RHETORIC IN EUTHANASIA

RHETORIC IN EUTHANASIA

Discipline:
English

Type of service:
Essay

Spacing:
Single spacing

Paper format:
APA

Number of pages:
3 pages

Number of sources:
14 sources

Paper details:

The goal of the final essay is to respond to feedback to deliver a clear and complex argument supported by a rhetorical analysis. The essay should be arranged using a strategy discussed in the course, should display advanced critical thinking, and be written in an inclusive style that engages an academic reader with general knowledge about your topic and a special interest in the study of rhetoric. In a sense, all essays answer the same question: how has rhetoric been used in arguments about the topic you have chosen? Standard responses will define rhetorical concepts and describe how arguments on the topic display such rhetorical features. Advanced responses will form an overall evaluation of the use of rhetoric, for example, by defining ethical communication (or inclusive communication, or unethical rhetoric, or manipulative speech, etc) and describing how the features of rhetoric in the arguments you’ve analysed represent such communication.

The analysis has to go off of the topic attached in this outline.
A thorough rhetorical analysis needs to be composed and how it is effective

Criteria
Overall: communicate competently and confidently across a range of modalities; and construct written arguments appropriate for multicultural audiences
Interdisciplinary effectiveness and Cultural competence – making a topic relevant to the field of rhetoric and writing studies; using inclusive language and explaining terminology to make the argument and analysis accessible
Overall: demonstrate an increased awareness of how to produce effective arguments
Influence – presenting a persuasive thesis statement that is supported by rhetorical analysis; employing strategies of arrangement to present a persuasive discussion
Integrated professional, ethical, personal identity – presenting a persuasive argument that takes a stance on an issue and argues for that position reasonably and with authority
Overall: understand more about essay writing conventions in academic contexts; and edit their own work effectively
Broader skills: critical thinking … communication – including an identifiable argument statement; including well planned paragraphs; engaging with multiple perspectives on a topic; use of referencing and citation practices; using accurate language appropriate for academic readers; a high level of precision and clarity in language use

RELEVANCE
This task requires you to present an essay as a result of proposal, research, planning and drafting. In future studies, you will produce such polished work. So too, in professional settings, will the planning, preparation and revision of work to high standards be important. Your influence in assessments and workplaces will depend greatly on your ability to plan and produce a detailed argument like what is expected here.

Proposal

Euthanasia means “good” death which calls for premature termination of an individual’s life. Hence, it is a debatable issue over the years due to many factors that account in this process, the primary concern being the life of an individual. The pro-euthanasia argument emphasizes that chronic terminal conditions and loss of hope are the two main factors for people who consider undergoing euthanasia (Math & Chaturvedi, 2012). Thus, patients confide in death as the only and last option to provide relief from such distressing symptoms (Math & Chaturvedi, 2012). Contrarily, the anti-euthanasia argument stems from the natural ‘right to life’ prevailing in the constitution, as killing is impermissible because it is an unnatural way of termination of life (Math & Chaturvedi, 2012). Thus, legalization of euthanasia promotes suicide by opposing the belief of natural death (Math & Chaturvedi, 2012). Although some places have granted forms of passive euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide, the discourse prevails (Math & Chaturvedi, 2012).

Rhetorical concepts are the most powerful means of persuasion used in a discourse. There are various types of rhetorical techniques. Aristotle’s rhetoric is of the earliest forms of persuasive discourse and it consists of three models- ethos, logos, and pathos. Ethos is the appeal to an author’s credibility, whereas, pathos is an emotional appeal to the audience. Logos is as an appeal to logic or reasoning (McCormack, 2014). Thereby, the use of these concepts is prevalent in the two viewpoints presented. For example, by accounting for people who have suffered from terminal chronic diseases and have prolonged distressing symptoms, the author uses logos by reasoning the choice of undergoing euthanasia. Thus, pro-euthanasia is portrayed moral in the argument because it is the only and last option to terminal conditions. Moreover, pathos is also used by appealing to the emotions of the readers by addressing the gradual loss of hope in people who undergo euthanasia. In addition to Aristotle’s rhetoric, slippery slope fallacy is also used to persuade the readers. A slippery slope is an argument that suggests taking a minor action will have major consequences (Walton, 2015). Subsequently, the second viewpoint uses this technique by stating that legalizing euthanasia promotes suicide. Although euthanasia is suicide, many factors account for why people chose to undergo euthanasia. Hence, stating that euthanasia promotes suicide is a slippery slope fallacy. Moreover, the usage of logos is also prevalent by establishing the human right to life which is a basic part of a constitution. Consequently, it establishes an incompatibility with the idea of premature death.

This analysis serves to expand knowledge on the concept of euthanasia by exploring how euthanasia causes discourse in various domains of modern society. Thereby, through this analysis, the author can develop a personal perspective on Euthanasia. However, a rhetorical analysis involves “careful investigation of an arguments transitions, headings and subheadings, documentation of sources and overall tone” (Lunsford et al., 2010, p.111), Thus, an academic reader can effectively explore the position and the framework of an argument. In addition, techniques such as many stylistic choices deliver a particular message (Lunsford et al., 2010). Therefore, the stylistic analysis is essential in the study of rhetoric. Lastly, a rhetorical analysis also examines reliability by reasoning claims that are present in a discourse (Lunsford et al., 2010). Hence, by the interpretation and evaluation through the lens of rhetorical appeal, the reader can investigate the most effective ways of shifting audiences.

References

Lunsford, A. A., Ruszkiewicz, J. J., & Walters, K. (2010). Rhetorical analysis. In Everything’s

an argument, 95-130.

Math, S & Chaturvedi, S. (2012). Euthanasia: Right to life vs right to die. Indian J Med

Res,136(6), 899-902. doi:10.4103/0019-5545.99529

McCormack, Krista. (2014). Ethos, Pathos, and Logos: The Benefits of Aristotelian Rhetoric in

the Courtroom. Washington University Jurisprudence Review, 7(1), 131-154. http://openscholarship.wustl.edu/law_jurisprudence/vol7/iss1/9

Walton, Douglas. (2015). The Basic Slippery Slope Argument. Informal Logic, 35 (3), 273-311.