Rhetorical Analysis Of An American Soldier

In this excerpt from an email written to friends and family, an American soldier describes what it is like to live in Iraq while serving his country. The Soldier describes his living conditions thoroughly and offers many examples. Through the usage of rhetorical strategies like imagery, chronology, and he puts the reader in his position, he tells of his experience and his attitude towards it.

Throughout the entire passage the author uses imagery to explain his living area with detail. He uses clear examples to describe his living area and how it lacks privacy. “Tear down the three walls of your tent seen from the street and you have about as much privacy as I have,” the soldier says in a sarcastic tone. He also describes the “small, snoring, and social graces” of living with his nine tent mates as being in a kennel of pugs. He describes the extremity of the dust and dirt filled areas. He relates it to pouring the dust canister from a vacuum all over yourself, your bed, your clothes, and rolling in it until it is in your eyes, nose, and ears. He is very descriptive and he gives real life examples to make sure that the reader knows exactly what it is like to be in his shoes.

Each paragraph is written to explain a different experience.

The paragraphs are organized in a chronological way. He begins by explaining the dusty living conditions, the small living area, and the space he is sharing with 9 others. He then goes into the hygienic part and explains how difficult it is to be awaken at 0400 with the urge to use the restroom and having to walk a thousand miles over loose gravel that seems to be cold as ice to do so. The way the passage is written allows the reader to walk through the experience with the author. He makes the reader feel like his shadow, following him through his

journey.
In the passage, the author writes as if the person is right next to him, telling them what to do and how they are going to do it. The author is explaining how the reader will perform the actions and what to expect. He says “first off” and “do this” so the reader can understand the severity of the place he is in and get a clear view. It is almost like the reader is reading a list of instructions on how to live like he is. The author mentions that after his first latrine experience he wants to cry or light himself on fire to remove the filth. He says that to give the reader an example on how difficult it is.
The Soldier who wrote this passage is making it a point to let the reader know that if they think their life is difficult, then imagine how difficult his life is. Through the usage of many rhetorical strategies, he shows the reader how he and all the other soldiers are living. His goal is to give the readers an idea of his life in Iraq -and he succeeds doesn’t he?