Silenced and Invisible
Make an argument about the persuasiveness of a written argument and offer evidence from the text to support your evaluation of its persuasiveness. To analyze an argument, you have to be a rhetorical reader—that is, an active and critical reader who can explain not just what an author says but how persuasive the author is or isn’t and why. You should focus not on the issue but on what choices an author has made and how those choices affect the audience’s response to the argument.
Use this articles for Writing Arguments for your rhetorical analysis:
Lorena Mendoza-Flores, “Silenced and Invisible: Problems of Hispanic Students at Valley High School” (pp. 295-99)
Sample Solution
In Lorena Mendoza-Flores’ article “Silenced and Invisible: Problems of Hispanic Students at Valley High School,” the author makes a persuasive case for why the school should take action to better accommodate its Hispanic population. To support her argument, she provides evidence from interviews with students and alumni that highlight how cultural factors have made it difficult for them to find success in their academic pursuits. By citing examples of student experiences, such as feeling ignored or invisible within the school system, being discouraged by a lack of resources to understand American education practices, and facing language barriers in classes where English is a prerequisite skill, she paints an effective picture of their struggles. These anecdotes show readers how Hispanics are disadvantaged due to systemic issues while also providing them with concrete solutions they can implement immediately. This combination makes Mendoza-Flores' argument highly persuasive since it presents readers with tangible evidence backed up by personal stories that demonstrate what needs to be done rather than simply stating generic facts about inequity.