A Breakthrough

Finally! I was ever so pleased to find that Ramage provided us with a basically clear and well-structured third chapter. Instead of a billion different metaphors, his extended State of the Union Address example both supported his points and showed the reader how the elements of a rhetorical situation play out. For this strong and successful example, I am eternally grateful.

Within the chapter, I found myself relating particularly to Ramage’s continuum describing the differences between persuasion and coercion. Always a fan of the continuum (again, the Serious Person in me—I like organization!), I began to place certain friends through their similarities to Ramage’s three main points: propaganda, legal reasoning, and literary texts.

First, D., a long-time friend and wonderful conversationalist, belongs farthest to the right on the continuum, near literary texts. D. is a great listener and a patient analyzer of point of view, possible arguments, and audience. I never feel bullied when I am talking to her, and I frequently leave our conversations feeling enlightened.

Next, A. is also a long-time friend, but one I can never have too much of in one sitting. Like sweet and sour chicken. She definitely goes in the middle of the continuum, and is even debating applying to law school after college. With A., I get the feeling that she first develops an opinion, and then spends hours thinking up ways to smash my arguments if they’re not in compliance with hers. Uurgh.

Finally, C. is a relatively new friend, and although we get along in most respects, there are certain things we just don’t talk about—sex before marriage, Roe v. Wade—because of our differences. When any of these topics appear within a conversation, I run for my life before she can imply that I will burn in hell for my views. She’s just not interested in negotiating her truths. And as for me? Pascal Wager weighs my options on page 74.