Words Homework Due In 2 Hours: Please Read The Reader
300 Words Homework Due In 2 Hours Please Readlet The Reader Know Why
Discuss why you chose this particular essay and whether it addresses an issue currently facing you. Additionally, examine whether the essay is peer-reviewed and explain how you know. State the claim of the essay and analyze how the author proves this claim, identifying if the Toulmin method is used. Support your points with complete sentences, include citations, and provide a final Works Cited entry for the essay.
Paper For Above instruction
The essay I chose to analyze is Ted Vallance's "Off With Their Heads. (Cover Story)," published in the New Statesman. I selected this essay because it deals with themes of authority, cultural critique, and societal issues that resonate with my personal experiences and academic interests. The essay's relevance to current social and political debates makes it particularly compelling for analysis, especially as it explores themes of authority figures and societal rejection, which are issues I encounter in current social discussions and personal observations.
Regarding whether the essay is peer-reviewed, I determined it is not, because it was published in the New Statesman, a reputable magazine but not a peer-reviewed academic journal. Peer-reviewed articles usually undergo a formal review process by experts, which is characteristic of scholarly journals, not magazine articles. Since the New Statesman's editorial process typically involves editorial review rather than scholarly peer review, I conclude that this essay is not peer-reviewed. This is supported by the publication's journalistic nature and the absence of indicators of peer-reviewed scholarship.
The central claim of Vallance's essay is that societal institutions and cultural narratives often reinforce harmful authority and undermine individual agency, leading to social conflicts. The author supports this claim by providing examples of societal reactions to authority figures and criticizing the cultural tendency to dismiss or eliminate dissenting voices. Through a combination of historical references, cultural critique, and rhetorical questions, Vallance emphasizes the destructive consequences of unquestioning authority and societal conformity.
In terms of method, Vallance's approach aligns with the Toulmin model of argumentation, as he presents a claim, supports it with evidence and reasoning, and anticipates opposing perspectives. He establishes his claim by illustrating societal behaviors through examples, thereby providing evidence to support his critique. He also employs logical reasoning to connect societal behaviors with broader cultural implications, demonstrating a clear argumentative structure similar to Toulmin’s model. Overall, Vallance's essay effectively employs rhetorical strategies and evidence to substantiate his central claim.
Works Cited
- Vallance, Ted. "Off With Their Heads. (Cover Story)." New Statesman, vol. 138, 2014, pp. 18-20. Academic Search Premier, Web. 5 Mar. 2014.