John Gatto uses many persuasive techniques to try and convince the reader that the reform of schools is necessary. He begins by including the audience that he is talking to in his ‘speech like’ manner “I accept this award on behalf of all of the fine teachers I’ve known over the years” this establishes personal contact with the audience and develops an appropriate register, therefore persuading them to agree with any further comments that he makes. To further support this, the writer goes on to suggest that teachers are not the problem, as he sees it, but school as an institution “although teachers do care and do work very hard, the institution they work in is psychopathic”. The writer uses the present tense throughout the entire article to highlight the immediacy of the situation and convince the reader that reform is needed.
Gatto’s use of repetition of words like “useless” and “absurd” are used part way through the text in order to not only make a more forceful point, but also to emphasise the way that he feels. By repeating these negatively charged words he is attempting to influence the way reader would feel about education, therefore persuading them that reform is a necessity. He establishes the idea that reform is necessary with use of a rhetorical question “What can be done?” to not only guide the reader towards a solution but also to indicate that he will be offering a solution that the reader will agree with. Gatto uses the structure of short sentences in order to develop his argument and focus on key points, almost like a list – a way of simplifying his ideas.
The Term Paper on A rhetorical analysis of against school by John Taylor Gatto
Attempting to persuade his audience reading from this Article,John Taylor Gatto’s displays his points of view that he does not belive in our school system. He believes that the staying in the American schooling system for so long has supplied him with every reason to refer to it as a childish program. According to him, people may see the key problem of schooling as boredom. To clarify his point, ...
A single short sentence is further used “ Schools are intended to produce formulaic human beings whose behaviour can be predicted and controlled.” to enhance the writer’s view about schools, therefore strengthening his argument and persuading his readership to agree that reform is wholly necessary. The use of the word ‘intended’ coupled with ‘formulaic, predicted and controlled’ to describe how children are taught further gains support from the audience about the immediacy for educational reform.
To conclude, the writer has used this conversational tone throughout the text in order to make the reader feel as if he is speaking directly to them and thus forming a strong connection. He closes the article in an abrupt manner in order to focus the attention of the listener on the solution and uses a respectful close to make the listener feel that they have been a part of this discussion, further persuading them to feel as though they should act upon the cause that the writer is so passionate and emotional about. “The curriculum of family is at the heart of any good life…. Time to return to it. Enough. I’ve said my piece. Thank you.”
