The Idea of an Essay, Volume 2

87 “Reaching for the Right Answer ” by Hannah Gaitan Instructor’s Notes Whenwriting an argument, students often believe contention or even aggression are required, but good rhetorical strategy requires the opposite. It requires knowing exactly who one’s audience is and discerning ways to create unity with the audience, fostering respect, before accentuating differences. Aristotle identified this as an art – the art of persuasion – to be practiced and finessed, as opposed to verbal mud slinging. In this very well written argument, who do you think Hannah Gaitan’s audience is? What strategies does she use to create unity and show respect for her audience. Can you point to specific word choices that achieve artful persuasion? Writer’s Biography Hannah Gaitan is a second-year Pre-veterinary Medicine major from Boulder, Colorado. Hannah enjoys scientific writing, specifically dealing with animals, but finds creative writing and poetry to be difficult. She spends most of her time, however, studying for her classes and gaining hands on experience in the field of veterinary medicine. Her hobbies include equestrian sports, running, and hiking. She also enjoys hanging out with her family, boyfriend, and black lab, Buddy. Reaching for the Right Answer Introduction Leaning up against the fence, smelling the fresh alfalfa, and listening to the soothing sound of the animals munching are the childhood memories I cherish the most. Ever since I was a child, I have loved to go to the zoo. To this day, I still sit and marvel at the beautiful creatures. Because of my deep love and passion for animals, I am working on a Biology degree at Cedarville University with an emphasis on Pre-Veterinarian medicine. Not only do I have a deep passion for animals, but I am fascinated by the science behind