Rhetorical Analysis Of Virginia Postrel's In Praise Of Chain Stores

In present day, the fast increasingly science is already achieved most material demands of people living in this world. The demand of spirit is becoming more and more necessary. One of the most efficient method to build mental civilization is reading books. The demand of books pushes the increasingly number of writers. It is more and more important for writers to own a master skill which help them to attract readers. As everybody knows that people, especially who are living in cities, are relying on the chain stores in their daily lives. Yet people also begin to discuss whether chain store is beneficial or harmful. This article, “In Praise of Chain Stores,” wrote by Critic Virginia Postrel, is an essay about this discussion. The writer illustrates the bad influences of the chain stores in the first paragraphs that the appearance of them decreases local flavors of American cities. Every place looks the same due to chain stores and it might decrease the number of tourists. However, she refutes this idea in the next paragraphs: chain stores could offer many kinds of goods which could not be supplied

in the local area. Chain Stores help people to adapt the new environment due to everywhere is same. The economies of many cities would not depend on the traveling. Thus, it is not necessarily of change amounts of visitors. This is the true statements of her, which means chain stores are not destroying people’s daily lives but providing variety and comfort to cities. In her article, she uses her several writing methods to improve the attraction of her articles. The methods are as following.
Firstly, her master skill of using pathos is superior, which definitely stimulate readers’ emotions. Sometimes, appropriate emotions might be the finishing touch. It helps readers to understand the article and writer’s intention easily. In the second paragraph, she illustrates the disappearance of the shops with the time goes by. ‘Today’s critics focus less on what isn’t there.’ The time passing always makes people feel regretful. Human beings are a kind of species that sometimes are too sensitive, especially when they realize the time files, which is impossible to retry it again. Awaking readers’ emotions is a basic skill for excellent writers, they know how to guide readers’ feelings; they are good at motivating readers angry, sympathy or other emotions. It is no doubt that the writer is an excellent writer, because she already inspires myself sick at heart successfully. By using the scene of the past small shops, readers might think to the past time and age. Take an example of myself, I recalled my childhood and ask a question to myself: whether chain stores are important to people’s lives, because there are lots of chain supermarket already have replaced some small shops in my hometown. I cannot find any scene of my childhood; my hometown is already changed to another city. She is a successful writer who awakes the past memory of mine.
Secondly, she used a large number of ethos in this essay.

She uses ethos in every paragraph, which helps her to increase the credibility of her ideas. The most obvious example is in the first paragraph, she illustrates three statements by two famous people and an organization: Thomas Friedman, Rachel Dresbeck, and Boston’s historic Faneuil Hall, who told readers one thing: chain stores are everywhere, and every place looks the same. Because of the celebrity effect, readers tend to believe this idea. Nevertheless, she also exhibits readers of the good influence examples in the next paragraphs. And these examples of the good influence are true stories rather than only theories. With the popularity of the chain stores, more and more people’s lives become better. That makes readers accept the advantages of the chain stores are more than their disadvantages without

confusing.
Last but not least, though she writes two totally different ideas in this essay. She even quotes some examples to prove the chain stores are bad. However, it is still not conflict her truly statements. As we all know, it is a serious taboo to write down some contrary ideas, which is every writer trying to avoid. But Critic is not an ordinary writer, she writes in contravention. This is definitely because of her confidence to her master logos. These examples that Critic used in the beginning are words from famous people, they are credible. Though they come from credible people, it is hard to defeat some ordinary people’ lives. Cause facts always speak loudly than words. Besides, these examples of chain stores’ good influence don't come from ordinary people: the L.A. Daily News, the Los Angeles Times and Greg Whitney who are also famous person and organizations with good credits. These examples are reflected in Critic’s master skill of logos. Besides, the structure of the whole article also indicates her extraordinary skill of logos, which makes readers believe opinion step by step.
In conclusion. Critic offers an excellent article by using her master writing skills. The ethos, pathos and the make this essay ‘alive.’ She gave a excellent lesson that what a great writer should be, and how to write a perfect essay. Besides, the most important thing is her contradict theories. She writes another differing opinion in the first paragraph, but illustrates her true feeling, chain stores help people to build a beautiful life, in the rest of her essay. The chain stores could help citizens’ lives to be more variable, because they provide lots of products that not manufacture in the local, people could eat different foods which come from all the world in their room; Because the popularization of the chain stores, people do not have to worry about they cannot buy something they already used over several years; And the economy would not decrease because of the chain stores. The benefits of the chain stores are more than their negative influences.