Rhetorical Analysis Of Dann Koeppel's Taking A Fall

Dann Koeppel, non-fiction, “Taking a Fall” (2010); establishes that survival after free-falling from an airplane is possible and offers various tips and pieces of advice should once choose to do so. Koeppel uses scientifically-proven statistics to support his advice and furthermore illustrates specific survival stories to give credibility to his arguments. Koeppel’s purpose is to explain that survival from free-falling is possible in order to educate his audience on how to survive, as well as reassuring them that airplane accidents are not common events. Koeppel creates a confident and informed, yet humorous tone to explain pertinent survival information and quiet concerns of anxious travelers.
Linnea Saukko, non-fiction, “How to Poison the Earth” (1975); suggests that the human race will continue on its path to destruction of the planet’s natural resources and offers advice on how accelerate the process. Saukko cites scientific studies done by government agencies to emphasize the damage humanity has already done to the planet. Saukko’s purpose is to bring attention to mankind’s proximity to self-destruction in order to inspire an urge for change. Saukko creates a satirical tone to inform the common Westerner of his or her

actions which are detrimental to the environment and the future those actions lead to.

Fatema Mernissi, non-fiction, “Size 6: The Western Women’s Harem” (2001); argues that the misogyny found in Western ideals of beauty is far worse than those established in Muslim communities.

Mernissi relies on the exchange she had with the French woman as her primary source of information concerning the role of women in Western society. Mernissi’s purpose is to draw parallels between Western and Eastern gender status structures in order to express that the two are not much different, the “equalitarian” West may even worse. Mernissi creates a tone of disgust and ridicule to express the shame she felt in her first experience at a Western shopping center and to explain the how both cultures similarly have control systems to dominate

females.
Dave Barry, non-fiction, “Batting Clean-Up and Striking Out” (1988); humorously asserts that the reasons for behavioral differences between males and females must be genetic as there is no other reason for such a great contrast. Barry applies his theory to several instances in his personal life in which he saw the differences in passion between the two sexes as well as the tragedy at Pompeii. Barry’s purpose is to jokingly bring attention to the differences between males and females in order to imply that these differences are what bring the two together. Barry creates a humorous tone to illustrate the different aspects of life that attract each gender to inform males and females in relationships that their differences are common, if not genetic.