ENGL 201 Rhetorical Analysis Essay PDF

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Edmundson: The Master of Happiness Mark Edmundson, an English professor at the University of Virginia, addresses a new freshman class in his literary criticism, “Who Are You and What Are You Doing Here? A Word to the Incoming Class.” Edmundson purpose is to call attention to the fact that people go to college to get a degree, rather than to pursue their passions and get a proper education. He urges the students to pursue their interests and to push the boundaries of a standard college education. Edmundson’s argument is built upon his development of credibility, his emotional story of his own father, and his refusal to accept the principles of catering to America’s corporate society. Edmundson kicks off his argument by talking about when he first came to college. He tells the story of when he told his dad he might go into pre-law because “lawyers make pretty good money” (406). His dad explodes on him and tells him that he should study literature, because that was what he was interested in. By including this personal account, Edmundson tells his audience that he has gone through the same decision they are trying to make. This builds his character by showing his experience in this exact scenario. He also ends his essay by including a personal story. He talks about how he decided to go into elementary school teaching because it was what he was passionate about, rather than going into something that pays well. He says that while money was tough for a while, now “the world wants him to write more, lecture, travel more, and will pay him for his efforts” (415). He uses this personal example of how he followed his passion, regardless of the money, and still managed to make a good-living for himself. He also touches on how happy he feels while he is working, and how he truly loves his work. By tying his entire argument back into his own life, Edmundson gives himself immense credibility. Now he has established himself as someone who has succeeded in life by following this idea, making his audience more likely to accept it.

Edmundson also appeals to his audience’s emotions by including stories of his father. He first introduces his father as someone who just barely graduated high school. He later touches about how his father is dissatisfied with life. He has talent, he just didn’t know what to do with that talent. Edmundson states that what separates him from his father, is that his “father never managed to get a sense for who he might become” or to “figure out what he’d do best that might give the world some profit” (413). His father was left to do work, simply to put food on the table. He was never able to follow his passions. By including this detailing of his dad, Edmundson is able to paint a picture of what life is like when you aren’t happy. He feeds on his audience’s desire for happiness in life and builds his argument by showing the audience that their happiness is important, and that they should choose to study what they love. It also emphasizes the number of possibilities and opportunities students have at college, and encourages them to take advantage of them. Furthermore, Edmundson really solidifies his argument by knocking down counterarguments. Edmundson is well aware that the majority of students are looking for a good job with a nice paycheck, so he takes the time to address their point of view. He begs the question, “why not just go along” with society, “you’ll get a good job, you’ll have plenty of friends, you’ll have a driveway of your own” (410). He follows this up by saying that by not following your passions, “you risk leading a life of desperation” and that “you risk trying to be someone other than who you are, which, in the long run, is killing” (410). Edmundson focuses on this idea throughout much of the end of his paper. He states that “society has a cornucopia of resources to encourage you in doing what society needs done, but that you don’t much like doing and are not cut out to do” (414). He then follows this up with many of societies resources: drugs, alcohol, divorce, and buying yourself into debt. Edmundson tells his audience, that they are free

to simply pursue a paycheck, but that their life and happiness will suffer because of it. He hammers this in, refusing to accept that students should try and follow corporate society, but rather they should follow their passions. He refutes all these counterarguments by tapping into his audience’s emotions, drawing on their desire to be happy. He finishes the essay by a quote from Robert Frost that encapsulates this idea, “when we expend our energies in rightful ways… we stay whole and vigorous and we don’t get weary” (415). In conclusion, Mark Edmundson is trying to make college students see that they should follow their passions and desires in college, rather than trying to get a degree simply for a highpaying job. He uses personal experiences to build his credibility. He calls upon his father’s life to appeal to his audience’s emotions and desires. Finally, he refutes counterarguments by also tapping into his audience’s need for happiness....