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Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Persuasive Essay
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation
Course Name and Number
Instructor’s Name
Due Date
, 2
Introduction
The persuasive essay "Tablets for San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD)"
by Maggie Durham argues that providing electronic tablets to students in underperforming
school districts would help increase literacy rates. According to Durham's thesis, students in
SAISD should be provided with learning tools in the form of smart tablets since they enhance
learning after class, contribute to students' engagement with the academic curriculum, and
assist in raising competency in literacy. The idea of this argument is mentioned in the first
paragraph: Durham reveals the issue that SAISD's literacy rates are low, and she has a
solution – to give tablets to children. Her thesis statement accurately contains an outlined
plan of action that is followed by three points of outcomes that will materialize if
implemented, thus aligned to present her stand on the issues affecting education
improvement, thereby creating a coherent and clearly formulated argument on improvement
of the education system in the specific school district.
Rhetorical Strategies
Durham effectively employs all three rhetorical strategies in her argument. Her logos is
firm, presenting statistical evidence comparing SAISD's graduation rates to state averages
and citing successful tablet implementation in other districts. She establishes ethos by
referencing education experts like Bill Gates and incorporating research from organizations
like Khan Academy and Byron ISD's documented results. Durham's pathos emerges when
highlighting the "digital divide" and how failing to provide technological opportunities would
"further widen" economic disparities, appealing to readers' sense of justice and concern for
disadvantaged students. This balanced combination of logical evidence, credible sources, and
emotional appeals about educational equity strengthens her persuasive approach.
Assessment of Rhetorical Effectiveness
Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Persuasive Essay
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation
Course Name and Number
Instructor’s Name
Due Date
, 2
Introduction
The persuasive essay "Tablets for San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD)"
by Maggie Durham argues that providing electronic tablets to students in underperforming
school districts would help increase literacy rates. According to Durham's thesis, students in
SAISD should be provided with learning tools in the form of smart tablets since they enhance
learning after class, contribute to students' engagement with the academic curriculum, and
assist in raising competency in literacy. The idea of this argument is mentioned in the first
paragraph: Durham reveals the issue that SAISD's literacy rates are low, and she has a
solution – to give tablets to children. Her thesis statement accurately contains an outlined
plan of action that is followed by three points of outcomes that will materialize if
implemented, thus aligned to present her stand on the issues affecting education
improvement, thereby creating a coherent and clearly formulated argument on improvement
of the education system in the specific school district.
Rhetorical Strategies
Durham effectively employs all three rhetorical strategies in her argument. Her logos is
firm, presenting statistical evidence comparing SAISD's graduation rates to state averages
and citing successful tablet implementation in other districts. She establishes ethos by
referencing education experts like Bill Gates and incorporating research from organizations
like Khan Academy and Byron ISD's documented results. Durham's pathos emerges when
highlighting the "digital divide" and how failing to provide technological opportunities would
"further widen" economic disparities, appealing to readers' sense of justice and concern for
disadvantaged students. This balanced combination of logical evidence, credible sources, and
emotional appeals about educational equity strengthens her persuasive approach.
Assessment of Rhetorical Effectiveness
