Nicholas Kristof, in his Op-Ed entitled, "Lessons from the Virginia Shooting (August 28, 2015)," uses the recent shooting in Virginia to assert the necessity of modeling and regulating gun control, as the lack of these laws leads to more shootings and gun violence. He uses compelling and emotionally loaded statistics, lessons from other approaches to solve issues, such as car safety, a realistic outlook, and suggestions for future change to"wake up America" and emphasize the importance of gun control, and the steps America needs to take to ensure the safety of its citizens. His purpose is to sear the critical nature of gun control into his readers, in order to have them become advocates for change. His audience is catered more towards the segments of society that have the ability to embark on concrete paths to further his ideas and goals for a safer America, and tries to inform them of the ramifications of leaving the problem as it is now.
What Kristof wrote about in his article was not new. For decades there have been variations of this piece, simply suited to meet a different situation. However, this does not detract from the importance of his message. The fact that Kristof even needed to write this article in the first place is an indication of how rampant the problem of gun control is. Kristof is not advocating a new approach but is trying to rouse America into truly doing something about an issue that threatens us every minute. Therefore, his article is one in a long line of advocates for gun regulation. But, it is the underlying concepts that are trying to contribute to action being done to stop the dangerous use of guns. Kristof is attempting to have America do something about the problem, and is desperately trying to not let it fester. It is my hope that he, along with others that came before him, will be successful in the very near future.
Link to article: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/27/opinion/lessons-from-the-murders-of-tv-journalists-in-the-virginia-shooting.html?_r=1
Wow! Your rhetorical precis is loaded with information. That is just swell. I like how you took advantage of every opportunity you had, packing each sentence with valuable information and insights into the writing of Kristof. However, don't you think Kristof was also targeting the average American? While those with knowledge and political standing may be the only ones capable of actually making something happen, I think that Kristof is also trying to educate people about the terrors of gun violence. Just think about that...your rhetorical precis is on point. Couldn't have precis-ed it better myself.
ReplyDeleteI both agree and disagree with your personal response. While I do believe that Kristof's proposal to ramp up gun control restrictions is not a new idea, I do think he deserves more credit for the way he persuades the reader. He is not simply "reminding" us of the gun violence issue, he is bringing in fantastic data and other examples to support his claims.
ReplyDeleteAlso, hasn't the gun control issue already "festered?" I mean, I would consider this particular incident combined with all of the previous senseless murders to qualify for far more than "festered." However, Kristof is trying to put a stop to these crimes, but far after it has already established itself as a huge issue.
This is an excellent personal response. The sky is the limit for you as a writer, Ms. Finkelstein. Keep dreaming big. They come true.
I agree with JJ that your precis is jam-packed. I also agree that you could address the audience more. Great job!
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