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.

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