owns in America as compared to Third World countries, to next being treated equally socially, then he brings in the “moral triumph” of America, and closes with “security and dignity” and being able to live longer. D’Souza states in closing that Americans can live a “longer, healthier, and fuller life” than those who come from other countries and that’s why immigrants want to come to America. He states that because Americans have in general more money than the immigrant would have living elsewhere, that we therefore have time for family, community, and spirituality which is a “better life” than others. His development builds in strength by appealing first to what we experience socially to what we value the most which is having ethics and
morality. D’Souza’s essay is effective in his argument about America because he makes the audience more aware of things that we have taken for granted. Through his style, tone, and development D’Souza appeals to the average citizen. He makes readers aware of how lucky we are to live in a country that is so much better for the common man in general. Most of us believe we are the common man, so this targets us. The rhetorical strategies that the author uses convinces the average citizen that he lives in a great land.
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