Running head: RETHORICAL ANALYSIS 1

Rhetorical Analysis:

The Education of Spanish-Speaking Children in Five Southwestern States

Carlos Villa

The University of Texas at El Paso

RWS 1301

Dr. Vierra

October 12, 2018

RHETORICAL ANALYSIS 2

Abstract

This paper will evaluate a study conducted on how Mexican American children are being

suppressed on learning by inequality in the educational system. This study is by Annie Reynolds,

who Is affiliated with the educational system civil rights and a professor teaching Chicano

studies. In this study, Reynolds provided sufficient evidence by inputting various legal cases as

well as percentages of the student body in elementary schools. This is done to make her

argument successful. In conclusion, Reynold provoked a sociological impact by showing the

truth behind the educational system and how it works with new students who are Mexican

descendent and aren’t familiarized at all with the new education.

RHETORICAL ANALYSIS 3

Rhetorical Analysis:

According to Downs (2014), he argues that that rhetorical devices are a set of principles

that can explain or predict the writing topics. Alongside, Downs explains that rhetorical devices

also help to get the attention of the readers and clarify what audience the writing is for. An

example upon how rhetorical devices point out a specific audience can be the Monograph “ The

Education of Spanish-Speaking Children in Fiver Southern States” According to Reynolds

(1933), argues how children who migrated along their parents to the United States from

Mexico, aren’t familiarized with such big change causing themselves to be resistant against

change. The changes that occur so fast, such as a new language, new culture or even new home

can set the child or individuals to fail (p.20). As Reynolds said this children often attend schools

that aren’t necessarily prepared to educate this children in the way they could understand with

their native language. By this Reynold’s audience can best infer upon why majority of the

Latinos who migrate to the United States tend to have a harder time adjusting into the new

country. Since such big change occurs, many children cause themselves to fail. To fail in the way

of only focusing on themselves rather than trying to work to get up to date in their new life style.

It Is no secret that children who do this often end up not being well educated or if not worst, fail

in life. In this type of literature, the genre is inequality in the educational system. As Reynolds

starts his argument of such topic, he starts giving factual information upon the different

educational systems across the United States and their student race population (p.6) In the

information provided by Reynolds, it is apparent how Mexican descended students have the

highest percent of population compared to other races. In this case, Reynolds then can

successfully implement his argument upon inequality in the educational system by showcasing

various incidents that had happened throughout the years. This creates a strain upon Reynolds
RHETORICAL ANALYSIS 4

audience by making them rethink or even relate to such conflict, this historical/sociological claim

directly focuses on Mexican American people.

A genre is a style of literature , according to Vierra (2018) and Devirtt (2000), genre in

literature is a classification that differs different types of literatures. An example of genres are

mystery books, science fiction or non-fiction books. Both Vierra and Deviritt explain how

ideally, genres help the reader understand writing better by abstaining multiple unrelated sources

to come into the main topic of that specific literature. As Devirtt explained how genre is the way

to tell literary kinds (p.697), merges with the whole lecture Vierra did to better understand the

true definition of the term genre. Vierra also exemplified multiple ways genres help us better

understand its topic by showcasing real life events by asking questions of what is our favorite

type of movie is, then correlating that answer into the term genre.

Discussion

Audience

An Audience is the person for whom a writer writes, or composer composes. The writer uses

specific syntax, tone or content in order to address the intended audience. The targeted discourse

community for this Monograph is Mexican American people. “ The Education Of Spanish

Speaking Children In Five Southwestern States” does this in order to advance knowledge within

the discourse community the authors are taking an interdisciplinary approach a broader

audience. This intended audience is not for a normal audience. It is attended to those who

approach or are studying this discipline.

Ethos

In this article, Reynolds (1933) has an exceptional amount of information and data

backing her argument because of her background in the Chicano studies, while also being an
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educator (p. 5) This, makes her argument more lucrative, by not only adding analytical

information, but rather her own real life, hands on experience in the educational system.

Undoubtedly , this experience In the educational system can best help Reynold make her

argument, by stating her own experiences, in which results in her making the claim upon how

educational depravations are happening to Mexican American children. In order to best choose

this section to qualify as the rhetorical device ethos, we used the author Kumar who is a

professor that explains what is ethos. According to Kumar (2018), ethos is the character of

someone (p.294) After this clear definition, Kumar utilizes various examples such the speaker of

an audience, which he then explains how ethos is applied by describing the speaker. This,

furthermore improves the idea of the term ethos, and successfully helps Kumar’s audience to

identify correctly rhetorical devices.

