Jackie Hsu
Moran
AP Rhetoric
23 March 2014
Analysis Essay
Laura Eirmann’s passage from the website for the Cornell University Pet Loss Hotline is an informative piece that gives people some form of comfort regarding the euthanasia process. It helps people decide whether they want to stay in the room or not for the procedure. The reader slowly realizes Eirmann’s purpose with Eirmann’s use of tone, diction, and structure.
Throughout the passage, Eirmann uses a somewhat formal and professional tone as well as brief softer and gentler tones. Eirmann’s tone in talking about the procedure is very correct and at times, she uses the word “we” to help convey solidarity to the readers. Eirmann uses words like “kindest”, “comfortable”, “at ease”, and “personal” to let readers take comfort in her words and the procedure. Eirmann’s objective tone gives readers the sense that she knows what she’s talking about through experience and is perfectly matched with the purpose, helping people make the decision of staying in the room during the euthanasia process.
In her diction, Erimann uses some words that puts readers at ease and gives them relief as well as some terminology that shows that she knows what she’s doing. Phrases such as “indwelling catheter”, “barbiturate”, and “agonal” insinuate that she’s a vet and is speaking from experience. Eirmann frequently uses phrases like “so smoothly”, “quickly and easily”, and “painless” to convey to readers that the procedure is quick and painless, that the animal does not suffer and it is harmless. Her choice of diction shows readers that the procedure isn’t something to be afraid of and that staying in the room doesn’t mean watching the animal suffer.
Eirmann structures her passage by taking readers through the procedure, step by step. She writes how the pet is made comfortable “initially” and what the vet will do next. As the reader looks through the process of the procedure, he or she is led the end of the procedure and what is expected to happen post mortem. Eirmann helps readers make the decision of staying with their pets through the euthanasia process by giving all the information gently and calmly throughout the passage. After the step by step explanation, Eirmann comforts the readers of their choice and concludes the passage with a quote that makes the readers feel connected and understood, a gentle conclusion.
Through Eirmann’s use of rhetorical techniques, she clearly conveys her purpose and helps readers and family members feel confident in their choice of whether to stay in the room during the procedure or not. It shows readers that they aren’t alone and they won’t be the only ones to get emotional. With the use of the quote, “Like all vets I hated doing this, painless though it was, but to me there has always been a comfort in the knowledge that the last thing these helpless animals knew was the sound of a friendly voice and the touch of a gentle hand.”, in the conclusion of the passage, Eirmann shows readers that their pets will have a gentle and easy end.
Moran
AP Rhetoric
23 March 2014
Analysis Essay
Laura Eirmann’s passage from the website for the Cornell University Pet Loss Hotline is an informative piece that gives people some form of comfort regarding the euthanasia process. It helps people decide whether they want to stay in the room or not for the procedure. The reader slowly realizes Eirmann’s purpose with Eirmann’s use of tone, diction, and structure.
Throughout the passage, Eirmann uses a somewhat formal and professional tone as well as brief softer and gentler tones. Eirmann’s tone in talking about the procedure is very correct and at times, she uses the word “we” to help convey solidarity to the readers. Eirmann uses words like “kindest”, “comfortable”, “at ease”, and “personal” to let readers take comfort in her words and the procedure. Eirmann’s objective tone gives readers the sense that she knows what she’s talking about through experience and is perfectly matched with the purpose, helping people make the decision of staying in the room during the euthanasia process.
In her diction, Erimann uses some words that puts readers at ease and gives them relief as well as some terminology that shows that she knows what she’s doing. Phrases such as “indwelling catheter”, “barbiturate”, and “agonal” insinuate that she’s a vet and is speaking from experience. Eirmann frequently uses phrases like “so smoothly”, “quickly and easily”, and “painless” to convey to readers that the procedure is quick and painless, that the animal does not suffer and it is harmless. Her choice of diction shows readers that the procedure isn’t something to be afraid of and that staying in the room doesn’t mean watching the animal suffer.
Eirmann structures her passage by taking readers through the procedure, step by step. She writes how the pet is made comfortable “initially” and what the vet will do next. As the reader looks through the process of the procedure, he or she is led the end of the procedure and what is expected to happen post mortem. Eirmann helps readers make the decision of staying with their pets through the euthanasia process by giving all the information gently and calmly throughout the passage. After the step by step explanation, Eirmann comforts the readers of their choice and concludes the passage with a quote that makes the readers feel connected and understood, a gentle conclusion.
Through Eirmann’s use of rhetorical techniques, she clearly conveys her purpose and helps readers and family members feel confident in their choice of whether to stay in the room during the procedure or not. It shows readers that they aren’t alone and they won’t be the only ones to get emotional. With the use of the quote, “Like all vets I hated doing this, painless though it was, but to me there has always been a comfort in the knowledge that the last thing these helpless animals knew was the sound of a friendly voice and the touch of a gentle hand.”, in the conclusion of the passage, Eirmann shows readers that their pets will have a gentle and easy end.