Anecdotes In The Is Water By David Foster Wallace

“Can you live in that moment, as best as you can, with clear eyes and love in your heart? With joy in your heart? If you can do that gentlemen then you’re perfect.” Doesn't take much dose it? This speech has so much meaning and and purpose behind it.

Immediately as the speech begins, Henry’s tone manifests itself and remains unwavering. Henry begins, “It is natural for a man to indulge in the illustration of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth” (1). This sheds insight on his message and portrays him as a well versed individual. He then strengthens his tone when he says

Rhetorical Analysis of Joe Clark’s Inspirational Speech in the motion picture Lean on Me, 1989

Beginning with building his credibility, Lincoln uses compassionate and relatable language in his speech to engage the audience in his purpose to show the nation’s future. He

After successfully introducing his position and preparing his audience to be more accepting of his views, Barry uses an analogy to humorously mock his own inexperience in the

And this speech was a clear example of that. He offers a story about a young man who set off around the world attempting to find the meaning of life when one faithful day he stumbled upon a mansion where he was created and offered dinner by butlers and maids. The owner appeared to be a king who was gravely ill, shortly after a man wielding a weapon in one hand entered the room, the young man left the mansion and it disappeared, the young man could not understand, yet after continuing his travels he happened to find the mansion once again only this time he asked the ill owner of the mansion “tell me your story, what is the source of your pain” and in that very moment he had discovered the true meaning of life. To give yourself to others. His final words in this speech were something I am not ashamed to say almost brought me to tears. The passion and the way in which I was able to relate were astonishing. Michael Himes said and I quote “The thing that I wish for you is that sometime in your life you get a chance to say to people who mean an enormous amount to you what it is that has been truest in your own life because in a moment like that that you know that everything you gave away has been given back in

Washington starts off his speech with pathos. Pathos is appealing to the emotional side of the audience and trying to get an emotional response from them. Washington begins his speech on why he is doing the speech in the first place. His son went to Penn U, so he was already officiated with the school. Him sharing his information about his past with the school makes the crowd feel more relax and less anxious. Knowing the person who is speaking, understands what you are going through helps a lot in building a connection with the Washington. With a smooth beginning, Washington begins to tell jokes about the staff and how everyone here hates the Yankees. Washington, first establishing baseline with the audience, was key to conveyance his message to the spectators. Washington evens tells the people, that he is nervous and uncomfortable for he has not done this kind of speech before. The feeling of knowing this man in front of you is speaking to thousands of people is afraid, even though he is such a famous actor makes you feel empathy for him. This connection is strong for even though he is famous, he can still get nervous like all the graduates. Washington brings up ideas he had for this speech, making jokes about his co-workers and stories of them. He did not decide to use one of those because he wanted to leave a message worth leaving for the graduates that will last a lifetime. Washington even connects with the parents, by saying “I always like to check how my money is getting used, am I right parents?”. (Penn's 2011

This essay analyzes Wallace’s “This is Water”, major arguments, the rhetoric used and genuine accessible personal

The introduction quickly introduces the humorous tone found throughout the piece with his use of anecdotes. In the opening anecdote, two young fish fail to recognize that they are surrounded by water. By juxtaposing the academic setting with the fish exclaiming “what the hell is water?” the speaker creates humor with the fish’s unexpected colloquialism. Furthermore, Wallace connects the irony of the fish anecdote with the that of most adults, who are unable to see what really matters in life just as the fish can not see the water that encompasses them. The speaker follows this story with another about an atheist and a theist arguing about the existence of God. By refusing to see the other’s perspective, Wallace shows the humor in their rigid belief systems. The speaker also pokes fun at his liberal arts audience by asking why they accept both men’s position without questioning their rationale for doing so. By doing so, Wallace displays audience

How effectively do the techniques used communicate McCullough’s position? McCullough exaggerates and uses irony throughout his speech to convey the message that if everyone is special, then no one is really special at all. If everyone gets the same award, then it becomes meaningless and has no value, and is therefore not special.

Kolbe Griffith Professor Sanders English 1010, PS5 3 October 2016 Annotative Bibliography Wallace, David Foster. " David Foster Wallace, In His Own Words. " College, Chattanooga State Community. Writing on the River.

How should you be thinking? The author The topics and arguments This is Water brings up to contrast your beliefs and ideologies.

The initial impression I walked away with after reading the speech “David Foster Wallace on Life and Work” was one of honesty and truth in the argument and an overall sense of persuasion. I believe that self-realization was the original goal of the authors argument. His serious yet humorous tone coupled with brutally honest and logical argument were the major factors in his persuasiveness. His honesty and understanding of the topic is his primary means if providing his credibility to us as an audience. Additionally, the author instills a sense of humility into his argument while still pointing out the issues at hand, which did an exceptional job of softening the bluntness therefore allowing the audience to lower its guard. Moreover, By providing generally accepted typical reactions and thought processes of humans, he is able to portray a seemingly true unbiased analysis and build his argument accordingly. By honestly pointing out this behavioral tendency and making us realize there is truth in his argument he forces us to look inward at ourselves. Overall, I feel like Wallace did a very good job of convincing us to rethink our world views.

1. Wallace’s central message is that all of us are so engrossed individuals that sometimes we ignore our surroundings. That we are all preprogrammed, living in our own self-centered world. Rarely do we realize that we all exist in a structured box that everyone struggles to get out of. Lastly, in response to his speech Wallace advises his listeners to take a moment and look beyond themselves, and see what is truly happening.

According to Michaels, human societies have been swallowed by different dominant culture over the course of history. With every new era emerges a new culture that becomes a theme and a defining feature of all aspects of society. This culture gradually turns into the air we breathe and the water we drink. We become so accustomed to it that it becomes semi impossible to be fully aware of it. This unwariness could take a huge toll on our lives where everything loses its meaning and crumbles under the spurious mask of the dominant culture. The idea of the dominant culture resonates with Wallace’s article “This is water”. Wallace’s encourages readers to exert control over the unconscious stream of thoughts that runs in the back of everyone’s mind. This control is essential to reclaiming one’s sanity and ability to live independently by making thoughtful decisions ruled by reason, not by