Some points to consider in your paragraph
- Tone: forthright, resolute, firm, stern, dogmatic
- By appealing to …
- Dr Smithers seeks to convince sceptical/unsuspecting members of the public … (the doubters)
- Think about the purpose of the rhetorical question: (hinting at the opposite); purpose is often to state the opposite – which is?
Adopting a sensible and practical tone, Dr Smithers advocates that women should have the same combat-rights as their male counterparts. By appealing specifically to gender equality and the rights of women to “die for their country”, she also expects that the audience will grant women the same patriotic sentiments as men. She isolates those who fail to support women’s rights as people who are making unnecessary “fuss”. The purpose of this emotive appeal and depiction of sceptics is to isolate/ marginalise those who are over-reacting in an emotional way.
Argument analysis:
(Argument frame or the set up) : Dr Smithers begins her argument with a reference to the “amount of fuss” people create about women “going off to war”. This positions opponents (to immediately think that they are being too emotional) and they will be a cautious in judging her. This also prepares her readership, primarily policy makers, defence personnel and male members of the audience to recognise that this is a matter of gender equality as all deaths are “equally shocking, equally honourable and equally tragic”. The emphasis on “equally” challenges those who intuitively make a difference and seeks to shame those who distinguish between a man’s and a woman’s death.
Her second key idea builds upon this point and reminds her audience that not all women, just as not all men, will qualify to able to take part in combat positions. She reminds the same audience that “only a very small proportion of men satisfy the criteria for combat”.
Choose three quotes/word level and analyse the deeper purpose (3 quotes)
She uses a rhetorical question to focus attention on why a woman’s death leads to “greater emotional outpouring”.
Purpose (choose one):
- This emotive statement encourages defence policy makers, government officials and the general public to question their judgement/preconceptions/prejudices about a “woman’s death” that may stereotypically lead to a “greater emotional outpouring”.
- Stern and resolute tone: “if that includes the right to die for your country then so be it”
Dr Smithers also uses repetition (tripling) to focus our attention on the need for gender equality. She states that both a man’s and a woman’s death are “equally shocking, equally honourable and equally tragic”.
Purpose (choose one):
- In doing so, Dr Smither shames those who do not treat the deaths equally. She shames those who differentiate between a woman’s and a man’s death.
- Accordingly, she highlights to those people who are making more of a “fuss” about the woman’s death, that they are minimising the death of their male counterpart.
- This use of repetition is designed to reinforce her main appeal about gender equality and to ensure that all policy makers and members of the public are aware of the need to recognise the depth of commitment of all men and women.
- In doing so, she invites members of the public to question their biased opinion of the deaths of some soldiers.
One of her logical arguments is that only a few men or women “satisfy the criteria” so she hopes that members of the public will place women’s desire to “fight” issue in perspective.
- In doing so, she hopes that policy makers and sceptical members of the public will act with less “fuss” and more logic. (only a small proportion of the population)
She concludes her argument with a resolute (stern/forthright, blunt, sharp) and figurative plea to (male) public officials to “tear down the man-made obstacles”.
- Accordingly, she expects her mainly male audience to recognise the unfair barriers that are preventing women from fighting.
- She hopes that all her readers will grant women the same opportunities as men.
The words: Underline two phrases that reveal Ms Smither’s attitude (or bias). What type of words are they and how do they add to her views? What emotions do they arouse?
Purpose (choose one):
- “Emotional outpouring and soul-searching”: The author uses emotive language to highlight the fact that all deaths in the course of one’s duty are tragic and she implies that to prioritise a woman’s over a man’s death smacks of sexism. She seeks to arouse sympathy for all those people who die in war.
- “equally shocking, equally honourable and equally tragic”: The repetition of “equally” reinforces this author’s views that women and men should be treated equally. Dr Smither seeks to shame and exclude those who appear to be guilty of sexist attitudes.
- “man-made obstacles”: Dr Smither implies that men are providing impediments to women’s access to the armed forces that only further their own agenda and are not in the best interests of the women. Likewise, she shames those who are deliberately obstructing such equality.
Write your paragraph
As a representative of a women’s recruitment agency, Dr Smithers endorses women’s right to fight in armed combat. Seeking to gain the trust of her fair-minded audience, she approaches the issue of women at war from her own professional standpoint and clearly seeks to promote gender equality. Accordingly, readers are immediately alerted to the fact that it is unfair to discriminate against women who show the same capabilities as men. Typically, her emotive reference to words such as “fuss” imply that opposition is illogical and irrational and her logical assumptions relating to women’s rights encourage readers to avoid being swayed by emotional arguments about women’s deaths. (shaming those who discriminate) Dr Smithers also repeats the emotive words (tripling) “equally shocking” and “equally tragic” to reinforce the point that anyone’s death while serving their country is difficult. Finally, her clichéd and emotive reference to the “man-made obstacles” also has negative connotations and implies that the men in authority are creating unnecessary hurdles (exploiting their authority: hence anger).
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