The crafting of a strong argument is a fickle thing. You can't come off as arrogant, but you also can't be seen as meek. Finding the balance between certainty and understanding can be difficult, but has been mastered by some. Dana Giola uses various sources, persuasive emotional appeal, and argumentative style to convince his readers of the importance of reading.
First, an analysis of the use of evidence throughout the passage. Giola cites surveys, such as one commissioned by the National Endowment for the Arts, to establish the main issue he tackles, declining reading rates. Establishing this baseline of information at the beginning of the passage allows readers to keep that in mind as they read about the effects of this trend. This allows the reader the ability to see the cause and effect. Additionally, key quotations are used by Giola in a way that allows them to speak for themselves. This is most clear in the seventh paragraph, where a quote from the National Conference of State Legislatures is inserted without any additional analysis from Giola. In…show more content… In the fifth paragraph, he makes a point to emphasize the importance of creativity and its relation to reading. This is compelling because the idea of creativity is a universally recognized and celebrated trait that is virtually impossible to be against. Tying creativity to reading extends this untouchable, undeniably good status to reading and Giola's own argument. Additionally, the final paragraph carries tropes of patriotism and collectivism into the argument. Giola's specific mention of country puts readers in a position where they feel like increasing the rate of reading is an endeavor we need to do together. As social animals, humans will almost always be more comfortable with something if they believe it will be done with the whole, rather than doing it alone. This appeal to group thinking and working as a team further endears Giola's argument to the
