Rhetorical Analysis: The Loose Knot

The Loose Knot
Terry Moore presented at a TED (Technology Entertainment and Design) talk posted in May 2011 “How to Tie Your Shoes.” explained in a humorous manner, that there is the right way to tie shoes and the wrong way to tie shoes. Not only does he explain in detail, but also demonstrated it live on a shoe with laces, also showing people how to tell if its tied incorrectly and correctly, while making the point that it is one simple change. No matter how small a change one person makes, that change can cause a whole range a results, good or bad, no can predict this type of change.
Moore was able to prove that there was a right way and a wrong way to tie shoes, and also prove the credibility of his information and ethics, and not by demonstrating the knot in front of hundreds of people, but by where he had learned it from. He had learned it from a shoe store owner, and until that point Moore only knew that there is only way to tie shoes, and never doubted himself that he was ever tying his shoes the wrong way. Until he met the owner to the shoe store and having to explain that he loves the shoe but hates the laces, and after showing the problem all

the the owner has to say was “Oh, you're tying them wrong”(1 Terry Moore). That information left Moore bewildered for he did not expect that there was wrong away to tie shoes and a right way to tie shoes, and to tell is as simple as tugging the shoe the right way.
Moore knew beforehand that the audience would want him to make them listen to what he has to say, so no better way to engage them to listen was to add some humor causing them to laugh. The thought that he was at a TED conference explaining “how a collection of the most effective, intelligent, intellectual, savvy, worldly, and innovative people in the world”(1) that they are tying their shoe wrong was something that could be laughed at. Causing the tone to be informal with the audience by being more relaxed with audience making the audience feel that he knows what it is like. Although most of his of it wasnt humorous it had more than a professional could of had. That humor was a necessity to have in his explanation on how to tie your shoes right, if he hadn't added humor the audience would soon be bored of him and likely forget or not pay attention. Moore wanted people to remember that little changes can cause big impacts, and he could of not done it better getting the audience to listen.
Not only was his delivery of the speech catch the audience in a hook, but how he used his sentence structure as a means to help the audience better understand the message he was giving.

Moore was able to mix a point and a theme together to make something that people can understand to. An example of this is when he said “It will come untied less often. It will let you down less”(1). This quote is when he was making a comment about the strong form of the knot and how it won't fail on you, meaning you can trust it, which this one purpose serves as two. His use of switching between compound and simple sentences affected the audience by getting their attention with a thought and getting them to want to know more about the topic. This process of switching sentences proved successful to get the audience to

think.
His choice of words however were not that appropriate to the occasion, which would be a TED talk. He spoke in a informal manner to the audience by saying things like “live long and prosper.” (2). This quote is a reference to star trek to the audience, as a closing sentence. Although the being informal had an effect on the audience to have them engaged in what he was saying and also having something in common with the audience. The topic was so outlandish to him and the audience that at the time the most approte way was to speak in a informal tone, hence where the humor takes part in the speech. Giving the audience humor was his main weapon to get them on his side and believe there is a right way and a wrong way to tie shoes. That is why using informal sentence for this topic made the most sense.
Although Moore wasn't perfect in his reasoning, and that caused some errors that to some people will use against him. One hasty generalization Moore made was that he made it seem that the audience aren't able to tie their shoes or tie both bows together, or the most blatant one, is that some people stap there shoes with velcro, not laces. Even with this error occuring this does not diminish the audience opinion of Moore. Moore, throughout his speech, was able to give the audience the idea that he is a knowledgeable person, and shows humor to the subject also admitting that he has also have been tying his shoes incorrectly. He was able to gain common ground with the audience by saying “I lived the same sad life about three years ago”(1). This quote proves the audience that he himself believed in the same knowledge of tying shoes.
Although Terry Moore, a man with informal word choice, and have no experience with shoes any way except for wearing and tying them, shows the audience that little changes can cause big results. It wasn't only just how to tie shoes but the result of a small change. No matter how smart or intelligent someone can be, there is something that can be improved. The only way to get this in the audience was to make it an absurd topic. Once the audience was caught they too could see meaning that Terry Moore was explaining. Although, no matter how much it was an informal word choice, and personal experience, was able to get his point across. Little changes can cause big results.