Pathos

Reynolds (1933), drastically emphasizes the term segregation, in which she exemplifies a

common practice in which elementary and middle schools students, are often separated by

English or Spanish speaking children from those who speak only English ( p.32) . This is,

according to Reynolds segregation as it finest . In order to emphasize this term, she uses various

legal cases and even normal school events in which her audience can relate to and convert them

to her claim. This is because, she goes more into depth why the school does this. But in fact,

Reynolds tends to correlate this educational practice into something that is controversial. As she

details those cases events she uses specific syntax that cause an emotional constrain upon her

audience. In order to best identify this rhetorical device, we needed Brinton’s (1988) research

about pathos. In such research the term pathos is defined as a emotional appeal in literature ( p.

207). For better interpretation of her research and the topic, Brinton utilizes simple examples for
RHETORICAL ANALYSIS 6

anyone in her audience to understand her argument. As more Inside she provides upon cognitive

skills and literature she emphasized how if it has any emotional appeal to the reader, then it is

pathos one’s experiencing in reading.

Logos

Reynolds (1993) refuted the claim that the educational system is equal for all. Instead, she

claims that educational depravations suffered from Mexican American children are due to

inequality created amongst the educational environment (p.9) She also added, that the

terminology approached to Mexican origin people differentiates upon the state. This

classification often provides racial slurs which include harsh words such as “ Mexican” That in a

way generalizes people who are either bilingual or are Spanish descended (p.4). This research

upon the terminology of Latinos provided Reynolds audience adds upon her claim of inequality.

It shows how if someone that’s bilingual, and is American, is wrongfully generalized as a

Mexican. In a sense, the word Mexican can be controversial or in a sense racist. The word, has

many ways on how to be used, but to refer to someone’s nationality just because is wrong. In

order to rightfully identify this rhetorical device, Shesposh (2018) explains the origin and

definition of the term logos. Sheshposh explains that the term is associated with an ancient Greek

concept referring to a divine intelligence ,or order (p. 1) He also goes more into detail why and

how the word is used by exemplifying ancient Greek society using the term and also correlating

the word to logic. It is also notable that Shesposh individualizes the term In order to focus more

on how its used. This, gives a better clarification to the audience on how to properly identify

logos on literature while also educating the origins and meaning of such term.
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Conclusion

The inequality upon education due to racial differences had been both represented by both

American nationality and Mexican origin people. This argument utilizes various rhetorical

devices to approach its audience. As Reynolds exemplifies various incidents that had been

relatable to her argument, she creates a constraint on her audience by providing

historical/sociological explanations why or how this events affect Mexican American children.

Not only does the school system also affect the Mexican American children educational

development, but also does their instant culture change. It is common for families who migrate

from Mexico to the United States often aren’t familiarized with their new culture. This affects

the whole families in many ways but mainly the children. The children because according to

Reynolds, they don’t accept the drastic change so they tend to fail or refuse to learn in school

(p.20) This suppressions against Mexican children often leads them to fail, to not attend school

or have a stable life quality. Reynolds, in order to showcase such argument used rhetorical

devices to explain her idea. In order to have a better idea why the use of rhetorical devices, ,

Downs (2014) explained how rhetorical devices are a set of principals that can explain or predict

writing topics. Alongside, Downs explains that rhetorical devices also help to get the attention of

the readers and clarify what audience the writing is for.

RHETORICAL ANALYSIS 8

References

Devitt, A. J. (2000). Integrating rhetorical and literary theories of genre. College English, 62(6),

696-718. Retrieved from

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knJL_Bb2WV342a0eCleZifgR_Qtj8Nd6NFzN9v6-aLTXTU

Reynolds, A. (1933). The Education of Spanish-Speaking Children in Five Southwestern

States. The Education of Spanish-Speaking Children in Five Southwestern States., (11).

Kumar, N. N. (2018). Ethos and Values for Students. Language in India, 18(3), 294–297.

Retrieved from http://

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Brinton, A. (1988). Pathos and the "Appeal to Emotion": An Aristotelian Analysis. History of

Philosophy Quarterly, 5(3), 207-219. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/27743856

Sheposh, R. (2018). Logos (philosophy). Salem Press Encyclopedia. Retrieved from http://0-

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=eds-live&scope=site

Downs, D (2014) .Rhetoric: Making sense of human interaction and meaning making. Writing

about writing : A college reader. Bedford/St. Martin’s.